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| Where do you get your cases? http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=35451 |
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| Author: | TRein [ Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Where do you get your cases? |
Now that Mary at Jones Fletcher has closed up shop I need to find another source for standard-sized, value priced hardshell cases. I use Cedar Creek for non-standard sizes and they are nice cases, albeit expensive and with a long lead time. Ameritage are too heavy for my taste. Hoffees look awesome, but the price point won't work with a $5000 retail guitar. That leaves only TKL and Guardian as far as I know. Suggestions and sources most welcomed. |
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| Author: | dberkowitz [ Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
Tom, if I recall, Jones-Fletcher got their cases from TKL. The Hoffee's are great, but only a little lighter than a Calton which puts it in the same weight category as the Ameritage. In my experience, Ameritage gets the case fit right much more consistently than TKL/Cedar Creek. I build so many different iterations its not cost effective to use anything but a Hoffee. I loved Calton, but as we know that's a long sad story. In order to have every iteration of case necessary for my build list, I'd have to order 48 cases in the shop on a regular basis because of four different bodies and standard vs wedged. This is because in order to order those cases I need to order a minimum of six. It's not cost effective in the reverse. Add $500 to your price and get the case you need. The case sells itself and presents your product in something you know can protect the guitar. Neither the TKL nor the Ameritage can do that. |
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| Author: | Josh H [ Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
You may also want to check out Hiscox cases from the UK. I am a dealer here in Canada and occasionally send them to US customers. Hiscox offers cases for most standard sizes (Drea, OM, Jumbo,Classical, and more). The most popular line I sell is the Pro II series at $250 a piece. You can read all about their construction on the Hiscox website. One of the big advantages is a high impact/puncture resistance and a crush strength of well over 1,100 lbs on the Pro II series. For even more protection you can go with the artist series at around $450. They are also light, most of them weighing around 10lbs. The protection Hiscox offers is far better than TKL and a lot of more expensive cases on the market. If you are interested in getting more information or a shipping quote to the US please contact me. http://www.hiscoxcases.com/ http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com/Canadian_Luthier_Supply/Hiscox_Guitar_cases.html Josh |
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| Author: | TRein [ Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
dberkowitz wrote: ...Add $500 to your price and get the case you need. The cases I am looking for are for my Vintage Style guitars which are a separate line of guitars I am building that are designed to come in at a competitive price point, about $5K. Some of these are being sold wholesale, so the additional cost of a Hoffee would add more than $500 to the retail price in order to cover my costs. $5K is a stretch for many musicians and tacking $800-1000 on top of that kind of defeats the value pricing. TKL and Guardian are not terrible and certainly commensurate with other plywood cases supplied with guitars in this price category. I have not been able to buy Guardian direct and Jones Fletcher was my source for TKL cases. Josh, thanks for your offer of shipping Hiscox cases into the US. However, I think the higher cost of the case plus the freight from Canada would make a profit pretty hard to hit for a guitar selling for $5K, especially if sold through a dealer. |
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| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
Check out Tamarkin Company, (http://www.tamarkincompany.net/) basically a TKL case with an arched top and back at a good price. |
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| Author: | JoeUlman [ Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
Filippo, did you notice any residual chemical smell inside your Humicase? I ordered one and it arrived with a remarkably strong smell of uncured adhesives or resins, maybe synthetic materials. I could be overly sensitive but I had to leave the case open to air out for over 6 months before the smell dissipated enough to use it. Even after that, I think it has slowly sucked out the wonderful natural smell of the guitar. Too bad, I think it’s an otherwise very nice case for the money. Joe |
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| Author: | JoeUlman [ Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
Filippo Morelli wrote: Any case should be left open in the Sun for a few days. Gas out from any case, whether or not you smell it, can damage finish. Been there! My Humicase was normal - any new case smells to some degree. Filippo It’s ‘normal’ for a new guitar case to smell bad and need to off gas so it doesn’t damage the guitar finish? How sad. Joe |
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| Author: | Mike Dotson [ Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
Sorry to hear that Mary is out of business. Very sweet lady. |
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| Author: | Arnt Rian [ Mon Feb 20, 2012 5:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
Calton in England (the original?) is still alive and well, but they have a pretty long lead time (22-29 weeks, according to Keith Calton last week). I offer their cases as an upgrade over my standard Hiscox pro II. The Hiscox is a pretty good value, but I wouldn't say impact resistance, at least not puncture resistance, is one of its strong points, rather the opposite; that outer shell is no match for sharp, pointy objects. It is light weight, the supports are fine, and it has excellent thermal insulation properties, though. I suppose the overall durability is about the same as a good plywood case, but lighter. It is nowhere as strong as a Calton, of course. |
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| Author: | mud4feet [ Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
Try Stype Brothers out of Florida. I believe they are Gaurdian cases but you can't beat the price. http://tylermountain.com/ That's their website but it's well worth a phone call to them - great guys. |
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| Author: | utarazo [ Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
I email Humicase and have yet to hear back from them, their website doesn't provide a phone #, does anyone have a number for them or a contact?! thanks, Jonathan |
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| Author: | Brad Goodman [ Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
I get my cases directly from TKL- actually through Cedar creek-same people and place. They are pretty easy to do business with. They have a wide selection of sizes and styles. For a couple of extra bucks you can get a fake tweed exterior which looks cool. The quality is good. I am paying about $160 now for a case plus shipping. At the price point I am selling my instruments for I really can't include a more expensive case,and no one has ever felt the need to upgrade,yet. |
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| Author: | cwood8656 [ Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
I've been buying arch top cases from Elderly Instruments. They are the 'Canadian' cases, which are rumored to be made by TKL. The quality has been pretty good, and they certainly are strong enough. I think I pay about $109 for a black tolex case and about 125 for a vinyl tweed look one. Chris. |
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| Author: | WendyW [ Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Where do you get your cases? |
Filippo Morelli wrote: Any case should be left open in the Sun for a few days. Gas out from any case, whether or not you smell it, can damage finish. Been there! My Humicase was normal - any new case smells to some degree. Filippo Is it safe to leave a new case out in the sun to gas off. I would think that the heat from the sun would have a negative effect on the glues in the case. I have a new case and live in AZ. Maybe a week in the shade would be better? |
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