Martin Dreadnought Case

[brianmay]

My three Martins all reside in their thermoplastic cases if taken out.

Vast improvement over the last 50 years when my guitars were lucky to travel in a gig bag . . .

I don't think Martin would stick their guitars in something that isn't up to the job.

Have fun, the D-35 is lovely - all mine are 28s.

[Lacks Focus]

Originally Posted by brianmay

My three Martins all reside in their thermoplastic cases if taken out.

Ditto with my M-38. I've never felt the need to replace the Martin thermoplastic case, even though it's from the dreaded 1970s.

[GmanJeff]

I have both the thermoplastic and Gieb styles for my Martins. The Gieb looks good but is quite heavy when compared to the thermoplastic model, if that's a consideration. My D45 lives in the original thermoplastic case it came with, and while it's not aesthetically remarkable, it works fine for around the house and for other light-duty applications.

[Basque]

Definitely not old school, but the TRIC case that came with my Simon & Patrick is the best case I've ever had.

http://www.godinguitars.com/tric.htm

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Tico

Plastic? Wood? Foam? Other?
When it comes to humidity considerations, they're all a wash.

Unless the case is truly 100% waterproof/hermetically sealed (as in you'd be happy to submerge it under water when it holds the $300,000 1937 Martin D-28 you bought at Christies) humidity is constantly entering or leaving a case, even a closed one, whenever the humidity in the case differs from the humidity outside the case.

It's physics.
There is literally a pressure that forces humidity to spread until it has equalized throughout an enclosed space.
It's the same principle that results in odors filling a room even when there is no breeze blowing the odor around.
Think of the force that lets water in if you submerge the case that's not water-tight.
Humidity is not as noticeable as liquid water, but it is just as real and is also pushed around by an equally-real force.

Cases can no more defeat this law of physics than they can defeat another law of physics, gravity, because it was built with lighter materials.

Edited to add a quote from a link ... "... gas particles spread apart or diffuse in order to homogeneously distribute themselves throughout any container."
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas

There are a few things at play. One, is the exchange of moisture between the guitar and the air. This is governed by the relative humidity in the air (partial pressure) regardless of the temperature. Higher RH drives moisture into the wood, and vice versa. I've studied the topic and been schooled on this. The second exchange is vapor diffusion between the air masses inside and outside of the case. This is governed by the absolute vapor pressure and the permeability of the material separating them. The permeability of plastic is better than wood. Lastly, moisture will simply "tag along" with the air every time you open the case. If one was storing a humidified guitar case in a dry environment, in theory, the plastic case would retain the moisture longer because it is less permeable. Eventually, all things will reach equilibrium. This is also why it is preferable to humidify the house or room the guitar is kept in.

[TwoMartinMan]

Originally Posted by Tico

How can this be?

If the RH of the room is, say, 60% everything in the room that can absorb moisture will do so.
After equilibrium is reached each object has absorbed as much moisture as it can so each will stop absorbing moisture.

How can one object continue to absorb more and deny moisture to other objects in the room?

Saying a wood case denies the guitar of moisture is as unreasonable as saying a wood guitar denies the wood case of moisture.

You are assuming the case is in a 60% climate. I am not. If the case (with guitar and humidifier inside) is in a dry climate, there is moisture loss that gets sucked out of a wooden case at a much more rapid rate, but not so with a plastic case. In a plastic case, all available moisture goes into the guitar (and the case lining) and is sealed in by the plastic shell. Much less is lost to the outside over time. The plastic case is more effective over time.

[Tico]

Again, if the case does not have an air-tight / water-tight seal the material it is made from , plastic, wood, foam, other is a wash when it comes to humidity entering and exiting in the case.

To illustrate, fill your bathtub with water and submerging your closed case in it.
The water will get in through the tiny gaps between the top and the bottom.

How quickly the water enters depends on the area of the gaps, not the material of the case.

Soon the case will be full of water.
Now remove it from the bathtub and stand it on end.
The water will drain out of the same gaps.

The same thing happens with humidity.
You just can't see it.

There are valid reasons to select one case material over another.
Humidity is not one of them.

That said, you CAN buy cases that really are waterproof, but those not the subject of this thread.

Keep in mind with a waterproof case if you have it open when the RH is 75%, put the guitar away and close it the RH can remain 75% since air can't escape.
Not good.
Same thing if the RH is 14%.

[Tico]

Originally Posted by TwoMartinMan

You are assuming the case is in a 60% climate. I am not. If the case (with guitar and humidifier inside) is in a dry climate, there is moisture loss that gets sucked out of a wooden case at a much more rapid rate, but not so with a plastic case. In a plastic case, all available moisture goes into the guitar (and the case lining) and is sealed in by the plastic shell. Much less is lost to the outside over time. The plastic case is more effective over time.

Only if it has a water-tight seal.
Even then that can present issues ... see my previous post.

The air gaps is where 99.99999999% of the humidity will be exchanged and equalized, not through the material of the case.

When it comes to humidity concerns the case material is ... well ... immaterial.

[TwoMartinMan]

Originally Posted by Tico

Only if it has a water-tight seal.
Even then that can present issues ... see my previous post.

When it comes to humidity concerns the case material is ... well ... immaterial.

That's why I repeatedly wrote "over time". Yes, eventually both cases will achieve equalibrium. But "over time" the plastic case will generally retain more humidity, longer (also assuming a good seal in both cases). YMMV, but I'll take a plastic case every time for overall effectiveness. There are good reasons why the best, most expensive cases are hard, plastic shelled cases.

[Tico]

Originally Posted by TwoMartinMan

That's why I repeatedly wrote "over time". Yes, eventually both cases will achieve equalibrium. But "over time" the plastic case will generally retain more humidity, longer (also assuming a good seal in both cases). YMMV, but I'll take a plastic case every time for overall effectiveness. There are good reasons why the best, most expensive cases are hard, plastic shelled cases.

True, plastic is not hygroscopic (can absorb and give off moisture).
But if the plastic case is not water-tight the air gaps of the closed case is where 99.999999999% of the humidity is being exchanged.
Again think of submerging the closed case in water ... a plastic case will fill up just as fast as a wood one.

That's why the humidity-protective claims of plastic guitar cases (non water tight ones) are 99.9999999999 not true, but I'll bet makers of those cases don't tell you that.

Again a truly waterproof case is a totally different thing.

[Br1ck]

I was delighted that my 00 15 custom came in a Geib style case. I guess it was the case they were shipping 00 28s in at the time.

[llamagish]

Originally Posted by Mark Stone

Hi llamagish,

I'll put in another word for Hiscox Pro II. They're currently around $320 and offer an amazing level of protection. I know you've already said it's "crazy" (post 6) and you're not necessarily ready to spend the $$$ for a high-end case; and also since it's thermoplastic you may not like the looks much, but you gotta give it some serious thought. An HD-35 is quite an investment, and lemme tell ya I sleep a lot better at night with my Gibson in its Hiscox lol . . .

Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0jbDM2MOxs

My Hiscox Review

Hmm.. maybe I'll just keep the case it comes with until I can afford one of these.

[StillStephen]

Originally Posted by Misty44

"Old school" to me means Gieb style.

This 5-ply arch-top case fits that bill, as well as offering day to day protection, comes with a Martin name plate:



Eldery has a wide selection of these styles (and prices) and other cases on their site: http://www.elderly.com/accessories/c...-cases-gigbags

My 2007 HD-35 lives in one of these. Good luck, you'll love that guitar!

Also recommend looking at the Armitage cases (also available from Elderly) - they're a bit heavier than the TKL Martin cases, but I think they're a bit better built and seal better.

[6L6]

$300 will get you into a HISCOX Pro II case. All of my acoustics now live in one of these.

My guitars do international travel on occasion and the Hiscox can't be beat. Very lightweight, exceptionally strong (made of carbon fiber), and already fitted with D rings. Hook a soft golf bag strap on, sling it over your shoulder, and you're good to go.

Here's a pic I took in London's Victoria Station recently. Inside is my Collings D2HA. No worries!

[Blueser100]

Had two hiscox cases. They are the best in my opinion. But the OP sounded like he was more interested in a "vintage" type case and not "modern" so I didn't recommend it.