TraveLite
 

I have upgraded cases over the years for good guitars but a couple of years ago brought out an old TraveLite case to take my new (then) 00-18 to a songwriting workshop. It was almost unbelievably light! As I get older I am appreciating an ultralight option for traveling with guitar. After that experience I bought new TraveLite cases for my OM-21 & D-18 guitars, too. Great protection, reasonable cost, & ultra light!

Frank

To me it depends on what you are going to put in it - and where you're going with it. I am another who appreciates what great cases do. A case that cost around $1,000, or more, is generally meant for serious travel. In general, almost all factory hard cases are fine for the vast majority of daily uses for the vast majority of people. I know plenty of traveling musicians who never have a Calton or Ameritage or Main Stage, or similar and have no issues. I, like Larry, wouldn't take my no.1 out without one.

While I can appreciate a decent case when I have the need for one, my need for uber guitar protection outside my home is far surpassed by my bad back's need for something light to carry. A decently padded gig bag or a Hiscox works quite well for me. My big gripe with cases is that they're rapidly taking over the innards of my smallish cabin in the woods...

I too love cases. Calton and Hoffee for the really robust needs. Visesnut is pretty good for air travel and carry on (light and backpack straps is a good combo). But my heart lies with the Collings cases - I’ve got eight of them and they are just stunning - they feel like fine luggage. Sure, I wouldn’t fly with them, but for carting guitars and mandolins around, they are lovely - it’s the equivalent of wearing cashmere, everything is more enjoyable.

I'm another player who like nice cases. I upgraded the case on my Martin 000-15sm to a Geib 535 and it was well worth it to me.

Just picked up this Martin Custom Shop Case for my Custom Shop 000-21. Love the stitched logo !!

https://i.imgur.com/oAcbsek.jpg

Cases should be brown, like this one! Why are Geib style cases always black?

Cases are important.

Here's the Hoffee case that protected the guitar I delivered to Eric Clapton at his London flat about a year ago (really). British Airways made me check the guitar and then tossed it next to the "This toilet isn't available" sign sign in the middle of the luggage reclaim area at Heathrow Airport.

Guitar was fine.

Eric was very pleasant, but seemed more like British royalty than, well, god.

https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...0d&oe=5E1EE5B1

I met Bill Collings in, I think, 2015 when he briefly visited the UK. Hew was excited about his new design for cases - I said to him, "make sure that there is plenty of room for leather straps above the headstock, and a good accesory box!" He looked rather disappointed.

I have Collings guitars and all have TKL style cases. I'm fine with that.

My Fender electric guitars live in G&G cases. They are fancy-schmancy.

Here's a piece of case irony: I saved three years to buy my first Gibson Les Paul. Over that very inflationary time the price of used LPs went from $225 to $475, and I spent the whole time chasing the price. One day in 1977 I got an invitation to join a pretty major band and needed the Les Paul. I went out and shopped again and found one for $475, but I only had $425. The manager at the store had seen me chase the price all those year and said he'd give it to me at that price but would have to substitute a Univox case for it. Here is the guitar five years ago with the Univox case behind me.

http://www.in2guitar.com/incoming/gworkcr.jpg

A few years ago I decided my faithful friend needed a proper, original case, so I chased down a near mint example of the case for that year guitar and bought it.

http://www.in2guitar.com/lp74/lpincasetouched.jpg

And here is where the irony comes in: my bandmate in the band I joined had a nearly identical LP with this type of case. When the case arrived I was reminded that forty years ago I had thought that my humble Univox case was far more stout than the Gibson case. So, the guitar still lives in the Univox case but I do have the proper case to maintain the value of the instrument. And does look sexier. ;)

Bob

I agree. I miss cases that have personalities, just like cars. When you see a cool old oddball case at a guitar show it usually gets a lot of attention.

I'm a fan of good quality cases, as well. I got my first Calton case shipped over from the UK from Steve Calton, back before there even were any Caltons being made in North America. I bought it when I got hired for the Alaska Artists In The Schools program.

I had heard from an experienced member of the program that when we got sent to these remote Native villages in the Bush that we'd typically get dropped off at gravel airstrips a mile or two from the village proper, and after a half hour or so the school janitor would eventually show up driving a snowmachine (which is what we call snowmobiles in Alaska) towing a plywood sled behind it for the luggage.

I already owned the boots, parka and fur hat needed for this sort of travel, but didn't have a guitar case that would protect the guitar in those circumstances. Since it was often -35˚ Fahrenheit (-37.22˚ Celsius) while we had to stand out there and wait, it seemed like an intelligent idea to get a Calton case for its thermal protection as well as its damage prevention.

I've been a fan of Calton cases ever since.


Wade Hampton Miller