Will guitar "X" fit in Collings Traditional Case?

[spectro28]

Hi all --

Starting a thread to see what fits in the Collings-made cases. These are the best around-town cases I've ever used, and are pretty scarce since they started making them.

Wondering if there's any experience getting a Kopp L-02 into a Collings Traditional Handmade Case?

How about a Bourgeois L-DB0?

I expect the case won't fit a deep-body.

I have a shallow-body Nick Lucas custom from David Eichelbaum that won't fit, so I think there's not as consistent a template as perhaps for Martin-style OM guitars (which almost all fit the Collings Traditional Handmade OM case).

Thanks!
Marc

[ben]

Nice idea for a thread. I love these cases too. Here's my experience with non-Collings guitars in Collings-made traditional cases:

D-size - 1956 Martin D-18 and 1956 D-21 both fit well.

CJ-size - 1952 Gibson J-45 and Kopp K-35 fit; Bourgeois BK fits but is a bit loose around the body; SCGC RS body fits well but tuners are very close to touching (but don't) the inside of the case.

C10-size - 1933 Gibson L-1 fits (as do Waterloo WL-14 and WL-K).

014- and 012-size - I don't perceive much difference in these cases; both fit a 12-fret Martin 0 (1926 0-18K and 1964 0-16NY). Neither will fit my 1938 0-18; the body fits but the contours of the case around the peghead are too tight and the tuners hit the edge of the case. I haven't measured, but the peghead geometry of my Collings 01MhT must be slightly different/smaller than a 14-fret Martin 0. My 1930 0-18T does fit; the body sits securely and while there's lots of extra space around the peghead, it does work.

OM-sized - I'm curious about this because I've been holding a Collings case for if/when I get a vintage Martin 14-fret 000 and am wondering if it will fit or have a similar problem as my 0. I think I read in another thread somewhere that it will work, but I haven't tried myself. A 12-fret 000 (e.g., 000-28K Authentic) will not fit.

F-mandolin - Surprisingly, my Collings MT2 O fits in this case.

A-mandolin - My Collings MT2 O does NOT fit well in this case (I didn't expect it would; Collings explicitly said they they wouldn't); the body is fine but because of the shorter neck, the headstock sits further down and thus the tuners touch the padding.

[spectro28]

Adding more to this — I have the Collings Traditional Case for the OM, and a Schoenberg Soloist from ‘94 fits in it perfectly, so does a Santa Cruz OM, and so does my Eichelbaum “Traditional OM.”

And I have a Pre-War Guitars Single-0 that fits great in a Collings 0-14 case. I understand the 0-14 and the 0-12 cases from Collings are identical except for the brass plate label.

And of course the Collings guitars fit perfectly in their cases [emoji4].

[jrb715]

Quick addition to the thread:

Both of my Huss and Dalton DSs (slope dreads) fit fine in the Collings CJ35 case. My Huss and Dalton TD-R does not fit in my Collings D1AT case.

[spectro28]

Hi All --

My new-to-me Kopp L-02 from 2015 fits pretty well in the C10 case. The Kopp has an arched back, so it rocks slightly in the case. It's also taller than my C10-35, but it fits without any squeezing. I am guessing Collilngs made the case tall enough to fit a deep-body C10??

Cheers --
Marc

[spectro28]

Hi All --

For the record, a terrific new Brondel "The 18" doesn't fit in the Collings Traditional OM case. It's a touch too wide at the lower bout (a full 15 1/4"), and the bowl radius of the back seems to make it a bit tall. The case does seem to close on the guitar without any seeming damage, but it doesn't feel smart or good. I didn't force it to snap the closures.

I still think this thread will be helpful going forward. All contributions of knowledge welcome!

Cheers --
Marc

[Justbrandon]

Santa Cruz d/pw fits in the D size case

[Kh1967]

I have yet to run into a 000/OM that does not fit the Collings OM case - Bourgeois, Martin, Santa Cruz all fit. My Huss TOM-M also fits, but a little tighter.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Kh1967

I have yet to run into a 000/OM that does not fit the Collings OM case - Bourgeois, Martin, Santa Cruz all fit.

I have had the same experience.

[Mark L]

Great info, thanks!

[Palladio]

Since these cases were designed to fit a 15" lower bout, is there enough room and give in the padding so that one could reasonably fit an OM style guitar with a 15.25" lower bout width?

All the other measurements of the guitar in question are the same as a Collings/Martin OM with the exception of the 1/4" wider lower bout.

[Palladio]

Finally got two of these cases, D and OM.

My Sexauer FT-15 (basically OM size) fits fine in the OM case, even though it has a 15.25" lower bout.

My 1968 D-35 just barely fits. I have to sort of push it in and then the case lid has to be pushed a bit to close it. The padding might adjust over time, but I decided to use the case for a 15.5" guitar that fits better.

In case anyone wants reference points, these guitars measure as follows:

Sexauer FT-15
Upper bout 11.4"
Lower bout 15.25"
Depth at tail block 4.1"

Martin D-35
Upper bout 11.75"
Lower bout 15.75"
Depth at tail block 4.9"

[Palladio]

Originally Posted by spectro28

And I have a Pre-War Guitars Single-0 that fits great in a Collings 0-14 case. I understand the 0-14 and the 0-12 cases from Collings are identical except for the brass plate label.
[emoji4].

Interesting that your PWGC Single-0 fits but Ben in a previous post said his 1938 0-18 doesn't fit as the tuners hit the case. I wonder what the difference in width is between the two. I'm guessing the tuner shafts/buttons on the 1938 stick out further? I also have a 1938 0-18 and was hoping it would fit in one of the small Collings cases (if I can ever find one for sale).

[ben]

Originally Posted by Palladio

Interesting that your PWGC Single-0 fits but Ben in a previous post said his 1938 0-18 doesn't fit as the tuners hit the case. I wonder what the difference in width is between the two. I'm guessing the tuner shafts/buttons on the 1938 stick out further? I also have a 1930 0-18 and was hoping it would fit in one of the small Collings cases (if I can ever find one for sale).

I'd guess your 1930 0-18 would be fine given the orientation of the tuners due to the slothead. My 1926 0-18K and 1964 0-16NY fit in the 0-sized Collings cases fine.

[Palladio]

Originally Posted by ben

I'd guess your 1930 0-18 would be fine given the orientation of the tuners due to the slothead. My 1926 0-18K and 1964 0-16NY fit in the 0-sized Collings cases fine.

Ben, thanks for your reply. I just realized I made a typo. My 0-18 is from 1938 not 1930 (I've corrected my previous post).

I've attached photos of my 1938 headstock, with tuners min and max overall widths of 3.8" and 4.2" Can you tell me if your '38 is the same?