The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

View Poll Results: Exert force to latch HS case lid for breaking in?
Perfectly normal to ensure a snug fit! 14 53.85%
No...acoustic tops are especially delicate... 11 42.31%
I'm not sure... 1 3.85%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 11-05-2017, 07:49 AM
Filum Filum is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 70
Default Breaking in new hard case?

So, down the youtube rabbit hole...

Lo and behold, I came across this Sweetwater hardshell case. Where the lid needs to be pushed down with considerable force and latched shut.

The video claims that it will require time for the foam to break in. It looks kinda dangerous especially for acoustics, as compared to the full solid chunk on electrics.

Acoustic HS Case


Electric HS Case



My dreadnoughts HS cases do not require such force to be applied even on its 1st fit.

I'm rather curious, if this is the norm?

What's your experience/take on this?

Last edited by Filum; 11-05-2017 at 07:58 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-05-2017, 07:55 AM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Lexington, Massachusetts
Posts: 1,447
Default

I bought an inexpensive hard case at GC for my Recording King guitar, and the fit was tight at first. I was likewise cautious of not crunching the top of the guitar when pushing it in.

A year later, the guitar fits much more comfortably.

Anyway, I prefer having a tight-fitting case to a loose-fitting case.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-05-2017, 08:06 AM
Gasworker Gasworker is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,199
Default

All of my cases require a little downward pressure. I've never given it a second thought. Hmmm?
__________________
A couple of Halcyons and a Canadian made Larrivee

"Wish I had more time to hear your reasons, but I have to go get a beer." 00-28
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-05-2017, 10:51 AM
DenverSteve's Avatar
DenverSteve DenverSteve is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 11,893
Default

If "considerable force" means sitting on it or requiring assistance, that is not correct. If considerable force means pushing down slightly to latch the hasp then that's okay. If your guitar goes into the case and the top is at or below the top edge of case then you will be fine. I don't see "considerable force" being used in the video.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-05-2017, 10:58 AM
s2y s2y is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Somewhere middle America
Posts: 6,600
Default

I like to Tone Rite my cases for about 200 hours.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-05-2017, 11:36 AM
Shades of Blue Shades of Blue is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,154
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by s2y View Post
I like to Tone Rite my cases for about 200 hours.
This!!! +1

It may take a while, but even through normal use, it may take years for your new case to open up. But, once you do, you'll notice the extreme difference in how much better it stores your guitar. You may even notice an increase in protective ability....
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-05-2017, 11:41 AM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 43,431
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by s2y View Post
I like to Tone Rite my cases for about 200 hours.
LOL! Quote of the day, s2y.

Filum, I've never heard about using considerable force on a case before. I don't see any issue using some light pressure on it but I wouldn't jolt it with 50 pounds. I'm guessing that the term "considerable force" means something different to different people.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-05-2017, 11:46 AM
jim1960 jim1960 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 6,015
Default

I own two Ameritage cases. What you're seeing in the video is normal and the cases are absolutely top notch. I'm in the process of having another guitar made and went with the Ameritage upgrade for that one as well.
__________________
Jim
2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi
2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood
2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar
2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce
2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce
1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce

along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos.

YouTube
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-05-2017, 11:49 AM
Don54's Avatar
Don54 Don54 is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 980
Default

I have cases that typically have snug fit and DO NOT require any significant force to close shut.

As far as these sweetwater cases go, I don’t think a little pressure from the foam will do much harm to an acoustic guitar. Now if the hard shell part of the case is too small for the guitar, exerting too much pressure to close could cause some damage.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-05-2017, 03:05 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chugiak, Alaska
Posts: 31,230
Default

As a general rule of thumb, having to press the lid down to latch a case is a danger signal that the case is slightly too small for the guitar. Perhaps that’s normal for this brand of case, but it’s most definitely not normal for Geib-style cases and other traditional hardshell cases.


whm
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-05-2017, 03:29 PM
Big Band Guitar Big Band Guitar is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,033
Default

A good case should require little or no pressure to close.

I have never owned a case that required even light pressure to close.
__________________
"My opinion is worth every penny you paid for it."

"If you try to play like someone else, Who will play like you". Quote from Johnny Gimble

The only musician I have to impress today is the musician I was yesterday.

No tubes, No capos, No Problems.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11-05-2017, 05:54 PM
WilbornGuitars's Avatar
WilbornGuitars WilbornGuitars is offline
AGF Sponsor
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 223
Default

I've sent a lot of my guitars out in Ameritage cases, and they do tend to be snug at first, then smoosh into a perfect fit. But if your senses are crying out "NO! DONT CLOSE IT" then by all means listen to them. It may just be too small...
__________________
Ben Wilborn
Wilborn Guitars
www.wilbornguitars.com
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-05-2017, 06:23 PM
mickthemiller mickthemiller is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Yorkshire UK - centre of the universe
Posts: 1,201
Default

I'm fine so long as I don't have to sit on the case.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-05-2017, 06:54 PM
TKT TKT is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Southern Sierras
Posts: 293
Default

All I can say is that video made my toes curl, not in a good way.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11-05-2017, 08:10 PM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Mohawk Valley
Posts: 8,759
Default too tight blues

If you guitar fits too snugly and you are forced to push it down to close the case, be sure to push down along the edges. NOT anywhere else. Irregardless, it should not take much force to seat it properly, maybe only what the pinky could exert by itself - or less.

My Goodall is in the original case and after 12 years, I still use a small bit of force to seat it. It's not giving up easily and, no, I did not tone-rite it.
__________________
The Bard Rocks

Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle
Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale
Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk
Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany
Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle
MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood
Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber
'31 National Duolian
+ many other stringed instruments.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Tags
case, hardshell, pressure, snug, tight






All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=