#16
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And all this time I just thought they were really good cases.
Thanks for all the stories folks. rct |
#17
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Another thing about these cases....if you have multiple guitars of the same size, you normally only need one or two for travel. It's not like I need a Calton for every guitar for storage at home. |
#18
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great cases...really not that heavy. IMO that's overstated. Check out an Ameritage Case (very nice cases) first and then CC and compare. Calton offers so many custom choices as well.
https://imgur.com/xcT2gra Last edited by maplebaby; 03-07-2018 at 11:56 AM. |
#19
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#20
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I have two Canadian Caltons from the Williams era that I have had since the late 90s, when I picked them up as a part of a deal involving a truckload of nails, Mexican gold, and a working Alaskan Alligator ranch. Well made, durable and protective of whatever is inside. Still going strong.
Are they worth the money? Depends on your usage. If you are going to travel a lot with your guitar, I'd say absolutely. One of mine has been on plane and road trips a number of times, the other not so much. But it is nice that I can pile stuff on tip of the case in the back of the Sube and not worry about it. They are a tad bit heavy to carry for more than a few blocks compared to something like a TKL. I do use mine to carry a guitar when it is raining (You may have heard that Seattle is a bit of a wet climate) or cold, as the padding appears thick enough so slow hear transfer. Nice being able to simply wipe the water off after walking a few blocks, whereas with a TLK tolex it has begun to creep inside. But a Calton is not truly waterproof, or it would have a pressure-relief valve. (Although Wade Hampton Miller has an interesting story on that). When I don't need the protection, the same guitar fits into one of my TKLs. I have looked at the Austin Caltons, which seem well-made as mine, and have a great rep. I've never seen a Hoffee, except in passing. I do have a Ameritage, which weighs a ton but the comparison is hardly fair as it came with my Baritone and is basically an acoustic bass case. So my opinion is that is is well made, durable and very protective if you have a use for it. Even better if you can use it for different instruments like I can, given my 00 fetish. OMMV Tony |
#21
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I didn't know Al Williams lost the money that was due to him for selling the company. I am sorry to hear that.
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In the end it is about who you love above yourself and what you have stood for and lived for that make the difference... |
#22
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I have a Case Extreme Fly-It-Safe outer case. Super inexpensive alternative. But I don’t use it and am selling it. Regardless, you can put your current case inside, throw it off the roof with no damage. (Watch the Case Extreme video).
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#23
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"Vintage taste, reissue budget" |
#24
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You a revenuer or something??
Alaskan alligators are, "........Kodiak looking fellas, about nineteen feet tall...." to paraphrase Jimmy Buffett. And panning for Mexican gold is a whole lot warmer than panning for Alaskan gold in those COLD streams. Back on topic, I recently received Hiscox Life Flite II cases with my Emerald X20 carbon fiber guitars. These have a good reputation for being very tough, not excessively heavy, have very high quality latches, and are cheaper than Calton too. My CF guitars generally travel locally in gig bags, and the Hiscox cases will mostly be used to keep the few remaining wood guitars humidified. |
#25
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I have a few and like them a lot - one from Al’s era and the others from Jon’s. They aren’t light (but the weight issue is often overstated) and they are expensive (but not that expensive in the context of expensive guitars). And when Delta did a number on one of my Caltons and I opened it up to find the pre-war Martin inhabitant to be in exactly the same condition in which I left it (tuning included), the upside to the added weight and cost were abundantly and unambiguously clear.
I depend on them while flying but if I’m just walking or driving will usually opt for one of my Collings cases (if it’s an OM or D) or whatever fits. But it’s just a few extra pounds and a few extra bucks for the security of knowing that someone or something will need to try really, really hard to injure your instrument. |
#26
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I owned a Canadian Calton from 1989 to 2010 (when I sold it with a guitar to a friend - wished I hadn’t). Last fall I bought one of the Mainstage cases from New Brunswick in Canada. They are similar to the old Canadian ones. The service from them was great and the build quality is excellent.
I went that route because they are cheaper than the Calton cases from Texas plus, add the horrid Canadian dollar right now (I’m in Canada) and it was actually affordable for me. If you are in the U.S. you may want to look into them because your dollar goes a lot farther. Last edited by TomB'sox; 09-29-2018 at 01:56 PM. Reason: removed political comment |
#27
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The original North America franchise was with Al Williams (a great guy) in Calgary Alberta. I have several Calgary built cases and they are similar and as good quality as those built by Keith himself. It was when Al retired and production moved to eastern Canada that the problems began.
IMHO, having owned cases made by numerous companies, Calton, Ameritage, Hoffee, Hiscox, TKL, Harptone, etc Calton are the best despite being comparatively heavy. I have only one of the new Austin built cases, for a banjo, and it is good too and slightly lighter than the earlier versions. Second I’d place Hiscox but it’s a shame they don’t custom build. Hoffee are ok but lack storage space and are less well balanced than the Caltons. I do not like Ameritage, very heavy and not well fitting. Quote:
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Chris Stern Guitars by: Bown Wingert Kinscherff Sobell Circa Olson Ryan Fay Kopp McNally Santa Cruz McAlister Beneteau Fairbanks Franklin Collings Tippin Martin Lowden Northworthy Pre-War GC Taylor Fender Höfner 44 in total (no wife) Around 30 other instruments Anyone know a good psychiatrist? www.chrisstern.com Last edited by Yrksman; 01-27-2019 at 11:00 PM. |
#28
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#29
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Calton was the market leader in the flight cases for a long time. In fact they filled the market need for a max strength flight case so well that they we're the default choice in a way. But the troubles in the late 2000s that afflicted the brand in north America was also the opportunity for a number of competitors to get a big boost as a result - Hoffee especially benefited as many luthiers were forced to look for another flight case supplier. But others like karura and accord mist have also obtained higher sales as well.
As an unintended consequence of that, we as consumers today have a wider range of choices for flight cases - the new calton cases and main stage cases for the proven fiberglass cases, hoffee, mature and accord for carbon fiber and visenut for AND.
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In the end it is about who you love above yourself and what you have stood for and lived for that make the difference... |
#30
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The (pink) poodle cases are what Taylors shipped in during the 1990s. They fit perfectly and are extremely heavy duty. Made in El Cajon, just like the guitars. I'm not sure how well they would fit non-Taylor guitars, since manufacturer shapes never exactly match up, and the interior fit is one of the reasons why they're so good.
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Solo acoustic guitar videos: This Boy is Damaged - Little Watercolor Pictures of Locomotives - Ragamuffin |