Case recommendations?

[SheiLaLa]

I need to pick up a case for my 1963 Harmony H1215 Archtone archtop. I don't need a flight case. I'll use it primarily for storage at home and to keep her safe when I take her with me on a road trip.

Do you have a suggestion for me? Thanks!

[Steve DeRosa]

Take the body measurements as well as overall length - while it's not an ideal situation, sometimes either a dreadnaught or 000/OM-sized case (often heavily discounted as promo items at the big-box and online retailers) can be pressed into service; if you're willing to spend a few more bucks, one of the cases designed for similarly-sized Pac-Rim full-body archtops (Epiphone/Ibanez/Gretsch) or the Godin TRIC case for the 5th Avenue jazzboxes should be a close fit...

[RLetson]

Archtops can be a fussy fit--I've noticed that cases that are fine for a dreadnaught are not always deep enough to accommodate the back-to-bridgetop dimension of, say, my Eastman 805, despite fitting fine otherwise.

[FrankHudson]

What Steve said. In cases (pun attempted) where the regular acoustic guitar model is too deep, I've cheated with a folded clean cotton towel.

I'm a big fan of the TRIC cases as protective from bumps and drops, but also because they're thermally better regulated (I live in Minnesota, quite the temperature swings over the year here). They're a little bulky, but then also quite light, and they have backpack straps.

[SheiLaLa]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll start with these ideas. I have a vacant dreadnought case, but it's just that much too narrow through the lower bout to accommodate my archtop.

[Craig Wilson]

I looked for a while to find a hard case deep enough for a Benedetto copy that I built last year.
I ended up with a Guild Humidified Archtop (Jumbo) wood case that fits perfect and is very good quality.
At 17" it may be a little large for your Harmony, but the dread or orchestra size might work for you.

[Mandobart]

When I bought a case for my Eastman E2OM-CD (came with a gig bag) I measured the body length, bout widths, body depth and went searching online. I found a Gator case that fit great.

If you're near any guitar shops you may be able to try some out there in the shop.

[FrankHudson]

Originally Posted by SheiLaLa

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll start with these ideas. I have a vacant dreadnought case, but it's just that much too narrow through the lower bout to accommodate my archtop.

Look for a jumbo acoustic case. I tell myself if I ever needed to play out my DeArmond X155 archtop that it fits in my Guild JF30 jumbo's case.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by FrankHudson

..In cases (pun attempted) where the regular acoustic guitar model is too deep, I've cheated with a folded clean cotton towel....

Originally Posted by FrankHudson

Look for a jumbo acoustic case. I tell myself if I ever needed to play out my DeArmond X155 archtop that it fits in my Guild JF30 jumbo's case.

She might need a few towels, Frank: my first guitar was a Harmony Broadway, those entry-level Archtones were ubiquitous when/where I took lessons as a kid, a college bud had one of the latter, and as I recall they were only 15-1/2" at the lower bout - the TRIC cases for the Seagull mini-jumbo or Godin 5th Avenue (which we both like) might be a closer fit...

[SheiLaLa]

Originally Posted by Craig Wilson

I looked for a while to find a hard case deep enough for a Benedetto copy that I built last year.
I ended up with a Guild Humidified Archtop (Jumbo) wood case that fits perfect and is very good quality.
At 17" it may be a little large for your Harmony, but the dread or orchestra size might work for you.

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

She might need a few towels, Frank: my first guitar was a Harmony Broadway, those entry-level Archtones were ubiquitous when/where I took lessons as a kid, a college bud had one of the latter, and as I recall they were only 15-1/2" at the lower bout - the TRIC cases for the Seagull mini-jumbo or Godin 5th Avenue (which we both like) might be a closer fit...

Craig, I have one of those Guild cases for my M-140. It's wonderful.
Steve, We have lots of towels. I can swaddle her if necessary to get a snug fit.

I'm grateful for the suggestions, guys!

[SheiLaLa]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

When I bought a case for my Eastman E2OM-CD (came with a gig bag) I measured the body length, bout widths, body depth and went searching online. I found a Gator case that fit great.

If you're near any guitar shops you may be able to try some out there in the shop.

Gator now has a "case finder" page that works either by make/model (no Harmony on the list of brands, though) or one can plug in the dimensions. I will check out their offerings.

[SheiLaLa]

Originally Posted by FrankHudson

Look for a jumbo acoustic case. I tell myself if I ever needed to play out my DeArmond X155 archtop that it fits in my Guild JF30 jumbo's case.

Thanks for the tip, Frank! I'll start with Jumbos when I begin hunting.