FINALLY found a hardshell case for my Gibson L-50

[beatcomber]

Finding a hardshell case for my '59 Gibson L-50 proved very difficult! I ordered - and returned - a few from GuitarCenter.com that seemed like they would fit, but the shape of the upper bout proved problematic.

I eventually determined that the ES-175 was more or less the same size and shape as the L-50 (and L-48) and ordered a genuine Gibson case from a third party on Amazon. The seller generated a UPS airbill but apparently never bothered delivering it to UPS, so after wasting a week or so, I was able to get Amazon to refund me my cash.

I then found out that the Epiphone Emperor was also the same size, and that there was a fairly inexpensive hardshell case available for that model. I received it today, and I'm happy to say it fits like a glove. The padded upper lid is putting a little pressure on the wooden bridge, which is causing me some concern, but I'm expecting it will conform once the padding is broken in.

I decided to start a thread about it here, in case someone else in the future does a Google search for a case for their L-48 or L-50.

[beatcomber]

This is the one I bought:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphon...75761455267.gc



This one should also work as well (and is probably more rugged):

https://www.gibson.com/Gear/Electric-Cases/AS175CASE



This MIGHT work:

https://www.guitarfetish.com/PREMIUM...T_p_19241.html

[PaulHintz]

The guitar fetish case lists a 17.5 lower bout interior. That ain’t a 175, or a typical dreadnaught. The others are helpful to me, I have a Loar LH and the store I bought it from only had a non-name hard case that’s really too long. Access bags has a rigid poly type gig bag that would work, too, FWIW. Thanks for the post!

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by PaulHintz

The guitar fetish case lists a 17.5 lower bout interior. That ain’t a 175, or a typical dreadnaught.

That is precisely why I didn't buy that one... the L-50 is 16" wide.

Now that I've had the Epiphone case for a few days, the bridge is making an indentation in the lid's foam padding and there is less pressure being put on the top, and it's working out perfectly!

If I did it all over again, I'd probably spring for the Gibson case ($100 more than the Epi case). The Epi case is perfectly rigid when shut, but the shell is somewhat flexible, possibly molded plastic. I would assume that the Gibson case's shell is plywood.