The Case Survey

[Rue]

I don't know if I can get this survey to work properly, but what the hey!

Another case thread mentioned that we might only be repeating the manufacturer's ad copy when we give recommendations.  So!  Let's give our personal experiences instead!

I was limited to three questions, so in the comments please add any other relevant information, such as your climate and how you use your case.  Does it ever leave the house?  Travel with it daily on public transport? Occasional car travel only?

Pros and cons?

Choose only one of your cases for the survey.  Add additional case comments below.

Let's see what we come up with!

[Rue]

I went first - regarding my 'normal' rectangular case.

I like it because there's enough room for what I need.  I love the music pocket, saves me packing an extra bag to lessons.  The violin is angled in the case allowing for extra storage pockets.

I travel with it once or twice a week, by car, to lessons or rehearsal.  Climate is not an issue since it is not in the extreme heat or cold for any significant length of time.

Pros: I can carry everything in one case.  No need for a second bag (most of the time).

Cons: One bow holder is too short to hold a bow, design flaw.  Doesn't affect me though, the other 3 work.

           The shoulder strap is uncomfortable should I happen to be walking with it for any length of time.

 

[Frank Nichols]

I lied, it looks like my Cello, not my Violin

 

[Rue]

LOL...

 

Pros? Cons?

[Frank Nichols]

11 minutes ago, Rue said:

LOL...

 

Pros? Cons?

Oh, we are supposed to think too - I see.

Well, mine is JUST a canvas case, and I used it to get my Cello home. And it has been in the closet ever since. My Cello hangs on the wall in my bedroom/practice room from an elastic strap adjusted to the end pin just touches the floor with the strap about 1/2 way extended from the weight of the cello. (The strap goes around the scroll - based on David Finckel example). I Never take the Cello anywhere, it lives here with me. 

So, the case does an excellent job of taking up room in the closest. I was thinking about moving it to under the bed.

I will be moving to Ecuador around the end of the year, I expect to purchase a seat on the plane for my Cello, I have not yet decided on a case for the trip. I assume the canvas case is not safe for air travel, even if it is strapped into a seat. So, I am watching the recent discussions of considerations for violin cases. I was surprised to see the possible problem with CF in direct sunlight. I wonder if you can get a portable air conditioner to attach to the front of the case

 

[caerolle]

Tonareli fibreglass:

http://www.tonareli.com/cases/ViolinOblongFiberglass/bluegraphite.front.html

I was planning to get a traditional plywood-and-fabric case when I got the violin I have now, but for several reasons bought this one. It's light, relatively small, and very pretty. It's very modern and simple. It won't hold music on the outside (unless I get a cover), and not a lot of room for stuff on the inside, but it has a little pouch for odds and ends, and it has a place for my shoulder rest, too. I worry about how sturdy it is, but the salesperson at the shop said you could drive a car over it. I don't know that I believe that.

The biggest downside for me is that it won't sit flat when open, it falls over on the hinge, so kind of unhandy to put my violin in and out unless it is sitting with the back against something.

It wouldn't be for everyone, or even for most people. If you are in a group, and are packing your instrument in with a lot of others to go places. or it is going to be handled roughly, I don't know that it is as protective as a traditional case. It would also scratch easily. It also doesn't have a humidity meter (my understanding is that those are wildly inaccurate anyhow) or a humistat. It's fine for me, though, as the only place I take my violin is from my house to my weekly lesson, which is only like 5 minutes away, or to my Mom's. My Mom's house is 4 hours away, but I pack it carefully, and the car stays heated or cooled the whole way.

Carol

[thirteenthsteph]

@caerolle Sure, you defintely can drive a car over it. Your violin will most likely be in pieces, but you definitely can.  I like it, though, looks nice!

My case is, as I mentioned in the other thread, made of natural fibres, the ecological, 'Greenline' of Jakob Winter cases. It's shaped like my viola (I lied in the poll, too!).  As I mentioned there, as well, the case has a suspension system, it just seems to fall short in my case (pun intended), as the bottom of the neck is too high so it cannot lie on the cushion which in turn would elevate the scroll from the bottom of the case. It might have worked well with a 14-15'' viola, not sure, mine is 16.5'' and it's kinda fat. It does not have a pad on the lid. Also, the bridge used to touch the foam on the lid. The height from back to bridge is around 11cm.

It does not have a music pocket, nor much space inside for a shoulder rest, but I usually carry so many books to the lesson that they could hardly fit in a regular music pocket.

It does leave the house often, for lessons, rehearsals, it has been on my back while riding on the bicycle to rehearsals in Germany (just a few weeks ago!), so it has been abroad, it has been to islands, travelling by ship, by airplane (at least 6 times a year)... So far it's served me well, but I try to be really careful. It pays to carry it everywhere in a cardboard box for months... you learn to be reeeeally careful. 

The weather where I usually live is quite hot and humid, next to the sea, and the sun is shining bright most of the time, but I try not to leave it in the sun. Occasionally, it rains and it is so humid that it's hard to breathe, never mind the instrument! The humidity... I'm unsure I can do anything about it. When I am there I feel like the instrument is very temperamental. Really annoying.

So pros: really light-weight, nice size and possibly good insulation (not sure).

Cons: suspension system is rather flawed, the shell is flexible. 

 

 

[GlennYorkPA]

3 hours ago, Frank Nichols said:

 

I will be moving to Ecuador around the end of the year, I expect to purchase a seat on the plane for my Cello, I have not yet decided on a case for the trip. I assume the canvas case is not safe for air travel, even if it is strapped into a seat. So, I am watching the recent discussions of considerations for violin cases. I was surprised to see the possible problem with CF in direct sunlight. I wonder if you can get a portable air conditioner to attach to the front of the case

 

You'll be needing something robust for the trip. Something like this?

Glenn

[thirteenthsteph]

^Excellent resistance to shocks and demon attacks.

[Rue]

That'll take care of the trip - and time spent in the airport...

[Frank Nichols]

2 hours ago, GlennYorkPA said:

You'll be needing something robust for the trip. Something like this?

Glenn

 

[Option1]

I answered the survey with my viola case.  It's a cheap-ass fabric-covered polystyrene rectangular number in the dullest dark blue.  However, I do love the fact the pocket takes the shoulder rest (and a few other odds and sods, e.g. rosin) without issue.

Of my violin cases, one is another fabric-covered, polystyrene rectangular one, but the interior is much more schmick looking than the viola case.  Again I much prefer it over the classic shaped case the other violin resides in where the shoulder rest rattle around inside the case (or it would if I bothered taking that one anywhere).

Neil

[duane88]

I just charged a customer 500 bucks to repair a crack in the top of his son's violin. In his words, he "cheaped out" on the case and purchased a cheap foam case, oblong and light. The top and the back of the case are crushed. I guess that it did save the violin. Just one crack and a broken bridge.

My favorite for function and cost is the shaped Bobelock with suspension. I use these for shipping. They are deeper than most, so you fit a shoulder rest under the neck, and strong. The are sturdy, and if the zipper craps out, you can simply replace the cover for a reasonable cost and keep going. They aren't sexy, and you can not fit a tome of music in that little outside pocket.

You can get a prettier case, a more expensive case, and cases with enought room for all of your music and a change of clothing, but for well under $200 you can get a Bobelock shaped case with suspension and a velour interior that will protect your violin and bow.

 

As a side note, a story from the past week(case related)of unintended consequences: The BAM Texas. Moths entered the house in an old case. They enjoyed the stuffing in the couches (all antique), but the owner was alerted to the moths by finding them eating and infesting the hide on the outside of the case...

[thirteenthsteph]

3 hours ago, duane88 said:

...You can get a prettier case, a more expensive case, and cases with enought room for all of your music and a change of clothing, but for well under $200 you can get a Bobelock shaped case with suspension and a velour interior that will protect your violin and bow...

Well under $200? Bobelock shaped with suspension? Which one? The shaped one I found does not have suspension and the dart model is over $200.

[crazy jane]

$100--plywood, suspension, & music pouch:  https://johnsonstring.com/cgi-bin/music/scripts/violin-viola-cello-music.cgi?itemno=CSVNBO1007S/1BW

[thirteenthsteph]

Oh, silly me, you were talking about a violin case... I was talking about a viola one.