Choosing the right guitar case
This article is intended to offer some guidance on which kind of guitar case to purchase for your needs, rather than make an extensive list of all the different guitar cases, this article aims to help the reader make an informed decision which is right for them. There are two main questions you need to ask yourself when purchasing a guitar case, firstly, ‘what kind of guitar to I have?’ and secondly, ‘what will I be using the case for?’
Guitars come in a variety of different shapes and sizes; if you are an acoustic player it is essential that you purchase a corresponding acoustic guitar case. Similarly, if you are a bassist, your guitar will not fit in a standard case, a bass guitar case is required. This may seem hardly worth mentioning, but many people buy guitar cases which aren’t suitable for their instruments. Apart from this you also need to consider for what purpose you need a guitar case, will it be used to transport your guitar to your band room or are you intending on taking it on holiday with you? A soft case is hardly appropriate to be used for storage on planes, there’s no protection against any knocks it may be dealt.
The idea when purchasing a case is to focus on protection and function, if you intend to use your case for gigging and nothing more it may be a good idea to use a soft case. Soft guitar cases are a lot lighter and more versatile; these cases are more suited for everyday transportation and use. Many soft cases can be worn as backpacks complete with adjustable straps and used to store tuners, sheet music, guitar tabs etc. Soft cases are generally more affordable due to the materials being used. Although perhaps the most useful, these cases don’t provide much protection, even padded soft cases don’t provide the best protection against accidental damage.
When purchasing a hard guitar case you need to look for something both sturdy and durable, a stainless steel shell is ideal to provide the most protection. A word of warning, not all electric guitar cases are the same, if your guitar has a Stratocaster body it will need a corresponding Fender guitar case. If you’re considering buying a pre-owned case, check it for any wear and tear, if the case is damaged it may do little to protect your guitar. Many hard cases come with an array of gadgets e.g. tuners, pick holders. These are very much down to individual preference and requirements, I would suggest however, that if you intend to store a very expensive guitar, it may be a good to purchase a guitar with a built in humidifier. Humidifiers adjust the humidity of the air around the guitar, ensuring prolonged performance. A hardshell guitar case is ideal for long travel where protection is paramount; these cases are generally more expensive than soft cases and are a great deal heavier too. This is important to bear in mind if you intended to regularly use the cases to transport your instrument.
In conclusion, a soft case is ideal for short trips, such as to your band room or local gigging venue where the possibility of serious damage to your guitar is relatively low. If your intending to use the case for long term travel, then a hard guitar case if definitively the way to go, in most cases you won’t receive any compensation for any damage to your instrument by baggage handlers so it is important that you go to sufficient lengths to ensure your guitar is adequately protected.
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Tagged With acoustic guitar case, bass guitar case, electric guitar cases, Fender guitar case, guitar cases, guitar tabs, hard guitar case, hardshell guitar case, pick holders, soft case
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