Carry case for a hollow body guitar

Soldato
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15 Feb 2013
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Edinburgh
Hey,

I'm wondering if people with more experience transporting equipment could chip in.
I've got a hollow body guitar and I'm looking for a carry case for it and I'm not sure what to go for?
Is a hard case over the top for when I'll just be carrying it (not for hold luggage or anything) or do you really want the added protection when it's a hollow body?
Will a gig bag be fine for the odd carry about?

I don't plan on transporting often, and it would almost always be hand carried or in a boot. Never in a coach/plane with tons of other cases

Thanks
 
Caporegime
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I'd honestly go hard case. They also look cooler when you busk.

The other option is just skip the case entirely and tie it to your back with an old bit of rope
 
Soldato
Joined
4 Apr 2003
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7,964
Ritter performance series gig bag circa £50 ones (30mm padding) which I quite happily carry £3k guitars in or a hard case. Flight case warehouse ones are good enough for hard cases..
 
Soldato
OP
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Edinburgh
It's a Gretsch guitar, dunno the model offhand.
I'll look into the ritter gig bag, that or just go for the hardcase.
I have a hardcase for my solid body electric, and found it a bit ott for it, as I could probably hit it off a wall and the guitar would win :p
Just net sure how delicate hollow bodies are (this is my first one)
 
Associate
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N.I
I fly regularly with my band and we usually end up with 4 guitars to bring with us. Most airlines will insist the guitar goes in the hold in my experience. In which case, you will want a hard case. I have seen baggage handlers treat our gear with contempt. You should check with your airline as you dont want your instrument ending up in the hold with a gig bag.
 
Associate
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819
I fly regularly with my band and we usually end up with 4 guitars to bring with us. Most airlines will insist the guitar goes in the hold in my experience. In which case, you will want a hard case. I have seen baggage handlers treat our gear with contempt. You should check with your airline as you dont want your instrument ending up in the hold with a gig bag.

United Breaks Guitars
 
Soldato
Joined
4 Apr 2003
Posts
7,964
I fly regularly with my band and we usually end up with 4 guitars to bring with us. Most airlines will insist the guitar goes in the hold in my experience. In which case, you will want a hard case. I have seen baggage handlers treat our gear with contempt. You should check with your airline as you dont want your instrument ending up in the hold with a gig bag.

Very true but the OP has said he isn't doing that and it is only for light and carefully handled use so a quality Ritter gigbag (not one of the cheaper series) is a lot easier.

If gigging/touring or esp flying then a proper flight case not just a hard case is a must.
 

APM

APM

Associate
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9 Nov 2011
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Wales
Flight case warehouse do great cases and you can get used from them too,I've had a few cases from them over the years just to store guitars safely here at home.

If it's a Gretsch I'd go for a good hard case with padding then you're ready for all future needs and you know she's safe wherever she is.
 

APM

APM

Associate
Joined
9 Nov 2011
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1,460
Location
Wales
I was a member of Richards Guitars forum for a few years and there's a wealth of knowledge on there about the more esoteric aspects of guitar ownership,maybe a quick look on there would put your mind at rest.

That is part of a commercial site though so I hope it's ok for me to mention it here.
 
Associate
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Location
Stevenage
I run with the following rule of thumb:

If it's a set neck guitar with "Gibson type" headstock always a hard case. Headstock breaks are far too common and expensive to fix.

If it's a bolt on neck guitar with "Fender type" headstock i'll risk a soft case but only if the guitar is never out of my possession.
 
Man of Honour
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29 Mar 2003
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Location
Stoke on Trent
I've only got my cousins word for it but around 2004 he was blown up in Alcudia (yes blown up, LPG leak and he lit a fag).
His Ovation was found in it's case 200 yards away and about a year later when his hands had healed enough I took it out of the case for him and it was still in tune.
Get a hard case.

Funnily enough all my cases are hard but when I take my Yamaha acoustic out it isn't protected.
Naughty boy.
 
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