are there bad hardcases???

[RawrGazzawrs]

Im looking for a tenor hardcase and I just had a thought while looking for some online, are there bad hardcases? because I saw some that are over 100 dollars that just look a little more durable than the ones i saw for around 70 or 80.

well can anyone suggest a good hardcase around 70 or 80? preferably one that has a little space for a humidifier.

 

[chindog]

Im looking for a tenor hardcase and I just had a thought while looking for some online, are there bad hardcases? because I saw some that are over 100 dollars that just look a little more durable than the ones i saw for around 70 or 80.

well can anyone suggest a good hardcase around 70 or 80? preferably one that has a little space for a humidifier.

I like the tenor case from Musician's Friend. It's about $40. And fully functional.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/musicians-gear-tenor-ukulele-case/712792000001000

 

[itsme]

Well, hard cases aren't necessarily the be-all/end-all. Some of them have minimal interior padding, so an uke could still be damaged if the case is dropped, for example.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Lanikai polyfoam case I bought (same thing as the Kala "Uke Crazy" case according to two of our resident dealers). Very sturdy, lightweight, inexpensive. Here's a thread about them (scroll down a ways for my review):

http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?49085-Polyfoam-cases-Kala-vs.-Lanikai

 

[gyosh]

I just bought the Reunion Blues "Continental" gig bag. It's not a "hard" case, but something in between. I actually think it affords more protection than my Kamaka hard case and my only complaint is that it should have some type of handle/grip on top of the headstock. I'll probably do a review with pictures soon.

 

[ksiegel]

Rick Turner is very partial to his Reunion Blues Leather mandolin Gig Bag. Seeing as he is one of the premier custom builders, he is worth listening to. He does say it isn't inexpensive, but then, neither are the wonderful ukes he builds.

I have an o'ahu hard case from Hawaii Music Supply for my Sceptre - under $80, fine with some microfiber cloths for padding. I've got a Kala "Uke Crazy" hard case for the Cordoba ($85, Kala), and the Kala Cedar Top is in a Fremont Black rectangular case ($85, Musician's Friend). The Fluke Hard Case is made by Gator, and is perfect for that instrument. The Ohana and Republic each came with a hard case when I received them.

I don't have anything better than a gig bag for the Firefly, the Stella, or the Epiphones, but I put the gig bags inside a Kala tenor polyfoam "Uke Crazy" for travel - it adds protection. Although I'm still looking for hard shell cases for the banjo ukes.

...-Kurt

 

[jwieties]

I like the tenor case from Musician's Friend. It's about $40. And fully functional.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/musicians-gear-tenor-ukulele-case/712792000001000

Amazon has the same case for 31. Musician friend has a price match link and will bet that price by about a buck. I've got one on the way.

 

[chindog]

Amazon has the same case for 31. Musician friend has a price match link and will bet that price by about a buck. I've got one on the way.

Well that's a deal you can't beat with a stick! Thanks for that info!

 

[Noobie]

There are definitely bad hard cases. The case that came with the vintage Kamaka I have (circa 1980 or so) is pretty bad. The sides bend and the latches don't line up, and the color looks like urine that would interest a urologist.

That being said, most of the hard cases I see these days look good construction wise, just make sure your ukulele fits well with adequate padding (and that it doesn't slide around inside).

 

[RawrGazzawrs]

i was reading some reviews of other hardcases and saw that some ukes dont fit some cases. /:
well ive still got lots of time before ordering a case so anyone know what would fit a tenor sized cedar top ohana ukulele? i assume that all the tenors are built to the exact same size but just in case im planning on buying the cedar top and willow b/s from ohana...

 

[Gmoney]

I just bought the Reunion Blues "Continental" gig bag. It's not a "hard" case, but something in between. I actually think it affords more protection than my Kamaka hard case and my only complaint is that it should have some type of handle/grip on top of the headstock. I'll probably do a review with pictures soon.

Have to second that. I currently have my KoAloha Super Concert (tenor scale, concert body) in one of those. Great case!

But... to the OP question... One thing you may note in addition to some of the other mentioned "issues" to watch out for w/cheaper cases is the physical alignment of latches & hinges. I've had three of the tenor "tweed" cases like this one from this vendor:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Tenor-Ukulele-Tweed-Case-Vintage-Style-VIDEO-/390219556471

Tried 2 Mainland tenor's & 2 Fender No'hea's for fit. On of the three was just about perfect for the No'hea that I gave to my son. Good fit, reasonably padded & the case closed well all around & the latches lined up well. The other two, while fitting the Mainland's (somewhat tighter than the No'hea across the lower bout), had latches that were visually skewed so that you had to be deliberate to latch them properly. And on one of them the top wouldn't fully cover the bottom end of the case at the lower bout, so when closed you could see a gap between the two parts. Either the top case "wood" was warped or the hinges weren't attached properly OR ?? Similar issue w/the latches on this one too. Another issue that is fairly common on cheaper cases (I've seen it more on soprano cases) is that the neck block/rest is sometimes too high for the uke to actually sit in it properly. On those you have to do some surgery to take the neck rest out & cut it down (not hard to do & it is usually just fabric over foam w/thin plywood on either side of it).

Can't go wrong with either a Ko'olau/Oahu case or the hard-shell "Uke-Crazy" case (not the polyfoam mentioned earlier) which will cost you somewhere north of your range, but not too much.

And... you can still get that amazing Reunion Blues case online from Finecases.com for $119/149 - UkeRepublic.com is also carrying them.

 

[Gmoney]

i was reading some reviews of other hardcases and saw that some ukes dont fit some cases. /:
well ive still got lots of time before ordering a case so anyone know what would fit a tenor sized cedar top ohana ukulele? i assume that all the tenors are built to the exact same size but just in case im planning on buying the cedar top and willow b/s from ohana...

I don't own an Ohana, though I've played a few of my friends... Mike at UkeRepublic.com can probably steer you well as he carrys a wide range of cases and sells Ohana's also. He has some great cases with a really tough "pebbly" textured outer shell that are great & at a great price. He also usually has access to the Ohana cases.

Mim of Mimsukes.com mau also be able to steer you to on that will fit your paticular uke. Where I see the most difference w/tenors especially is the lower bout dimensions & sometimes the waist - some cases have fairly rigid shape that seems to pinch the waist a bit more than I'd like, overly compressing the lining for my liking.

 

[RawrGazzawrs]

thanks for the info gmoney, ill email both of them right now