Jerryc41
Well-known member
I like to have a hard case for each ukulele, but there are so many choices. The best situation is getting the uke shipped to you in its case, but that isn’t always possible, so you have to start looking. Generally speaking, I buy a better quality case for a better quality uke. Putting a $50 uke into a $100 case doesn’t make sense.
What do I look for? I prefer dome-top cases, since they are stronger. I like a case with three or more clasps, the kind with the loop that flips up. All hard cases seem to have a little storage compartment, but I have one with a compartment that is so shallow that a tuner won’t fit inside, so that’s a consideration.
The Velcro that holds the neck in place is a very nice feature because the uke moves around less. It’s very easy to attach a piece of Velcro if the case doesn’t come with one. Just be sure to cover the attaching screw to avoid scratching the neck. At least one shoulder strap is a nice feature, and having backpack straps is even better. Like the Velcro, it’s not difficult to attach strap rings to the case if it doesn’t come with them.
It’s got to be difficult for case makers to come up with good dimensions. I have ukes that will fit into one case, but not another, even though they are the same general size uke - soprano, concert, or tenor. Sometimes, having a strap button on the end will make the difference between fitting into the case or having to look for a different model. A clever designer could come up with a case that would accommodate different sizes and shapes of ukulele.
Hawaii Music Supply sent me a couple of ukes in cases, and they had a very nice piece of wrapped foam that went around the headstock to take up the slack. I’d like to see things like that for sale, for both the headstock and the bout.
I would like to see makers of non-standard ukes work with case makers to produce a hard case for their special ukuleles. The Ohana VitaUke has its own special case. Tyler St. Clare, maker of the Dewdrop, is looking into that, and I hope he’s successful. I did find a nice tenor case that fits my Dewdrop perfectly. The Firefly was a different story, though, and I wound up making my own wooden case. I used quarter inch plywood, but I should have used thinner, lighter lauan.
Having metal or rubber feet on the bottom and side is important to keep the case of the floor or the ground.
A tip: When you’re at an event, or even just home, if the uke is in its case, even just temporarily, lock at least one clasp. If the case gets knocked to the floor, and it’s not locked, the uke will probably fall out and get damaged. That happened to someone I know. At a recent ukulele event, I heard four ukes fall and hit the floor, so be careful when you put your uke down.
What do I look for? I prefer dome-top cases, since they are stronger. I like a case with three or more clasps, the kind with the loop that flips up. All hard cases seem to have a little storage compartment, but I have one with a compartment that is so shallow that a tuner won’t fit inside, so that’s a consideration.
The Velcro that holds the neck in place is a very nice feature because the uke moves around less. It’s very easy to attach a piece of Velcro if the case doesn’t come with one. Just be sure to cover the attaching screw to avoid scratching the neck. At least one shoulder strap is a nice feature, and having backpack straps is even better. Like the Velcro, it’s not difficult to attach strap rings to the case if it doesn’t come with them.
It’s got to be difficult for case makers to come up with good dimensions. I have ukes that will fit into one case, but not another, even though they are the same general size uke - soprano, concert, or tenor. Sometimes, having a strap button on the end will make the difference between fitting into the case or having to look for a different model. A clever designer could come up with a case that would accommodate different sizes and shapes of ukulele.
Hawaii Music Supply sent me a couple of ukes in cases, and they had a very nice piece of wrapped foam that went around the headstock to take up the slack. I’d like to see things like that for sale, for both the headstock and the bout.
I would like to see makers of non-standard ukes work with case makers to produce a hard case for their special ukuleles. The Ohana VitaUke has its own special case. Tyler St. Clare, maker of the Dewdrop, is looking into that, and I hope he’s successful. I did find a nice tenor case that fits my Dewdrop perfectly. The Firefly was a different story, though, and I wound up making my own wooden case. I used quarter inch plywood, but I should have used thinner, lighter lauan.
Having metal or rubber feet on the bottom and side is important to keep the case of the floor or the ground.
A tip: When you’re at an event, or even just home, if the uke is in its case, even just temporarily, lock at least one clasp. If the case gets knocked to the floor, and it’s not locked, the uke will probably fall out and get damaged. That happened to someone I know. At a recent ukulele event, I heard four ukes fall and hit the floor, so be careful when you put your uke down.