Do You Really need a Case for your Guitar?
the case for needing a case!
You are a guitar player and you just bought a really nice guitar. Maybe it wasn’t the most expensive guitar on the market, but it also wasn’t cheap, and you were shocked when it didn’t come with any type of protective case! You feel like you’ve been ripped off! There was a time when an expensive guitar typically came with a case. That is happening less often these days. Why is that? And what should you do?
So you need the best hardshell case that money can buy! Right? Let’s talk about the different types of guitar protection options and the different scenarios that you may find yourself in when buying a guitar.
Types of Guitar Cases
Let’s talk about the most common types of guitar protection you see these days: hard cases and soft cases. They come in a variety of shapes and styles and offer different levels of protection for you guitars. Some provide amazing protection for travel, while others offer convenience. Let’s talk about each type of case so you can figure out what is best for you!
Hard Cases
Guess what! Hard cases are made out of materials that are hard. I think that’s pretty straight forward. It’s not a one size fits all when it comes to hardshell cases. They are usually designed to closely fit the shape of your guitar to ensure that it doesn’t move around within the case. Some hard cases, called flight cases, are rated for travel and security. You could use these cases for air travel, although I’ve never used them for that experience.
There are some hardshell cases that have a beautiful vintage cosmetic appearance. Although they look great and offer protection, the outer material would probably not wear well after a lot of use.
Soft Cases
Can you guess what soft cases are made from? Pure diamond is usually what people might think, but the truth is that they are made from soft materials, like fabric and foam. One common soft case is the gig bag. It’s a soft case that will have pockets in the front that allow you to store your guitar accessories. On the back you will find shoulder straps, much like what you would find on a backpack. These types of cases are really handy when you need to carry other guitar accessories in your hands. So they can be really convenient and take up less storage space than a hard shell case. Gibson sometimes offers their softshell case which is kind of a hybrid of a gigbag, but in the size of a hard case. It offers decent protection while maintaining a lightweight body. There are so many options available these days.
Guitars that come with Cases
When you buy an expensive guitar, it always comes with a hardshell case. Right? Isn’t that the way it is today? The truth is, more and more these days, companies are opting to not include a hard shell case with expensive guitars. Of course everything is relative and what is expensive you to you may not be expensive to someone else. It’s a cost saving method. It’s also common these days for higher priced guitars to be bundled with a gig bag. Two recent examples are the PRS Silversky and the G&L Fullerton ASAT Classic. Most people are surprised to find the Silversky packed with a gigbag case, but apparently this was the request of John Mayer. Even Fender’s Performer series of guitars, which are made in America, come with the Fender Deluxe Gigbag. So there’s no guarantee today if you will get a hardshell case with your guitar.
Should all guitars come with Cases?
That is the question today. Shouldn’t all higher priced guitars come with a hardshell case? You would think that everyone would want to protect their investment and a hardshell case would definitely help that situation. Not everyone needs a hardshell case however. An acoustic guitar seems like a pretty sure bet because of how fragile it can be.
Some people are happy with a gigbag, and others are happy to store their guitars on a wall hanger. Hard shell cases take up storage space, but offer the best protection for your guitars. It really all comes down to your own personal situation and what works best for you!
MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
So what do I think about all of this? I’ve made a full video discussing my personal thoughts and situations. Take a look at the video below and leave a comment in the video comment section to let me know about your personal situation and thoughts.
Play Guitar and Have Fun!
