Apologies if this had cropped up earlier but my violin case really should be pensioned off - it's battered, creaking and tired. Any advice on buying a new one - are the rock bottom cheapest just as servicable as a more expensive one? Any makes recommended? Any tips? Or should I just stick with my old battered, creaking friend - which does it's job - but groaningly.

Cheers,

Goldfinch.

When I was looking for a new viola case I went to Guiviers and asked about lightweight cases (I was looking for an alternative to my very lovely but very heavy case.) The man in the shop showed me a few ranging from £300-£30. Speaking to the man and to a random friendly violin teacher who happened to be in the shop at the time they both recommeded the cheapest one. I duely bought it and for the past two years I have been knocking it about London, on the tube, buses etc, and it has held up magnificently. Even when one of the handles worked loose Guiviers happily repaired it free of charge. I have been very happy with it - so my recommendation would be for a cheaper case.

lis

I got mine from a local music shop and it was £30 or so and its excellent! Its another lightweight one, rectangular, so has space for music. I've had it for quite a while and it's still like new.

I bought a case for my daughter at Guiviers (Mortimer St) over 15 yrs ago, and its still going strong. I think I paid more like £50 then for it.

I bought a new viola case a couple of years ago. I use my viola a lot and as I play in quite a few orchestras I carry it around a lot. I wanted maximum protection for my instrument. Some of the things that I considered (in no particular order) were:

• the amount of protection for the instrument provided by the case from rain, from being dropped accidentally or from any other knocks
• weight of the case
• strength of the case (hardshell or just styrofoam)
• music pocket on top large enough to carry around lots of orchestral music
• appearance
• safety catches as well as zip closure
• the type of fixing for the carrying straps (if only fixed to the fabric case cover rather than to the case they can get pulled off)
• quality of hinges (don't want them to break or pull away from the case
• quality of manufacture (didn't want any substances in my case that might affect the rather fragile varnish of my instrument)
• durability (I want a case that will last for a long time)
• getting a case that fits my instrument well (this is only really an issue for a viola)
• shape of case (enough room for accessories)

I think the type of case you need probably depends on the value of the instrument you have and how you are likely to use it.

In the end I went for a Musafia case, which cost more than a lot of student instruments, but I decided that the most important thing for me was to have maximum protection for my instrument.

With inflation thats about £77 in todays' money.

Not bad!

For me, same as above. I own a couple of Musafia (Italian) and a couple of Gordge (English) cases and take my pick as to which one I use based on how much I will need to carry IN the case and the overall weight.

I bought my first Musafia case while at music college and despite all the travelling it's done, it's still in first class condition.

Styrofoam cases are ok (depending on their use), but they won't give full protection to an instrument against heavy knocks, being dropped, or accidentally caught in a train door!!!!

Thanks a lot everyone - your comments have been most helpful particularly the pros and cons of styroform.

A grateful Goldfinch

I've never tested one to destruction (must get round to it one day) but I know you can drop them 6 foot onto concrete and nothing will happen. The biggest problem is cosmetic - put anything opn top of them for too long and you can get an imprint in the styrofoam which shows through the canvas.

Liz

Maybe I was unlucky, but I posted a violin, that I'd sold on ebay, in a styrofoam case and when it arrived there was a huge split (not just a crack) in the belly of the instrument.... and it was posted with the bridge and the soundpost down!

I know that courier companies have drivers who are not always the most careful of handlers of the goods (even when labelled FRAGILE - handle with care), but the damage to the violin was horrendous. I can only imagine the package had been thrown onto the floor of the van and gradually, over the day, more and more parcels had been dumped on top. The styrofoam lid of the case, unlike domed laminated wood, had gradually been crushed downwards onto the belly of the instument.

Musafia probably have one of the most rigorous testing regimes for violin cases. They test impact destructability by driving down the road having left the case, with a violin inside, on the top of the car. The case eventually leaves the roof when the car reaches 30+ mph. They also leave cases out on rooves of buildings, in various climates, to see what happens to the case frames, outer materials and lining. The lids of Musafia cases are also able to withstand a weight of 130 kg placed on top of it. And if that's still not enough to convince anyone this is the only case they will ever need to buy, they come with a lifetime guarantee!!!!

It often pays to go the extra mile in the first place.

"We aren't rich enough to be able to afford cheap things."
- Alexander Musafia, scholar of philosophy, 1892 - 1976

You've certainly made the case (groan) for the Musafia.

We've been trading for nearly five years and the total postal damage amounts to one fingerboard come off, one collapsed soundpost and a couple of broken bows. I've heard some horror stories though, like a big name courier (fortunately perhaps I can't remember which one) carrying a valuable cello which finished its journey by being THROWN over a fence despite the fragile label, and another tale of a violin worth several thousand that was signed for by P.Orch .....

Liz

AmandaL wrote:



I just have this image of you trying to squash a violin in a postbox a la Mr Bean
But hey you guys - you've never worked at the post office sorting depot have you? I have and I can tell tales that will make your eyes water. In fact putting on 'fragile' is like a red rag to a bull - some idiots just see 'fragile' and hurl the parcel with as much force as possible into the container. Sick isn't it. I was totally horrified at what I saw.

My husband deals in books - some are very rare - and the only way to protect them is to wrap them up in bubble wrap - loads of it.

Many years ago I worked in a sorting office as a temp job. I knew one individual who if he encountered an package which said "Photographs - Do Not Bend" his reponse was "Yes they do, Look"! Fragile tape was just seen as a challenge.