Official Luthiers Forum!

Looking forward to your "toot" after you figure this out!

Mike

I don't think so. I'd have $65 for 2 sheets of plywood and another $35 for veneer glue alone. Then there are latches, handle, hindges and that's probably another $20. If it was something I couldn't get a case for it would be different. Besides I'm behind on two videos as it is.

Aw Chris, now don't go abandoning this idea!

If you're building a standard sized instrument, whether it's a dred, OM, or a 3/4 size fiddle, you'll never beat case manufacturers for price. You would only want to bother if you want something extremely custom and special and/or unique. (Aside: why oh why are the vast majority of instrument cases black? Sure they hide dirt, but they heat up mighty fast with even a short amount of solar energy.) If you do want a unique case for your instruments, especially if the instrument body shape is your own custom shape, then the case is sold to the instrument buyer and passed on as part of the cost.

But, if you have built an instrument in a unique shape or size that will not fit in a standard case, your options are to pay a case manufacturer to make a custom case, or build it yourself.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

It is like you say and mine is a sloped shoulder dred or J-45. It's a matter of economics in this case. If I could save some mony then I'd do it but the numbers don't work in my favor. I'm ready to start the next guitar as soon as I fix the dings I put in the top yesterday morning, I'm so pissed and install the pup if it get here today.

Chris bro I don't understand wanting to build a case either unless you want to apply your excellent craftsmanship and very clever engineering mind to designing and building a case that is superior to commercial offerings. See I complimented you thinking that I could get away with being a nay sayer....

Anyway I understand the economic concern so have you considered a gig bag as a temporary solution until a commercial case is back on the radar? Building your own case as a one-off seems like a money pit and an unnecessary distraction.

Look at the Musicians Friend cases. I bought one of the Classical cases for something like $59.95, and it was a very nice case. It's not a high end Cedar Creek, or an Ameritage, but much better than I expected. If the guitar is a reasonably standard size they'll have one to fit it.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Dana Bourgeois shipped (Don't know if he still does so I can't speak for thew now) both his drednaughts and slope D's in D size cases....I've done it too. They fit pretty dang well.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Chris,

If this is not for resale there's always the Pawn Shop option. I've gotten some pretty nice used hard cases for less than $50.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Long time no read Hesh,
Yeah, I have a gig bag. I was thinking of making a case thinking I could save some cash but that's not going to happen so it will be a commercial bought one. Like I said I can get a Gibson case for it or wait for a Martin second or I saw a TKL for about a $120 too. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with this guitar yet but I might give this guitar to a friend because she could use a good backup guitar and it wouldn't be a bad promo type of deal either so I'm trying to keep down the cost to me. It's always a killer when the case cost more then you have in wood for the guitar if you catch my drift.
I'm also with you on it being a distraction from my next build. That entered my mind in the last couple of days too. I have a bad habit of getting side tracked and need to get more focused.

In case anone is wondering I broke down and ordered on of these today.
http://www.wwbw.com/Silver-Creek-Vintag ... 51762.wwbw
Not bad with only a $10 shipping. Looks like my Martin case.