For tour vans, I find hard shell cases to be more convenient since they can basically be stacked and slid around like Tetris blocks. Gig bags tend to bulge out and have straps that hang up on things, I have found. In other situations they’re great, though
I hate soft cases. They do nothing to protect against humidity damage. We have a customer using the nice gig bag that came with his Martin guitar with a humidifier in the case. It has a lovely crack running through the top! I put it in a hard shell case with his same humidifier for a few days and the crack is already beginning to close up. I’m in a cold northern climate and I see this all the time in the winter. Hard shell cases all the way!!!
I know this is anecdotal, but I live in the Great Lakes region where we get dumped on with snow in the winter. So it’s cold and my house is from the early 1900’s so it’s not well insulated and it gets dry. My Martin has done fine in its gig bag, it just uses 2 or 3 sets of the daddario humidipacks versus the one that lasts all summer. I’ve had no problems with cracking or swelling!
I love softshell cases. One of the things I don't think that was mentioned is the fact that so many softshell cases have backstraps. When you're lugging all of your gear into a venue or to the studio, being able to carry your guitars on your back is super nice. Especially when you have multiple guitars in different tunings. I plan on buying softshell cases for my acoustics sometime soon because I find myself accidentally slamming them into walls in narrow hallways, even when I'm trying to be especially careful.
The last new guitar I bought came with the switch tip in the pocket and a big round squishy foam piece stuck on the switch. Might be worth looking into.
Yup. My cheap $600 Epiphone Les Paul had a foam square on the switch and it shipped in only a cardboard box in one of those lame white paper bag things and it arrived in perfect condition.
Mono makes great cases, definitely changed my mind on hard vs. soft shell cases. Way less weight and feel more protective for general use. Thanks for sharing your journey!
Yeah, I feel like the rigidity of a hardshell case would transfer way more force into a guitar than a softshell with padding and give to it. In fact, when I was a dumb young kid I left my Gibson acoustic in its hardshell standing upright while I stood a few feet away. A slight gust of wind blew it over and it hit the ground. Opened it up, looking straight down at it and I thought it was alright, but when I took it out I realized the headstock had snapped straight through and was only attached by the layer of veneer on its front (Granted, it was a Gibson so it may have been the slight gust of wind that broke the headstock). Compare that to my Mono case, my Gator softshells, and even my crappy Martin gig bag, which have all been dropped several times over and have never failed to protect the guitar and you get quite the compelling case for softshell cases.
I have traveled to another country by plane and my soft case was a champ. I thought this was common knowledge. It's useful to think of how cars are made. They used to make them with an extremely hard exterior but eventually realized that all the energy from the crash would be transferred to the interior. Nowadays, cars have relatively soft exteriors that work as shock absorbents.
Agree, but its not about the hardness of the case, its about the instrument not being properly supported and somewhat loose inide the case. If you used same quality foam material inside the hard case, it would be even better case then the soft one.
What about if by any chance there is some heavy luggage on top your guitar in a bus or a plane or whatever? Isn't that a situation where the hard case is a better option?
An important thing to check with soft shell cases is the design of the zip. A basic zip is going to allow moisture to leave the case (and eventually the guitar) even if the material your case is made of is providing a decent sealed environment. I experienced this with my acoustic and went back to a hard-shell, but I'm sure the decent quality softshells have now got this covered with sealed zips.
There I live the air is very dry durning the heating (winter) season. I use D’Addario humidipack and in case hygrometers. I find that the hard shell cases retain the humidity better.
I think the key is finding what works for you rather than bowing to pressure from the music snobs. It seems like that is what you’re doing! I’m new to your channel, love it so far.
Packing is everything. I'm not putting a $5000 guitar in a soft-case. My Emmons steel guitar (~$10k) goes in a flight case, just as my Strat (~$1k) goes in a flight case. Period. packing...packing...packing - makes all the difference in shipping.
After purchasing a new cello (Fragile instrument?) some time ago, I was searching for some form of protection while transporting it. Cheap bags were readily available, but usually had thin fabric and foam. At the extreme end there were fiberglass formed ATA cases that cost half of what the cello cost. Then, on Ebay, I found a Chinese company that built cases w/600 denier padded pack cloth exterior surrounding a blow molded/foamed cell, cello form fitted interior, lined with heavy duty foam and fake fur. Cello is well supported with physical blows being absorbed and minimally transferred to the instrument. Their ad video showed a cased cello being hurled from a 2nd floor balcony with no damage. While somewhat skeptical, I ordered it and am now a believer. I'm gradually replacing all of my heavy, wooden hardshell guitar cases and replacing them with mostly hybrid soft/hardshell cases or glorified/reinforced gig bags. Sure you say, what if somebody sits on it or drives their ATV over it? .......Well, then maybe I'm just not responsible enough to own a guitar! The chances of those events occurring are relatively unrealistic, but I do know the daily hazards of leaning the guitar against a wall and having it tumble, or me tumbling with it, or bashing it into the wall corner when I'm in too much of a hurry etc. A hard shell case will transfer that energy directly to the interior/instrument, often to the detriment of the wall and/or your ego. With the padded exteriors I no longer have to patch/paint the sheetrock corners in my house where it collided with a hardshell case. Function over form. Guitar protected and house/car protected from hard case. Rides better in the car without sliding around. Lighter and smaller. Plenty of pockets and room for pedals, cables, tablets, scores and lunch. I have several that have a resilient but stiff layer of polyethylene under the pack cloth/foam exterior. This provides form on some of the less expensive cases, increases resistance to puncturing forces and maintains humidity. If you are a gigging musician and a fan of nitrocellulose finishes (Gibson, you know who you are) and dislike the crazing and checking of the finish when you repeatedly take it from your 72 degree house, to a -20 degree car, to a 75 degree juke joint with the humidity level equal parts sweat and spilled Buckhorn beer. If only nitro finishes and guitar woods would expand and contract at the same rate!! Oh wait, the insulation properties of these soft cases balances out these rapid cycles of movement. (Midwesterners understand) My first Gibson was an es125 , and the finish failed within 2 years. I currently have a 2000 Gibson Blueshawk, and the finish is still intact and looking lovely! My favorite case is a brown Road Runner rr4tec which lists @ $130 and I purchased for under $80 on sale. Old fashion wood hard cases were over $100. If you think your axe may be caught in a unicorn stampede stick with the hard case. For others,.........well you get it! Peter
Wife and I played a string of shows in the the UK (we’re in Nashville) this past summer and used Mono cases. Airlines forced us to check guitars and the cases kept them safe and sound. Highly recommend Mono.
I disagree- A hard case is cheaper than a finish ding repair/crack caused by soft shell case. Shipping is, say, a 3 day process which is a tiny element of a guitars life. Shipping is a separate issue in regard to packing. After shipping a guitar It will probably live and move around thereafter in a case.
The soft shell case that came with my Taylor is great. It's well padded and lots of pockets. The soft shell case that came with my Fender Mustang is trash. It has thin padding and not much support. It does have storage pouches but I ordered the factory hardshell case which I feel more confident with.
worked in music store for 10 years. we get our guitars in cardboard boxes of six or singles. ship them to clients also just in the box. in all his time it has only happened once - switch was broken off, but body was ok. so for you to get 2 out of 6 is a lot.
Many years ago I worked for France's largest music store (at the time), as the warehouse guitar tech and I prepared and packed everything for shipping. There is no question that a good soft case is superior to a cheap hardshell. NO QUESTION. And yes, the current Mono cases are excellent. When I travel I use a Mono M80 Sleeve, lighter and slimmer than a Vertigo, fits easier in an overhead locker, but if I have to gate check the guitar it will still survive a few small suitcases and strollers.
Fender has a pad in the top of the Telecaster/Stratocaster case that protects the instrument from that sort of damage. My 1970s Jazz Bass had a metal guard over the bridge that also protected against that sort of damage. Most just remove same as in the case of the old ashtray bridge cover on old Telecasters. Protection for the 'hat switch' on a Telecaster was built in to both the instrument and the case. I think an expert acoustic guitar maker will make a superior electric instrument as I was impressed with your demo of yours; especially tone and that's what it's all about. 🤘
I think, changing to softcase is definitely better. However, you have to pack the guitar properly first. Even if you change to a better case, packing is still very important.
In Australia we don’t have the option to carry our guitars on the plane, they must be checked in oversize. i have been flying my Tele in a Mono Vertigo case for a few years now checked & have had no dramas at all (touch wood)
Would you maintain your opinion with TSA rated cases? Also, I've seen these shipping boxes designed for guitars that float the whole thing in air bags and a cardboard support system inside the box. Thoughts on those? (I think Henning Pauly did a video on them a few years back.)
I am a Mono evangelist, I got my first Mono softshell case when I bought my Novo guitar, they ship all their guitars with Mono softshell cases unless you order the hard case. Mono rules!
they are better, until a nasty stewardess refuses to let you board with your guitar in the cabin. Then you'll be forced to gate-check it in the soft case.
Holy crap, The gallery shots of your DaVinci acoustics are intense. If one of those broke in shipping I'd lock myself away with a bottle of bourbon for a good long time until I had my head on straight. Honestly anything short of something like an Anvil road case ( you dont hear of them often anymore..) that weighs like 50 lbs and needs its own casters or hand delivering the instrument would be appropriate. A good mono case inside of a commercial grade cardboard box that is doubled up and the Mono case encapsulated in several layers of large bubble sized bubble wrap then packed full of packing peanuts might satisfy my over protective nature but a very hefty, ironclad insurance policy for shipping damage/ loss sure would help. When that instrument is destroyed it's as if your young thoroughbred Arabian stud of impeccable lineage whose care and training was your personal undertaking is stolen, taken for a drunken joy ride by a farriers assistant and left for dead, mauled by coyotes and is now unable to stud, or be ridden. it's soul crushing. When the embodiment of your ultimate expression and love of the craft , your Magnum Opus, is destroyed by an angry fool with a chip on his shoulder no amount of financial compensation will ever make things right again. I would be out for blood if I could find out who the responsible party was. In the end it's the policies of the shipping company that cause damages because management sets the corporate ethics. The shipping speed and decreased cost/ increased profit are far more important than customer satisfaction in management's equation.
The first couple of guitars I bought, 40 years ago, came with gig bags which were totally worthless, whereas the last guitar I bought a few months ago had a proper soft-shell case ( it is an acoustasonic jazzmaster). I can say from experience that one of the two gig-bag guitars suffered a headstock break, but the acoustasonic has been accidentally dropped down 2 flights of stairs, landing on the headstock (in the case) - no damage. I have hardshell cases for everything except that one.
Soft cases are much better than in the past, and do offer a lot of protection. I doubt they'll last as long as a hard case for most players, but we'll see. Hard cases haven't changed as much as soft ones, and should have much more padding that conforms to the 'hard points' of the guitar it's made for, which will drive up the prices. Good luck, keep us updated 😊
So I am a gigging musician and I use that mono case. I also use the dual electric case. That case goes in and out and travels with my PRS cores and Les Pauls 2-3 times a week. The have gone on trips for hours. I have never had an issue, never had damage or scratches. I live in Michigan and we got hot summers and cold winters. Again my guitar arrive in perfect condition. Definitely a great soft guitar case.
I still wouldn't be comfortable flying (checked baggage) my guitars in one of these. Soft shell style, like these are great convenience for rehearsal, and close by gigs. But, as soon as someone, other than you is handling your gear. I feel like it has to be a Hiscox liteflite as the absolute minimum. Good video. Thank you
it's who you shipped them with... carriers suck.... almost all carriers suck... in my business the amount of damage just we receive and deal with is unconceivable... for fiddles, Overnight next day UPS... everything else is too scary for guitars
Taylor's newer aero cases remind me of these. I much prefer my aero case to the hardshell case that came with my Taylor. I feel it not only offers more protection, but is also lighter and somewhat smaller. My local dealer told me that people are starting to ask if they can swap their hard case for an aero case when they buy a new Taylor. I think we are witnessing the beginning of an industry wide swing towards well-engineered soft cases.
The Taylor Aero case is very nice and built well. During the last day of Sam Ash's closing, a sales guy asked me if I wanted an Aero case for $20 and of course I immediately bought it. Now my Yamaha nylon string guitar has a nice upgraded home.
Something like a Calton case would probably withstand any kind of trauma you could dream of imparting. Of course, they cost like a nice guitar so there's that.
Yeah, softshell cases are just fine until the next snaps, something Gibson guitars are very prone to! You might have your opinions but I have mine; the hardshell cases to me just offer better protection. These softshell cases are like having a vehicle and only carrying liability coverage….if you cause a wreck, your insurance company will pay for the other vehicles, but you’re screwed and that’s why it’s better to carry full coverage. Just my two cents.
Kiesel guitars has their own branded soft case they use. It is very sturdy. They actually put guitar in it and threw it off their two story building and no damage. They put guitar in hard case and did same completely destroyed.
Probably an atypical example, but I own 90 stringed instruments and I prefer them to stack together well. So a rectangular hard case is the best solution for me. The form-fit cases (acoustics, LP, SG, etc.) are something of a pain, but the bags and soft cases are a total nightmare.
Soft cases all the way… Easier to deal with, backpack straps make travei so much easier and lighter (LESS CRAP TO CARRY). Only intrument I’ve shipped that was damaged was a Tenor Ukulele in a hardshell case.. Enuf for me..
No chance in hell I have 8 flamenco guitars ranging from 5k to 10k I have seen plenty of deluxe gig bags and you just can’t beat a top quality hard shell cases. Soft shell cases are for student guitars including deluxe gig bags. Guitar makers a cheaping out and trying to tell us soft shell is better. That’s why my builder is hermanos Conde for me and was for my father , grandfather and uncle’s . When I pick up a new guitar it’s waiting in a top quality hard case.
I have a random question. Anybody has tried to get humidification packages inside the soft shell? Just wondering. Just got a brand new all salud guitar in a soft shell and thinking about getting a hard case just for humidity theme. I live in Georgia, around metro area and the humidity it’s not as bad like in the northern area. But this is like a first baby, first all solid guitar I want to take care of. Any idea about soft shell and humidipacks or just straight to case? Thanks in advance.
??? Personal handling? Preference. Shipping??? Needs a shipping container. No guarantees. It's a crap shoot with shipping. You can only increase your odds. The shipping industry needs a premium price for extra care just like over night is premium fast.
I have a mono for my 000 Martin to take to gigs, im not game enough to put it in checked baggage yet & doubt I will confidently. my tele flys everywhere in a vertigo case under the plane though.
@John Griswold if you look closely, there are loops on the front of the bag. Mono makes an accessory that can hold a lot more stuff. I use mine to hold tools, cables, and a line 6 helix xl. My whole rig is on my back. Amp in hand and I can even get the door for myself.
You can't stack anything on top of a softshell case. If a carrier/shipper does that, or squishes it against a wall behind heavier., more rectangular-shaped items, you might have a problem, but since it's shaped like a guitar, and is hard to stack things on, anyway, it might do allright in shipping.
Oh for crying out loud. Is this video title a joke? All I can say is: Let someone trip & fall down or heaven forbid, something very heavy tipped over on your guitar in a soft case aka: "gig bag", then try to tell us all how "soft case is better than a hardshell case". Or you could even be carrying your guitar in it's case and you accidentally drop it or trip & fall yourself........and yes, it happens more often than people care to remember or even admit. Anyone with common sense knows that a soft case/gig bag is NOT "better than a hardshell case". To hell with "ease of carrying & convenience"........that all flies out the window when your expensive guitar is broken or smashed all to hell due to some passerby tripping & falling on it, or drop the case itself down a flight of stairs. Hard shell cases exist for a good reason.
I disagree.. I think soft cases can be almost as good, but they are as expensive or even more expensive than a hard case. Most people when they think of a “soft case” they are thinking of those shitty ones you can pick up for like 20 bucks… If you’re spending under $100 for a soft case you’re going to be sad if something happens to it.
Yeah, you're totally right man... AliExpress sellers do not recommend ship the guitar in hard cases because they can move inside... Wait, is this the right place to mention that?!:-7
I’m a bit torn on this issue. If you are someone who takes your guitar on busses and trains, the backstraps are great. But I doubt it will hold up for being loaded in and out of tour vans. Also this is the most expensive gigbag you can buy.
I just got a great deal on an Epiphone J-45, and I will have to fly with it to ship it back home. The guitar cost me 550 dollars, and I need to buy a case for it but don't really have the budget for a Mono case. Would you guys feel comfortable flying your guitar home with the Gibson G-45 soft-shell case, or should I just stretch my budget and get a hardshell case? What's the cheapest case you would recommend?
I am as expert you will find in logistics and that includes packaging. You know what caused damage. Ineffective packaging. You had the guitar banging around in case and packed around it. So you are able to fix that. UPS and FedEx use high speed conveyor systems and it is high speed. If a box is trapped due to a tear or something the boxes behind it will bash the shit out of the stuck one and that cartoon is tossed off the conveyor. Simply put your hardshell isn't holding the guitar well enough for the handling. When I started in tech logistics I destroyed a piece of equipment worth $250k. Live and learn
Nice case. Not a fan of the ugly and obtrusive logo, though. Back in the bad old days, generally speaking, you bought products and from the revenue stream created from selling their products manufacturers paid for marketing. Today, they expect us to be unpaid walking advertisements for their products. If this comment seems puzzling it could be because you're under the age of 40 and have no memory of a time when it was any other way. Undoubtedly a nice case, though, and I suppose that is all that will matter to 99 percent of folks.
I have an OM28 with a plush Martin hardshell case, and I don't think there's any better fit or protection for it, okay maybe a Calton. Protection is #1 convenience is secondary. The same goes for my F style mandolin, hardshell all the way.
I gate checked a gibson sg standard in one of these cases, and it survived, and was still in tune at the other end. Fender should be fine to check right?
New to your channel, and very interested to see your promotion of soft cases. I came to the same conclusion a couple of years ago when I bought a Mono acoustic case. Now all my hard cases sit in the closet unused.
MONO cases are good if you don't have a Gibson. I bought one for my lLes Paul and returned it. The design of the case puts pressure on the neck when closed, which leads me to believe that as soon as more is added in a fall..... Neck is done. I didn't have the heart to test this theory, you can check it out for yourselves. Fender style, you are good to go with the straight neck design.
I get it for touring, but for the vast majority of us that play locally or at least drive ourselves to gigs, hard cases are just pointless and very annoying. I use quality soft cases for all my guitars including my National with rear facing tuners. Reunion Blues and Mono do great cases at their high end. In Europe Thomann also do one equal to both those mentioned above and quite cost effective as it's their own brand.
What hard shell cases were you using that didn't totally support the neck ? As far as selector switch, take the knob off and tape it to something and put a piece of tape on the side of the selector and push it down so that it can be easily pulled up in place, take the screws out, tape them somewhere inside the case. You'll have a hard time convincing me that that Mono is as good as some of my hard shells. My cheap hard shells yes but not the better ones.
the sad part is most courrier, if not all - here in our country at least - requires a hard shell case for shipping regardless of the quality of your soft case. I think it's faster to work when you can throw things around even if it says "fragile".
Personal opinion is that while there are good soft shell cases there are a lot more crap soft shell cases many from name brand guitar makers. Again personal opinion, the Mono cases while pricey are the best out there
I got a mono cymbal case last year for Christmas and this year of gigging I have really enjoyed using it to the point where I asked for the mono stick bag this year for Christmas.
I've got to say I like the backpack like straps on soft cases. I have one that actually has very rigid foam as it's main shell with decent contoured neck support now it's 15 years old and the canvas covering is frayed but still does the job of carrying a Martin 000-28. I recently finished building a Strat type guitar and I got a soft case for it because I wanted the back pack straps but I certainly wouldn't ship it in it without a crate type carton. But they're certainly better than the gig bags of a couple of decades ago. Remember those cardboard cases?
What if, there is a hard shell case made with the same interior design as the mono soft shell case. Then it will be able to both hold the structural strength as well as impact resistance
I would gate check an acoustic guitar in a mono case of the right size, but not sure about straight checking it in. I would take a Fender electric checked in.
I had a problem with a Mono M80 in 2017 - the neck cradle black stained my strat neck (semi satin finish). I reached out to Mono, they replaced my case for a Vertigo, however (during the email conversation) they said this: "Unfortunately with satin and nitrocellulose finishes, it is hard to predict what will and will not be absorbed by the finish, and once it has been absorbed, it cannot be removed. (...) We did some testing and changed our colorfast levels on the dye and have not had any recent reports. It's very difficult to test for every combination of finish situation since nitro essentially never dries and picks up anything it comes into contact with." I had previously owned two Gator ProGo gig bags and I have never had any issue with them, so far. Mono Vertigo looks and feels more sturdy, but I've lost confidence in the brand, so I sold the replacement case Mono sent me. And, recently, I bought a 3rd ProGo gig bag (a double guitar bag). If Mono had solved that issue, it would be my choice for a double bag - however (and as far as I know) product remains the same, same fabric on the headlock... Anyway, do some tests just to make sure your guitars will not get a black blurred stain overtime. Cheers!
For tour vans, I find hard shell cases to be more convenient since they can basically be stacked and slid around like Tetris blocks. Gig bags tend to bulge out and have straps that hang up on things, I have found. In other situations they’re great, though
I also suggest adding the tick 2.0 to the mono bass bag
You're just swapping better outside protect for better inside. Good for shipping though.
I hate soft cases. They do nothing to protect against humidity damage. We have a customer using the nice gig bag that came with his Martin guitar with a humidifier in the case. It has a lovely crack running through the top! I put it in a hard shell case with his same humidifier for a few days and the crack is already beginning to close up. I’m in a cold northern climate and I see this all the time in the winter. Hard shell cases all the way!!!
I know this is anecdotal, but I live in the Great Lakes region where we get dumped on with snow in the winter. So it’s cold and my house is from the early 1900’s so it’s not well insulated and it gets dry. My Martin has done fine in its gig bag, it just uses 2 or 3 sets of the daddario humidipacks versus the one that lasts all summer. I’ve had no problems with cracking or swelling!
would you chuck that in a plane
I love softshell cases. One of the things I don't think that was mentioned is the fact that so many softshell cases have backstraps. When you're lugging all of your gear into a venue or to the studio, being able to carry your guitars on your back is super nice. Especially when you have multiple guitars in different tunings. I plan on buying softshell cases for my acoustics sometime soon because I find myself accidentally slamming them into walls in narrow hallways, even when I'm trying to be especially careful.
The last new guitar I bought came with the switch tip in the pocket and a big round squishy foam piece stuck on the switch. Might be worth looking into.
How did they not already know that?
Yup. My cheap $600 Epiphone Les Paul had a foam square on the switch and it shipped in only a cardboard box in one of those lame white paper bag things and it arrived in perfect condition.
Mono makes great cases, definitely changed my mind on hard vs. soft shell cases. Way less weight and feel more protective for general use. Thanks for sharing your journey!
Yeah, I feel like the rigidity of a hardshell case would transfer way more force into a guitar than a softshell with padding and give to it. In fact, when I was a dumb young kid I left my Gibson acoustic in its hardshell standing upright while I stood a few feet away. A slight gust of wind blew it over and it hit the ground. Opened it up, looking straight down at it and I thought it was alright, but when I took it out I realized the headstock had snapped straight through and was only attached by the layer of veneer on its front (Granted, it was a Gibson so it may have been the slight gust of wind that broke the headstock). Compare that to my Mono case, my Gator softshells, and even my crappy Martin gig bag, which have all been dropped several times over and have never failed to protect the guitar and you get quite the compelling case for softshell cases.
Not to mention the rainshells included with the higher end Gator cases and the number of handholds they have. Such well designed cases.
I recommend Reunion Blues cases, not as better than Mono, just as an alternative that provides their own range of options.
I have traveled to another country by plane and my soft case was a champ. I thought this was common knowledge.
It's useful to think of how cars are made. They used to make them with an extremely hard exterior but eventually realized that all the energy from the crash would be transferred to the interior. Nowadays, cars have relatively soft exteriors that work as shock absorbents.
Very good analogy.
@@DriftwoodGuitars I think you'll be happy with the results of the new cases. Good luck guys!
Agree, but its not about the hardness of the case, its about the instrument not being properly supported and somewhat loose inide the case. If you used same quality foam material inside the hard case, it would be even better case then the soft one.
What about if by any chance there is some heavy luggage on top your guitar in a bus or a plane or whatever? Isn't that a situation where the hard case is a better option?
An important thing to check with soft shell cases is the design of the zip. A basic zip is going to allow moisture to leave the case (and eventually the guitar) even if the material your case is made of is providing a decent sealed environment. I experienced this with my acoustic and went back to a hard-shell, but I'm sure the decent quality softshells have now got this covered with sealed zips.
There I live the air is very dry durning the heating (winter) season. I use D’Addario humidipack and in case hygrometers. I find that the hard shell cases retain the humidity better.
I think the key is finding what works for you rather than bowing to pressure from the music snobs. It seems like that is what you’re doing! I’m new to your channel, love it so far.
I definitely use soft shell for "flat" guitars, but I still stick to hardshell for ones woth neck and headstock pitch angles.
Ideally, I'd take a soft shell case for day to day, and put the soft shell inside a generic rigid box for an airplane.
Packing is everything. I'm not putting a $5000 guitar in a soft-case. My Emmons steel guitar (~$10k) goes in a flight case, just as my Strat (~$1k) goes in a flight case. Period. packing...packing...packing - makes all the difference in shipping.
After purchasing a new cello (Fragile instrument?) some time ago, I was searching for some form of protection while transporting it. Cheap bags were readily available, but usually had thin fabric and foam. At the extreme end there were fiberglass formed ATA cases that cost half of what the cello cost. Then, on Ebay, I found a Chinese company that built cases w/600 denier padded pack cloth exterior surrounding a blow molded/foamed cell, cello form fitted interior, lined with heavy duty foam and fake fur. Cello is well supported with physical blows being absorbed and minimally transferred to the instrument. Their ad video showed a cased cello being hurled from a 2nd floor balcony with no damage. While somewhat skeptical, I ordered it and am now a believer. I'm gradually replacing all of my heavy, wooden hardshell guitar cases and replacing them with mostly hybrid soft/hardshell cases or glorified/reinforced gig bags. Sure you say, what if somebody sits on it or drives their ATV over it? .......Well, then maybe I'm just not responsible enough to own a guitar! The chances of those events occurring are relatively unrealistic, but I do know the daily hazards of leaning the guitar against a wall and having it tumble, or me tumbling with it, or bashing it into the wall corner when I'm in too much of a hurry etc. A hard shell case will transfer that energy directly to the interior/instrument, often to the detriment of the wall and/or your ego. With the padded exteriors I no longer have to patch/paint the sheetrock corners in my house where it collided with a hardshell case. Function over form. Guitar protected and house/car protected from hard case. Rides better in the car without sliding around. Lighter and smaller. Plenty of pockets and room for pedals, cables, tablets, scores and lunch. I have several that have a resilient but stiff layer of polyethylene under the pack cloth/foam exterior. This provides form on some of the less expensive cases, increases resistance to puncturing forces and maintains humidity.
If you are a gigging musician and a fan of nitrocellulose finishes (Gibson, you know who you are) and dislike the crazing and checking of the finish when you repeatedly take it from your 72 degree house, to a -20 degree car, to a 75 degree juke joint with the humidity level equal parts sweat and spilled Buckhorn beer. If only nitro finishes and guitar woods would expand and contract at the same rate!! Oh wait, the insulation properties of these soft cases balances out these rapid cycles of movement. (Midwesterners understand) My first Gibson was an es125 , and the finish failed within 2 years. I currently have a 2000 Gibson Blueshawk, and the finish is still intact and looking lovely! My favorite case is a brown Road Runner rr4tec which lists @ $130 and I purchased for under $80 on sale. Old fashion wood hard cases were over $100.
If you think your axe may be caught in a unicorn stampede stick with the hard case. For others,.........well you get it!
Peter
Wife and I played a string of shows in the the UK (we’re in Nashville) this past summer and used Mono cases. Airlines forced us to check guitars and the cases kept them safe and sound. Highly recommend Mono.
I disagree- A hard case is cheaper than a finish ding repair/crack caused by soft shell case. Shipping is, say, a 3 day process which is a tiny element of a guitars life. Shipping is a separate issue in regard to packing. After shipping a guitar It will probably live and move around thereafter in a case.
You can pry my Mono Sleeve from my cold, dead hands. I love it for Fender-style guitars with straight headstocks.
Love my Mono Stealth bag, a bit smaller, lighter and svelte than the one you have
The soft shell case that came with my Taylor is great. It's well padded and lots of pockets. The soft shell case that came with my Fender Mustang is trash. It has thin padding and not much support. It does have storage pouches but I ordered the factory hardshell case which I feel more confident with.
worked in music store for 10 years. we get our guitars in cardboard boxes of six or singles. ship them to clients also just in the box. in all his time it has only happened once - switch was broken off, but body was ok. so for you to get 2 out of 6 is a lot.
Many years ago I worked for France's largest music store (at the time), as the warehouse guitar tech and I prepared and packed everything for shipping. There is no question that a good soft case is superior to a cheap hardshell. NO QUESTION. And yes, the current Mono cases are excellent. When I travel I use a Mono M80 Sleeve, lighter and slimmer than a Vertigo, fits easier in an overhead locker, but if I have to gate check the guitar it will still survive a few small suitcases and strollers.
Fender has a pad in the top of the Telecaster/Stratocaster case that protects the instrument from that sort of damage. My 1970s Jazz Bass had a metal guard over the bridge that also protected against that sort of damage. Most just remove same as in the case of the old ashtray bridge cover on old Telecasters. Protection for the 'hat switch' on a Telecaster was built in to both the instrument and the case. I think an expert acoustic guitar maker will make a superior electric instrument as I was impressed with your demo of yours; especially tone and that's what it's all about. 🤘
I think, changing to softcase is definitely better. However, you have to pack the guitar properly first. Even if you change to a better case, packing is still very important.
In Australia we don’t have the option to carry our guitars on the plane, they must be checked in oversize.
i have been flying my Tele in a Mono Vertigo case for a few years now checked & have had no dramas at all (touch wood)
Would you maintain your opinion with TSA rated cases?
Also, I've seen these shipping boxes designed for guitars that float the whole thing in air bags and a cardboard support system inside the box. Thoughts on those? (I think Henning Pauly did a video on them a few years back.)
I am a Mono evangelist, I got my first Mono softshell case when I bought my Novo guitar, they ship all their guitars with Mono softshell cases unless you order the hard case. Mono rules!
humidity control is impossible in softcase
The soft shell case doesn’t have ‘Driftwood Guitars’, embroidered across it. 😢 other than that, it’s good😊
Great video. I have both soft and hard shell guitar cases. The most important thing for me is that it has a shoulder strap so I can carry it easily.
they are better, until a nasty stewardess refuses to let you board with your guitar in the cabin. Then you'll be forced to gate-check it in the soft case.
Soft shell cases. The next step in lazyfying the younger generations. Hard shell for life. Soft shell, for the life of the zipper.
Holy crap, The gallery shots of your DaVinci acoustics are intense. If one of those broke in shipping I'd lock myself away with a bottle of bourbon for a good long time until I had my head on straight. Honestly anything short of something like an Anvil road case ( you dont hear of them often anymore..) that weighs like 50 lbs and needs its own casters or hand delivering the instrument would be appropriate.
A good mono case inside of a commercial grade cardboard box that is doubled up and the Mono case encapsulated in several layers of large bubble sized bubble wrap then packed full of packing peanuts might satisfy my over protective nature but a very hefty, ironclad insurance policy for shipping damage/ loss sure would help.
When that instrument is destroyed it's as if your young thoroughbred Arabian stud of impeccable lineage whose care and training was your personal undertaking is stolen, taken for a drunken joy ride by a farriers assistant and left for dead, mauled by coyotes and is now unable to stud, or be ridden. it's soul crushing.
When the embodiment of your ultimate expression and love of the craft , your Magnum Opus, is destroyed by an angry fool with a chip on his shoulder no amount of financial compensation will ever make things right again.
I would be out for blood if I could find out who the responsible party was. In the end it's the policies of the shipping company that cause damages because management sets the corporate ethics. The shipping speed and decreased cost/ increased profit are far more important than customer satisfaction in management's equation.
The first couple of guitars I bought, 40 years ago, came with gig bags which were totally worthless, whereas the last guitar I bought a few months ago had a proper soft-shell case ( it is an acoustasonic jazzmaster). I can say from experience that one of the two gig-bag guitars suffered a headstock break, but the acoustasonic has been accidentally dropped down 2 flights of stairs, landing on the headstock (in the case) - no damage. I have hardshell cases for everything except that one.
Soft cases are much better than in the past, and do offer a lot of protection. I doubt they'll last as long as a hard case for most players, but we'll see. Hard cases haven't changed as much as soft ones, and should have much more padding that conforms to the 'hard points' of the guitar it's made for, which will drive up the prices. Good luck, keep us updated 😊
So I am a gigging musician and I use that mono case. I also use the dual electric case. That case goes in and out and travels with my PRS cores and Les Pauls 2-3 times a week. The have gone on trips for hours. I have never had an issue, never had damage or scratches. I live in Michigan and we got hot summers and cold winters. Again my guitar arrive in perfect condition. Definitely a great soft guitar case.
I still wouldn't be comfortable flying (checked baggage) my guitars in one of these. Soft shell style, like these are great convenience for rehearsal, and close by gigs. But, as soon as someone, other than you is handling your gear. I feel like it has to be a Hiscox liteflite as the absolute minimum. Good video. Thank you
I always preferred soft cases, they're much lighter and less bulky
it's who you shipped them with... carriers suck.... almost all carriers suck... in my business the amount of damage just we receive and deal with is unconceivable... for fiddles, Overnight next day UPS... everything else is too scary for guitars
When I bought my first Mono case I winced at the price.
Now all of my guitars have Mono cases.
Taylor's newer aero cases remind me of these. I much prefer my aero case to the hardshell case that came with my Taylor. I feel it not only offers more protection, but is also lighter and somewhat smaller. My local dealer told me that people are starting to ask if they can swap their hard case for an aero case when they buy a new Taylor.
I think we are witnessing the beginning of an industry wide swing towards well-engineered soft cases.
The Taylor Aero case is very nice and built well. During the last day of Sam Ash's closing, a sales guy asked me if I wanted an Aero case for $20 and of course I immediately bought it. Now my Yamaha nylon string guitar has a nice upgraded home.
Something like a Calton case would probably withstand any kind of trauma you could dream of imparting. Of course, they cost like a nice guitar so there's that.
Yeah, softshell cases are just fine until the next snaps, something Gibson guitars are very prone to! You might have your opinions but I have mine; the hardshell cases to me just offer better protection. These softshell cases are like having a vehicle and only carrying liability coverage….if you cause a wreck, your insurance company will pay for the other vehicles, but you’re screwed and that’s why it’s better to carry full coverage. Just my two cents.
Ernie ball has already started to use mono cases. They are so good
Kiesel guitars has their own branded soft case they use. It is very sturdy. They actually put guitar in it and threw it off their two story building and no damage. They put guitar in hard case and did same completely destroyed.
Don't use UPS. FedEx ground is far less hard on packages. NEVER UPS
Probably an atypical example, but I own 90 stringed instruments and I prefer them to stack together well. So a rectangular hard case is the best solution for me. The form-fit cases (acoustics, LP, SG, etc.) are something of a pain, but the bags and soft cases are a total nightmare.
Soft cases all the way… Easier to deal with, backpack straps make travei so much easier and lighter (LESS CRAP TO CARRY).
Only intrument I’ve shipped that was damaged was a Tenor Ukulele in a hardshell case.. Enuf for me..
No chance in hell I have 8 flamenco guitars ranging from 5k to 10k I have seen plenty of deluxe gig bags and you just can’t beat a top quality hard shell cases. Soft shell cases are for student guitars including deluxe gig bags. Guitar makers a cheaping out and trying to tell us soft shell is better. That’s why my builder is hermanos Conde for me and was for my father , grandfather and uncle’s . When I pick up a new guitar it’s waiting in a top quality hard case.
I have a random question. Anybody has tried to get humidification packages inside the soft shell? Just wondering. Just got a brand new all salud guitar in a soft shell and thinking about getting a hard case just for humidity theme. I live in Georgia, around metro area and the humidity it’s not as bad like in the northern area. But this is like a first baby, first all solid guitar I want to take care of. Any idea about soft shell and humidipacks or just straight to case? Thanks in advance.
??? Personal handling? Preference. Shipping??? Needs a shipping container. No guarantees. It's a crap shoot with shipping. You can only increase your odds.
The shipping industry needs a premium price for extra care just like over night is premium fast.
I like hard cases for my acoustics, and soft for my electrics. Will have to check out that Mono case. Looks really nice.
I've gone all mono and won't go back. Get a tick with the mono bag too.
I have a mono for my 000 Martin to take to gigs, im not game enough to put it in checked baggage yet & doubt I will confidently. my tele flys everywhere in a vertigo case under the plane though.
& yes, get a tick for every mono case you have 👍🏽
@@lockedowng Tick?
@John Griswold if you look closely, there are loops on the front of the bag. Mono makes an accessory that can hold a lot more stuff. I use mine to hold tools, cables, and a line 6 helix xl. My whole rig is on my back. Amp in hand and I can even get the door for myself.
Harmony ship their guitars in Mono Vertigo cases - no double boxing... mine have survived multiple US> Europe travels
Great insight and I do agree with you!
You can't stack anything on top of a softshell case. If a carrier/shipper does that, or squishes it against a wall behind heavier., more rectangular-shaped items, you might have a problem, but since it's shaped like a guitar, and is hard to stack things on, anyway, it might do allright in shipping.
Oh for crying out loud. Is this video title a joke? All I can say is: Let someone trip & fall down or heaven forbid, something very heavy tipped over on your guitar in a soft case aka: "gig bag", then try to tell us all how "soft case is better than a hardshell case". Or you could even be carrying your guitar in it's case and you accidentally drop it or trip & fall yourself........and yes, it happens more often than people care to remember or even admit. Anyone with common sense knows that a soft case/gig bag is NOT "better than a hardshell case". To hell with "ease of carrying & convenience"........that all flies out the window when your expensive guitar is broken or smashed all to hell due to some passerby tripping & falling on it, or drop the case itself down a flight of stairs. Hard shell cases exist for a good reason.
I disagree.. I think soft cases can be almost as good, but they are as expensive or even more expensive than a hard case. Most people when they think of a “soft case” they are thinking of those shitty ones you can pick up for like 20 bucks…
If you’re spending under $100 for a soft case you’re going to be sad if something happens to it.
Yeah, you're totally right man... AliExpress sellers do not recommend ship the guitar in hard cases because they can move inside... Wait, is this the right place to mention that?!:-7
I’d think someone would come up with an inflatable interior. Little air bags. Just an idea.
I’m a bit torn on this issue. If you are someone who takes your guitar on busses and trains, the backstraps are great. But I doubt it will hold up for being loaded in and out of tour vans.
Also this is the most expensive gigbag you can buy.
I just got a great deal on an Epiphone J-45, and I will have to fly with it to ship it back home. The guitar cost me 550 dollars, and I need to buy a case for it but don't really have the budget for a Mono case. Would you guys feel comfortable flying your guitar home with the Gibson G-45 soft-shell case, or should I just stretch my budget and get a hardshell case? What's the cheapest case you would recommend?
I am as expert you will find in logistics and that includes packaging. You know what caused damage. Ineffective packaging. You had the guitar banging around in case and packed around it. So you are able to fix that. UPS and FedEx use high speed conveyor systems and it is high speed. If a box is trapped due to a tear or something the boxes behind it will bash the shit out of the stuck one and that cartoon is tossed off the conveyor. Simply put your hardshell isn't holding the guitar well enough for the handling.
When I started in tech logistics I destroyed a piece of equipment worth $250k. Live and learn
Nice case. Not a fan of the ugly and obtrusive logo, though. Back in the bad old days, generally speaking, you bought products and from the revenue stream created from selling their products manufacturers paid for marketing. Today, they expect us to be unpaid walking advertisements for their products. If this comment seems puzzling it could be because you're under the age of 40 and have no memory of a time when it was any other way. Undoubtedly a nice case, though, and I suppose that is all that will matter to 99 percent of folks.
If you're inclined to shooting at your guitar, you deserve to not have a guitar and should also not be allowed guns.
The only soft shell case I trust is Taylor’s but I still prefer a hard case.
I have an OM28 with a plush Martin hardshell case, and I don't think there's any better fit or protection for it, okay maybe a Calton. Protection is #1 convenience is secondary. The same goes for my F style mandolin, hardshell all the way.
If you're too tired to make sure all your gear is loaded into your vehicle, you're too tired to be driving.
I gate checked a gibson sg standard in one of these cases, and it survived, and was still in tune at the other end. Fender should be fine to check right?
New to your channel, and very interested to see your promotion of soft cases. I came to the same conclusion a couple of years ago when I bought a Mono acoustic case. Now all my hard cases sit in the closet unused.
MONO cases are good if you don't have a Gibson. I bought one for my lLes Paul and returned it. The design of the case puts pressure on the neck when closed, which leads me to believe that as soon as more is added in a fall..... Neck is done. I didn't have the heart to test this theory, you can check it out for yourselves. Fender style, you are good to go with the straight neck design.
A little pizza box table type of support over the switches perhaps? A little something between the feet and the finish. 3D printed?
I get it for touring, but for the vast majority of us that play locally or at least drive ourselves to gigs, hard cases are just pointless and very annoying. I use quality soft cases for all my guitars including my National with rear facing tuners. Reunion Blues and Mono do great cases at their high end. In Europe Thomann also do one equal to both those mentioned above and quite cost effective as it's their own brand.
Would you feel comfortable putting it in checked baggage on a plane?
What about that StewMac shipping they threw one off the roof of a building onto the parking lot with no damage, except for the price
What hard shell cases were you using that didn't totally support the neck ? As far as selector switch, take the knob off and tape it to something and put a piece of tape on the side of the selector and push it down so that it can be easily pulled up in place, take the screws out, tape them somewhere inside the case. You'll have a hard time convincing me that that Mono is as good as some of my hard shells. My cheap hard shells yes but not the better ones.
the sad part is most courrier, if not all - here in our country at least - requires a hard shell case for shipping regardless of the quality of your soft case. I think it's faster to work when you can throw things around even if it says "fragile".
Why doesn’t anyone make a hard shell outside and a heavy duty soft shell inside? Best of both worlds.
Personal opinion is that while there are good soft shell cases there are a lot more crap soft shell cases many from name brand guitar makers. Again personal opinion, the Mono cases while pricey are the best out there
I got a mono cymbal case last year for Christmas and this year of gigging I have really enjoyed using it to the point where I asked for the mono stick bag this year for Christmas.
Now just build a hardshell case that this thing will fit inside, and you are all set!
I much prefer soft shell case for gigging, because they take up less space in the car and I can carry them in on my back
Maybe put a prototype guitar in there and chuck the case to see what happens would make a great video
BTW, great videos, guys!
I've got to say I like the backpack like straps on soft cases. I have one that actually has very rigid foam as it's main shell with decent contoured neck support now it's 15 years old and the canvas covering is frayed but still does the job of carrying a Martin 000-28. I recently finished building a Strat type guitar and I got a soft case for it because I wanted the back pack straps but I certainly wouldn't ship it in it without a crate type carton. But they're certainly better than the gig bags of a couple of decades ago. Remember those cardboard cases?
@ƬЄԼЄƓƦAM👉Driftwood_Guitars Huh? Surprise?
Actually drivers get paid a lot. They should care lol
Spend the extra money and get a high quality bag.
I totally agree with you about the soft cases. So much better for the most part
Gimmick. Use a flight case.
Soft case better? Not so. Ask any pearl shell.
Novo sends out their guitars in mono m80 bags
Ship with no case and double box.
Hey I like that old 48 star flag. Sweet!
Time running out on the 300 year old guitar man
What if, there is a hard shell case made with the same interior design as the mono soft shell case. Then it will be able to both hold the structural strength as well as impact resistance
Can this case be used to travel in flight check-in? Travelling from USA to india in flight.. Will it be ok to carry Acoustic guitar in this case?
I would gate check an acoustic guitar in a mono case of the right size, but not sure about straight checking it in. I would take a Fender electric checked in.
Have you ever heard of Hiscox cases?
How many beers fit in there?
I had a problem with a Mono M80 in 2017 - the neck cradle black stained my strat neck (semi satin finish). I reached out to Mono, they replaced my case for a Vertigo, however (during the email conversation) they said this:
"Unfortunately with satin and nitrocellulose finishes, it is hard to predict what will and will not be absorbed by the finish, and once it has been absorbed, it cannot be removed. (...) We did some testing and changed our colorfast levels on the dye and have not had any recent reports. It's very difficult to test for every combination of finish situation since nitro essentially never dries and picks up anything it comes into contact with."
I had previously owned two Gator ProGo gig bags and I have never had any issue with them, so far. Mono Vertigo looks and feels more sturdy, but I've lost confidence in the brand, so I sold the replacement case Mono sent me. And, recently, I bought a 3rd ProGo gig bag (a double guitar bag). If Mono had solved that issue, it would be my choice for a double bag - however (and as far as I know) product remains the same, same fabric on the headlock... Anyway, do some tests just to make sure your guitars will not get a black blurred stain overtime.
Cheers!