Case for mandocaster

[Peter Rigby]

Hi everyone,

I’ve just bought a fender mandocaster and am looking for a case for it.

The originals came with a small a small version of the fender tweed case. Something like that would be great but the options seem really limited. Hard cases are either form fitted, for f or a mandolins, and soft cases have too much room as they are for thicker bodies, meaning it’s loose inside bouncing about and pulls the case out of shape making it uncomfortable to carry.

I’m wondering if anyone has any ideas of the best options for me or what they have found for their mandos. I’d also rather not spend £200 on the original 60s tweed case that’s up for sale on reverb!!

So for style I’d go for a mando size tweed case but failing that a gig bag that fits it well would be good. I’m based in the UK.

Any help much appreciated!

[Chris Gray]

https://reverb.com/item/34746478-fen...se-1960s-black

[Peter Rigby]

Unfortunately £400 is WAY beyond what I’d look to pay!

[Ray(T)]

I still don’t have a case for mine but some people hav suggested a “gun” case. I doubt whether these are as available in the UK as in the US but it might be worth looking. Please let us know how you get on.

[Vernon Hughes]

When I bought my reissue 4 string when they first came out, a soft case was available through fender. I got one. Fits well and protects it. Lots of storage too. I jazzed mine up with a moongazer bridge, an almuse pickup and les paul jr. pots..it screams now and plays in tune. No thin sounding E string on this one now.

[Peter Rigby]

Thanks Vernon, these are definitely mods I’m looking at, thanks for the bridge info too it’s a question I was saving for later. Do you have a photo of the case, might be able to find something similar. Thanks.

[Ray(T)]

The Almuse pickup is a worthwhile upgrade and it takes longer to put the strings back than to fit it. I’m not sure whether the Moongazer bridge is currently available though.

[Beanzy]

This looks decent https://www.southernukulelestore.co....t-and-soprano/
currently out of stock there, but maybe give them a call to see whn they reckon they"ll have more.

[Peter Rigby]

That looks good, thanks.

[David Lewis]

I use a tenor ukulels case for mine. I need a towel under the headstock, otherwise it fits perfectly. Mine also came with a soft case, so I use whichever is most appropriate.

The uke case cost about 70.00, whereas a custom case was gong to be about the cost of the mando...

[Peter Rigby]

So is yours something like this?

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-an...UaArvyEALw_wcB

[Beanzy]

This looks decent https://www.southernukulelestore.co....t-and-soprano/
currently out of stock there, but maybe give them a call to see whn they reckon they"ll have more.

just saw Thomann have them https://www.thomann.de/gb/risa_abs_c...or_ukulele.htm they give internal dimensions as ; 72 cm x 23 cm x 5,5 cm

[Peter Rigby]

Thanks a lot!

[trodgers]

I have one of the Fender Mandocaster re-issues. I've never cared for gig-bags and needed a case when I bought it. I purchased the Gator GC Mandolin case and have been very pleased. It's a solid case, not crazy expensive and holds the mandolin well.

Here's the case on the manufacturers website. https://www.gatorcases.com/products/...e-gc-mandolin/

[Ray(T)]

This looks decent https://www.southernukulelestore.co....t-and-soprano/
currently out of stock there, but maybe give them a call to see whn they reckon they"ll have more.

They're possibly a tight fit for a Mandostrat but I've got one coming on Wednesday - I'll keep you posted.

[Peter Rigby]

Great! Thanks, that would be good to know.

[SolusAsh]

Would like to see the results of this, as I'm seriously contemplating buying one of the Harley Benton Mandocaster knockoffs, and a hardcase would not go amiss.

[j. condino]

Pelican Case.

'Some of the toughest cases in the world. I used them in the military, on Mount Everest, and for 25 days on a raft down the Grand Canyon....oh yeah, and 500+ gigs & thousands of non gig days....

They have 100s of sizes & colors, one like this is close:
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/produc...u=1700-000-110

[thistle3585]

My go to case for almost all my instruments is a hardshell rectangle from Access bags and cases.

[mandroid]

My Godin A8 fit in an F case.

When I got my 8 string Fender FM 61,
I got the case they made for them at the time..

we still had a local music store back then..

[Peter Rigby]

Thanks so far everyone. It seems the cases are really expensive, £200+ and even then quite bulky, or really cheap and I’m pretty certain the mando wouldn’t fit in! I think I might look at making one in the style of the old fender tweeds.

[mandrian]

Peter,

The rectangular Hiscox case would be a good bet. New they’re about £100, but I’ve picked up a couple used for £50. I use one for my telecaster style emando. The good thing is they’re very versatile cases in terms of design and work equally well for most mandolins.





Regards,

[Sasquatch]

Interesting topic that I am glad someone addressed. I just finished building a Mandocaster and have been contemplating a case. I still may build one for it but this thread has given me some options. Thanks.

[Peter Rigby]

It’s a really limited selection, really bulky or ill fitting. I’m really looking for something the size of the original fender cases or a fitted gig bag. Looks like it’ll have to be custom!

[Ray(T)]

Well, it’s arrived - no thanks DHL. Quite how the delivery man managed to sneak past the dining room window to hide the parcel and avoid avoid having to ring the doorbell is difficult to imagine. Only when, half an hour after the delivery window had expired, I checked the DHL website and found that I had apparently signed for it two hours earlier.

Anyhow, it’s quite a nice case. Well made but probbaly not so rugged that you’d want to be slung around by baggage handlers. The Mandostrat fits; just. It’s not what you’d call a snug fit as the top and bottom edges of the mandolin body over-ride the case padding to some extent but there is ample padding in the case lid to stop the mandolin moving around once the lid is closed.

I suspect that the Hiscox is a better made case but the basic price is higher than the RISA, it’s overall outside dimensions are (I expect) larger as it’s built for acoustic mandolins and I doubt whether it’s a snug enoigh fit to prevent a solid body electric mandolin from slopping around.

The case came from World of Ukes in Carlisle (NFI) and from me asking them for dimensions to it’s arrival took less than 2 days. They currently have them in stock for £89.95 inc delivery (of sorts!).