Case weights

[nultylynch]

This is not another post about wanting a lighter case, etc.
I decided to see what the cases I have actually weigh. So, I got luggage scale from Wish (I don’t know its accuracy, but it does seem to be consistent) and got to measuring. Here’s my results:
Travelite - 4.17 pounds
Superior Fiberglass A - 4.57 pounds
TKL F (older Collings with smooth tolex and fuzzy interior) - 5.41 pounds
TKL A (newer Collings with bumpy tolex and velvet interior) - 5.55 pounds
Breedlove - 5.79 pounds
Bobelock arrow - 6.72 pounds
Calton (Austin built) - 9.42 pounds

All cases were weighed empty with shoulder straps removed. I hung each case by its handle while weighing.

I’d love to see this list grow!

[Billy Packard]

I bet the Weber Fern case I have is heavier still.

Billy

[mclaugh]

Because I'm a nerd, I'd like to know the accuracy of your scale. But more important, if others are going to chime in with their weights using different scales, there's no way to compare them without some calibration.

Anyone could get a 5 pound bag of flour or sugar or whatever, put it in one of those light-weight grocery store plastic bags with handles, weigh it, and report that reading along with case weights.

[UsuallyPickin]

I have a Canadian Mando / Fiddle Calton that I refuse to use unless I am getting on an airplane. I will see what that one weighs. I have only had one case heavier ever and I sold that one years ago. . . a Price maybe. I am curious to see if anyone owns a '''' the name escapes me .... the earliest fiberglass case that was rounded on each end with great storage space. R/

[keith.rogers]

I checked our luggage weighing gizmo on a few items in the pantry, and it seemed to be fairly accurate, though on most items it was a hair over, which I might attribute to the weight of the bag/container or just some caution on the side of the manufacturer to insure nobody got a bag of whatever that didn't have *at least* what the "Net Weight" spec was.

I will say that in testing repeatedly, it delivered inconsistent results. My Travelite weight was as low as 3.88lb and up to 4.06lb on repeated zero-reset and lift measures. It probably would return something like a normal curve with a mean of 3.95, or essentially 4lb, if those small fractions. And, while a single ounce is something that we can probably feel by itself, I don't think it matters a bit in the variance of empty case weight comparisons.

My [Northfield] Airloom Recurve had a bit more variance, from a low of 4.88 up to 5.15lb. Call it 5lb or 5.1lb.

p.s. the older Eastman, oblong, wooden ("Hill style" it might be called if it were fit for a violin) is undoubtedly the heaviest, but it's not something you can buy, and so filled with stuff - generous storage compartments! - I don't want to bother emptying it to add information that's not useful to anyone

[jim simpson]

I have found the digital postal scales to be pretty accurate and they pretty affordable. I have weighed instruments, cases, boxed and unboxed. My freight estimates match the post office when I go to ship them.

[mandroid]

It's with the wide leather strap that makes the Pegasus a reasonable shoulder carry,
in spite of what ever it weighs...

Backpack carry of the Eastman made fiberglass A5 specific case,
with it's 3 D rings, works out well too...

... avoiding carrying it by the handle...

[musicofanatic]

On a Brecknell digital postage scale my Pegasus F-style case weighs 8lbs, 8oz empty, all accessories and shoulder strap removed. With instrument and all accoutrement, as I normally carry it, 11lbs, 11.4oz. Not the lightest, but for protection, physical size/shape and ease of shoulder carry, I wouldn't have anything else.

Eastman fiberglass F-style case, empty 4lbs, 10.2oz

[nultylynch]

I have a Canadian Mando / Fiddle Calton that I refuse to use unless I am getting on an airplane. I will see what that one weighs. I have only had one case heavier ever and I sold that one years ago. . . a Price maybe. I am curious to see if anyone owns a '''' the name escapes me .... the earliest fiberglass case that was rounded on each end with great storage space. R/

Mark Leaf, maybe?

[707erich]

This is not another post about wanting a lighter case, etc.
I decided to see what the cases I have actually weigh. So, I got luggage scale from Wish (I don’t know its accuracy, but it does seem to be consistent) and got to measuring. Here’s my results:
Travelite - 4.17 pounds
Superior Fiberglass A - 4.57 pounds
TKL F (older Collings with smooth tolex and fuzzy interior) - 5.41 pounds
TKL A (newer Collings with bumpy tolex and velvet interior) - 5.55 pounds
Breedlove - 5.79 pounds
Bobelock arrow - 6.72 pounds
Calton (Austin built) - 9.42 pounds

All cases were weighed empty with shoulder straps removed. I hung each case by its handle while weighing.

I’d love to see this list grow!

I have a couple scales I use for sending packages to the post office and when comparing the couple cases we have in common I think your luggage scale is pretty accurate. My Collings A style case weighs in at 5.625 lbs (2.55kg) and the Superior A style fiberglass case at 4.4375 lbs (2.01kg).

[UsuallyPickin]

Thank you NultyLynch, Mark Leaf was the maker. I always wanted one of those for the "cool" factor alone. I have no idea what one weighs in at empty. R/

[musicofanatic]

I have no exact figure but from owning a Mark Leaf guitar case, I can tell you they are not light. However, such is the weight of good protection...I would not worry about throwing one containing a '39 herringbone down a flight of stairs

[nultylynch]

So, I checked the accuracy of my scale. A can of regular Coke, per the University of California Santa Barbara, should come in at 384 grams. Across several cans and several tests, my scale came in consistently at 385 grams. So, much more accurate than I had hoped it would be

[Lucas]

My Hoffee case weighs about 7.8 lbs.