Italian Bowl back case

[Eugene]

Sorry for delay, Mick. I just now noticed your comment.

Nice looking case, Eug. What's it made out of? Hopefully, not what it looks like....

It's thin layers of plastic around a foam core. Very light and great rigidity, great resistance to torsion. He sometimes coats the exterior with some synthetic veneer, as this is.

[Tim Logan]

[QUOTE=Eugene;1790392]Since this conversation has wandered a bit, my friend Tip makes occasional cases for me. Early in his case-making career, he made one for my ca.1835 Neapolitan mandolin. More recently, he made one for my ca.1890 mandolino toscano/bresciano.

WOW!!!!!

[Louise NM]

Does anyone have experience with these cases? They are available in the US from Hobgoblin.

[Beanzy]

Yes I have used this one https://www.hobgoblin-usa.com/local/...mandolin-case/
They're quite a bit deeper than you might need for most bowlbacks, I lifted the lining and slid foam up the sides until the mandolin sat level with a snug fit.
As it seemed a bit lacking I also did the same with the lining between the bowl and headstock area, plus a wedge under the headstock for support.
The good thing is that by lifting the lining from the bottom edges it's unnoticeable when tucked back down again after the foam is in.

[Joe Bartl]

I recently tried to order the bowlback case from Hobgoblin and was told they were out of stock and I should check back in about three months.

Joe

[Jim Garber]

Yes I have used this one https://www.hobgoblin-usa.com/local/...mandolin-case/
They're quite a bit deeper than you might need for most bowlbacks, I lifted the lining and slid foam up the sides until the mandolin sat level with a snug fit.
As it seemed a bit lacking I also did the same with the lining between the bowl and headstock area, plus a wedge under the headstock for support.
The good thing is that by lifting the lining from the bottom edges it's unnoticeable when tucked back down again after the foam is in.

The problem is that bowlbacks are proportioned differently. For instance IIRC Calaces are fairly large around the midriff whereas Emberghers are slimmer in general. But even those made by the same maker can be different. I have a standard Vega style 3 and it has a shallower bowl that my Pettine models from the same era. So, assuming we even can find a case, we may have to pad it or remove some padding.

The foam ones I can no longer get have a Velcro neck attachment which sort of steadies too much wobbling around inside. That may be the best I could do. When I had my Pandini it did not fit in the Eastman case at all and I was lucky to get a case from the maker.

[Jim Garber]

I have a standard Vega style 3 and it has a shallower bowl that my Pettine models from the same era.

Here are my Vega style 3 next to one of my Vega Pettine models:

[Eugene]

The Pettine looks almost Chicago-esque in its depth.

[Jim Garber]

The Pettine looks almost Chicago-esque in its depth.

Probably more Rhode Island-esque.