Which Violin Case Should I Buy?

When it comes to violin cases, there is an abundance of choice out there and it can be difficult to know where to start!

At The Sydney String Centre, we find that customers love having this choice, but often need some guidance on the kind of case that will work best for them and their instrument.  
 
To help give some direction, we have put together a simple 3 step process below, along with some real examples of customer purchases.

If you have any questions or would like to organise an appointment to view our range of violin cases, please contact us or book a showroom appointment.

Start your search with a budget in mind

The first questions a customer usually asks is ‘how much should I spend on a violin case?’, and when it comes to violin cases, this is often determined by the cost of the contents inside the case.

Generally, as the price of a violin case goes up, so does the level of protection, so determining your budget as a percentage of the cost of your violin can be a great place to start. 

Below are our recommendations for violin case budget, based on the cost of your violin and bow.

 The above chart is just a guide and there are some exceptions:

• You may have an expensive violin $5,000+ that never leaves your house. In this instance, a basic student case with a foam and plywood construction, around $150 would be fine.
• You may have a violin that is a family heirloom worth $1,500 that you travel with a lot. In this instance you may want better protection, and we would suggest a case from the $400-$900+ range.
• You may have a 3/4 violin around $1,000 and are looking for a case that will cater for both 3/4 and 4/4 violins. In this instance the only available cases would be in the $250-$500 price range. 
• There are some materials like carbon fibre which are very strong and not super expensive, however these cases are becoming harder and harder to source due to the emissions restrictions in China. Carbon fibre cases are also quite heavy, and don't offer great thermal properties. There are more modern materials available such as polycarbonate and GEWA's thermoplast shell which are both strong AND light. 

Good protection is usually the main concern for customers, and buying a good quality case can help you avoid tragic situations like this!

Decide between shaped or oblong

The next question we usually get asked is ‘which is better - an oblong or a shaped violin case?’ and to answer this, all you need to know are the pros cons for both. It’s simply a matter of preference depending on what you want from the case.
Shaped cases are usually lighter than oblong cases and are great for those who want something compact for travelling (especially plane travel). Oblong cases suit those who have a lot of accessories and need the extra storage space. They also usually come with a sheet music pocket, although this is not true for all oblong cases.

Beginners, (especially young beginners) prefer shaped violin cases as they are lighter and more affordable, which is why we don’t carry many (if any) oblong cases in this range.

Compare the features

Now that you’ve narrowed down you search to just a few, it’s time to compare the features of each and decide which are most important to you. For this, we have created an example using the BAM Stylus Oblong and the GEWA Pure Polycarbonate Oblong.

BAM Stylus Oblong	GEWA Pure Oblong

If it was strength and weight that you were most concerned about, you might choose the GEWA Pure, however if you were a Baroque player needing somewhere to store straight strings, and wanted something that you can lock up, you might prefer the BAM Stylus.

+ SHOP OBLONG VIOLIN CASES

+ SHOP SHAPED VIOLIN CASES

Real-world examples of customer purchases:

Customer A - purchased an intermediate violin around $1,500. They wanted a lightweight case, with good protection and enough space for a shoulder rest and a couple of basic accessories. Durability was important and they wanted a brand that can supply replacement parts if anything were to wear out. They chose the GEWA Concerto Shaped Violin Case.

Customer B - has a violin worth $4,500. They were looking for a case with very good protection that was large enough to store sheet music. Aesthetics were important, and they wanted something brightly coloured. They chose the GEWA Pure Oblong Polycarbonate Violin Case.

Customer C - is a professional player with an older violin worth $30,000+. They travel by plane a lot and needed something that will fit in an overhead compartment. The case also needed to be extremely strong, lightweight and lockable with excellent thermal properties. They chose the GEWA Air Shaped Violin Case.