A good quality case for your electric guitar is a crucial investment that, unfortunately, many guitarists tend to overlook. When you consider that the instrument probably cost a couple hundred or thousand bucks, why wouldn’t you want to keep it safe?
If you plan on traveling with your guitar, getting a suitable case is imperative. No matter whether you are taking your guitar to a friend’s house, or going to a gig, you will need a case.
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How to choose a case for your electric guitar
There are several things you need to consider before opting for a case.
In general, anything flimsy or overly lightweight is probably not going to withstand the strain of regular use. Especially if you are a touring musician. You want to find a case that feels substantial when you pick it up.
Guitar case types
Both soft gig bags and hard-shell cases are available at guitar stores and online. In most cases, the style you choose will be determined by your traveling habits, as well as your budget.
Soft gig bags
Softshell cases are the lighter option, they are also more cost-friendly. They tend to feature backpack straps, which are handy if you travel a lot. They also provide external compartments to hold your accessories.
Higher quality gig bag designs are lushly padded and are resistant to harmful elements. You want to look for gig bags that have at least 10 mm padding to protect your guitar. Just know that regardless of the amount of padding, soft shell cases don’t offer the protection you get on hardshell cases.
Hardshell cases
Going by the name, hardshell guitar cases have hard exteriors, mostly made out of plastic or wood. As a result, these cases are bulkier and heavier than gig bags, but will safeguard your valuable instrument even in the roughest conditions.
Of course, hard cases are more expensive than soft cases, but the added protection will be worth it.
If you take your guitar on a flight, it goes without saying that you need a hardshell case to keep it safe and protected from baggage handlers and turbulence during the flight. I’ve had my Fender Strat’s hard case come off a USA-Europe flight cracked, but with no damage to the guitar.
What size case?
Purchasing a guitar case happens to be among the few instances where you need to be aware of the guitar body type you have, as well as its size. In most cases, manufacturers produce guitars cases that are designed specifically for certain sizes, styles, and shapes.
Most cases are designed to fit several types of guitars, you should check exactly which ones on the label of the case.
Now that you know what type of cases are available, let’s have a look at some of the best cases to keep your electric guitar safe.
Weather-proofing
Depending on how you will travel with your guitar, looking for a case that comes with a rubber seal might also be of benefit. This is generally a feature that keeps water from infiltrating the inside of the case, but it also insulates the instrument from external temperature changes and humidity.
If you are a student who might travel with your guitar in the rain, it is important to get a weatherproof case for your guitar.
Extra features
Some guitar cases will have extra features that you may (or may not) find useful. It all depends, based on how you will travel with your guitar.
Here are some value-added features you’ll find on select cases:
- Neck cradle: this is a contraption that holds the neck firmly in place inside the case, so it does not move around.
- Backpack straps: most softshell cases will have backpack straps, so you can wear your instrument on your back while walking. Look for straps that are padded, to make it easier on your shoulders.
- Lock: locks are nice to have, but don’t over-rely on them. The simple locks on guitar cases are easy to break open. If you plan on taking your guitar case on airplanes, look for TSA approved locks. TSA officials can open and lock these types of locks without having to break them open.
- Pockets and storage areas: Having ample storage compartments built into your case can come in very handy. Why? Well, consider how many things you are probably taking with you: tuners, slides, capos, spare strings, and picks, as well as larger items like cables, laptops, and pedals.
Hardshell electric guitar cases
Here are the best hard cases that will provide maximum protection for your instrument. If you are a traveling musician or need to check your guitar as baggage on a flight, you need a hardshell case.
Fender Deluxe Molded-ABS Strat or Tele Case
If you have a Tele or a Strat, this is the best hard case to keep it secured when you are on the trail. The case mixes military-grade strength on the outer frame with a subtle yet rich polyester interior that covers a protecting foam cutting that fits a Strat or Tele.
Additional features on this case include a padded interior storage area, TSA-approved lock center latch, and a comfy handle. This hardshell guitar case is suitable for flights and offers you a secure and robust way to travel.
ChromaCast CC Electric Hard-shell Case
Although it does not have the plush feel you find the in the Fender guitar case discussed above, this hard electric case by ChromaCast will cost you about fifty bucks, providing you with a great deal as far as money is concerned. It comes with a hard wooden shell, with black vinyl coating, in addition to a comfortable exterior to offer the proper protection to your electric guitar.
Other features you’ll find on this guitar case are like an internal pocket for storage, extra bridge and neck padding, comfy handle, side bumpers and bottom of the guitar case, as well as chrome latches. If you the funds to spend on it, this is a roadworthy choice that any traveling guitarist will delight in.
Musician’s Gear Deluxe Electric Guitar Case
This hardshell case was manufactured from plywood and designed for the Telecaster or Stratocaster style design. The edges and corners have an old school vinyl texture and when combined with the Tweed frame, it gives you a typical look from the 0s. This offers a nice and affordable option if you are buying on a budget but looking for a genuine Fender guitar case.
Gator Cases Deluxe ABS Molded Case
This budget hard case provides ample protection for your electric guitar. The outside of the case is molded plastic, and the inside is foam covered by plush material. The foam is very stiff on the inside.
This case comes in several styles, shaped to fit differing guitar types: Telecaster, Stratocaster, Les Paul, SG, Bass, 335 style semi-hollow.
Gator Electric Guitar Lightweight Polyfoam Case
This hybrid guitar case provides you with the versatility you get from a fabric gig bag, aside from the protection of a hard case. It features a strong nylon exterior to go with dense foam inside. The case is available in an array of designs such as Les Paul general electric, bass, SG specialist models, etc.
Though the case is sturdy, I would not recommend it for flights. The outside of this case is made of nylon, which would not protect the guitar from severe impacts.
Softshell gig bags for electric guitars
If you don’t need too much protection, a soft case will serve you just fine. Here are the best gig bags for electric guitars.
MONO M80 electric guitar case
This is among the strongest fabric cases you will in the market yet still remains one of the slimmest and lightest you will ever pick up.
The exterior of the case has been aesthetically designed and is made of sharkskin material. On the other hand, the inside is made out of ABS panels intentionally positioned throughout the case for total protection.
It also includes Mono’s Neck Brace technology to lock in your guitar’s neck for added protection.
Levy’s Leather LM18-BLK Deluxe Gig Bag
This is an uber-stylish bag meant to be used with electric guitars, but will likely be too costly for many users. However, it is so aesthetic and top-quality that we couldn’t ignore it.
This is a functional guitarist’s bag that features actual tough Texas leather for the exterior and a 1-inch foam padding with a lush lining. The case has a sturdy and durable construction, with a sophisticated and grown look.
Other notable specs include two accessory pockets on the outside, extra leather padding inside at the headstock and bridge. There is also durable cotton on the shoulder straps to complete an expensive yet awesome design.
Music-Area WIND20 Water-proof Electric Gig Case
This gig bag by Music Area boasts a charming look and would be the right choice for any top-shelf electric guitar. And while it may prove to be costly, this amazing case provides you with a lightweight option made to be dustproof, waterproof, and long-lasting.
This is a credit to its five-layer build that features protective polyester on the exterior, with an interior that consists of shock-absorbent polyurethane foam and additional neck padding, as well as very soft lining.
There are also two outside pockets to hold a variety of accessories, a cushiony set of straps, etc.
With the above knowledge, you should be able to choose a suitable guitar case for your electric guitar. The most important thing to consider is how you plan on traveling with your guitar.
I would also recommend you spend a little extra to get the best case for your needs. Higher quality cases demand a higher price tag, but will offer more protection for your instrument.
