What's with Taylor cases

[Steve]

@Steve,

I'm happy for the Taylor Road Show personnel, and their experience.

My experience and that of the OP is different.

-Gary K

I guess my point is that there have been hundreds of Road Shows, conducted by ten different people. I think if the problem was with the cases, those ten people would've known about it...

[roadbiker]

I have also noticed that the casr covering is very prone to small tears, even by the slightest of bumps. They look good though, but I wish the covering was more durable.

Jim

[Scriptor]

I'm surprised with all the trends today that someone doesn't offer a "Roadworn Case" brand new right off the shelf.   

[Steve]

I'm surprised with all the trends today that someone doesn't offer a "Roadworn Case" brand new right off the shelf.   

Well, sure, but then you'd have to pay extra for it...

 

[michaelw]

I'm surprised with all the trends today that someone doesn't offer a "Roadworn Case" brand new right off the shelf.   

Well, sure, but then you'd have to pay extra for it...

 

& then, there's the 'matching' guitar to go with the case 

[Scriptor]

The Willie Nelson signature model?   

[resjc]

@Steve,

I guess my point is that there have been hundreds of Road Shows, conducted by ten different people. I think if the problem was with the cases, those ten people would've known about it...

Steve, I'll trade cases with you!

 If it were up to me and I had to outfit a roadshow I'd put the guitars in the best cases that I could find, Taylor or not. I've never, in 40+ years ever seen a case this susceptible to damage.

[Steve]

Steve, I'll trade cases with you!

 If it were up to me and I had to outfit a roadshow I'd put the guitars in the best cases that I could find, Taylor or not. I've never, in 40+ years ever seen a case this susceptible to damage.

They were just standard, stock cases; nothin' special about 'em...

[MapleNuts]

I actually like the case that came with my 614CE. Dark brown and sort of like faux alligator.

[Doug W]

I actually like the case that came with my 614CE. Dark brown and sort of like faux alligator.

I also have a dark brown hard case that came with my 2011 815ce, and while I haven't done anything to deliberately try to mess it up, I haven't babied it either - its been in and out of my trunk a whole bunch, and there's usually other stuff rattling around in there as well.  The case doesn't have any noticeable signs of surface damage.

Steve (or anybody else that might know) - I'm sure that there are different material lots that are use for various manufacturing runs and different cases.  Any chance that there was a "bad" lot for a particular series?

[Steve]

I actually like the case that came with my 614CE. Dark brown and sort of like faux alligator.

I also have a dark brown hard case that came with my 2011 815ce, and while I haven't done anything to deliberately try to mess it up, I haven't babied it either - its been in and out of my trunk a whole bunch, and there's usually other stuff rattling around in there as well.  The case doesn't have any noticeable signs of surface damage.

Steve (or anybody else that might know) - I'm sure that there are different material lots that are use for various manufacturing runs and different cases.  Any chance that there was a "bad" lot for a particular series?

Not that I've heard.

By a very wide margin, the biggest problem I've heard with cases had to do with handles coming off the import cases, and the vast majority of those were issues with the old 200 Series cases. The 200 Series case was replaced with the hard gig bag, which is far superior to the hardshell case those guitars used to come with...

[Cindy]

Guess I should take a few pics of the replacement case I got for my NOS 414ce. Previously I posted that the dealer gave me an 814ce case since I was originally given a dred case by mistake. After close inspection, I noticed the case's neck area is MUCH narrower than all my other Taylor cases, and the inside padding is no more than 3/4" all the way around the guitar.

I even called Taylor to make sure this was an authentic Taylor case (yes, has the brass logo), but I was simply told they don't make their own cases. The neck is REALLY, REALLY narrow. So I'm not sure whether I'd rather have a case with a soft exterior or this case which seems to have a harder (brown) exterior.

[michaelw]

Guess I should take a few pics of the replacement case I got for my NOS 414ce. Previously I posted that the dealer gave me an 814ce case since I was originally given a dred case by mistake. After close inspection, I noticed the case's neck area is MUCH narrower than all my other Taylor cases, and the inside padding is no more than 3/4" all the way around the guitar.

I even called Taylor to make sure this was an authentic Taylor case (yes, has the brass logo), but I was simply told they don't make their own cases. The neck is REALLY, REALLY narrow. So I'm not sure whether I'd rather have a case with a soft exterior or this case which seems to have a harder (brown) exterior.

hi Cindy,
i was able to do a little 'research' on some of the more current cases -
here are some pics & some general thoughts/observations

200 series
07 214 case - flat top lid

handle

interior


09 210 case - the grain texture of the covering is not as 'pronounced'

handle

interior - 5 latches

there may be have been some cases made with the older style covering & unpadded handle

300/400 series
07 314 case - archtop lid

handle - more heavily padded than the 07 200 series

interior


11 410 ('hybrid' ?) - grain pattern resembles covering used on 07-10 cases

handle - same design as 2012 case

interior - 5 latches, rather than 4 previously used on DN cases (change in 09 ?)


12 316 case -  the grain pattern on the covering more closely resembles the brown deluxe case

handle - the handle also resembles the one used on the deluxe case

country of origin sticker - i believe this case is made along with the 500/up cases

interior

i believe that Steve is correct, as Taylor appears to be expanding their case production &
the current 300 case seems to be virtually identical in terms of the outer dimensions
texture of covering & handle to the deluxe case, with black/chrome rather than brown/brass

500 series/up
early 06 512 case

handle

interior - possibly one of the last ones with 'monkey butt'(switch to red lining was in 06)


07 GA case

handle

interior - lining is darker, with a lower cut 'nap' than the el cajon 'pink poodle'


12 714 case

handle

interior -  lining is much more reminiscent of the 'pink poodle' material (change in 09?)


i'd like to see some pics of the replacement case you received from your dealer, as i don't quite
understand the neck area being narrower, but i'll see if i can compare the two cases 2012 style
vs. the 2007 version to see if there is anything else that stands out ... gonna bust out the digital mic

Taylor no longer makes their own cases

hmm

i would be very surprised if this were the 'case' (no pun intended),
but i suppose that it could  be possible ... or there may  have been some misinformation

i have found in the past that the softer, wider grained black material on the 300/400 cases, T3/T5 &
the brown 'alligator' material on the GS cases seem  to be more suspectible to scuffs, marks & nicks -
i'm hoping that the 500 series/up GS cases will resemble the rest of the current deluxe cases, along
with the T3 & T5 cases as well - i remember seeing a pic of a prototype T5 case ('monkey butt') &
i really liked the design/aesthetics ... very reminiscent of a GA deluxe case, only 'thinner' (very cool, imho)

the hardbag on the 200 series offers superior protection for the guitar, imho,
especially compared to the last iteration of 200 series cases that were used -
the 'lid' of the bag is extremely rigid, with extra support, reinforcement & padding,
especially in the areas where the guitar might be most susceptible to damage
(top, bridge, headstock area, tail block, back) & the sides stiffen when closed

[cjd-player]

A little research? 

That's a whole dang'd encyclopedia!!!   

[Scriptor]

A little research? 

That's a whole dang'd encyclopedia!!!   

Naw ... michael just did a little Case Study ...