What's with Taylor cases

[resjc]

Hi

I bought a brand new 414ce about 4 months and although I am happy with the guitar the case is a different story.

On the surface it looks nice and shiny but it's already full of tears. The minimal bump or scrape with something gauges the material. It's not like I'm abusing it either I go twice a week from home to church in my car.

Previously I had a Precision Instruments case that made the same trip for years and stil there isn't a mark on it. The same goes for my Fender electric's case.

I find it pretty sad that they would skimp on the case.

[tnfiddler]

I haven't had that experience....yet!!  I try really hard to be careful with my cases though.  My 810 case from 1995 seems more sturdy than the one that came with my 614ce that I got a few weeks ago.  It is heavier and just feels more solid.  My gripe with my T5 case is that it seems to be leaning when you set it on its side.  It probably is because of how thin it is versus the thickness of the acoustics.  I am just afraid it is going to fall over.  Yeah, I know, just lay it down flat!!!LOL

[S MS Picker]

I agree. the newer case covering is very soft.
Steve

[mgap]

I have had no trouble with my cases.  I don't take it out often however.

[ebick]

I haven't seen that type of issue with mine (purchased last Nov), but I do find the handle seems to be oddly placed, it just feels a bit un-balanced when I carry it.

[egkor]

I have to agree with the OP ...

I can speak for the black Taylor cases that come with the 300/400 series guitars, of which I have qty-2.

These cases are practically "soft" shell cases, they gouge, scrape, and tear.

I'm not talking about a major 30-city tour loading/unloading, for me it just into and out of the car trunk once or twice per week. Sometimes with other gear, and its usually with other gear that the case(s) get dinged.

Of course that's what the case is for, to protect the guitar, I'm good with that.

But when I find I don't want to take a Taylor guitar out of my house because I don't want the case to get dinged up, wow.  That's just messed up.   

I have my Taylor DN4e dread in a SKB type roto-plastic exterior "dread" case. Now *that* case I don't worry about, it's really a hard-shell exterior case that doesn't need special care to transport.

That's one nice thing about the generic "dread" body shape, hard shell cases are abundant and reasonably priced.  But, when you get to the Taylor GA/GS/Jumbo shapes, there doesn't seem to be any choices other than the Taylor "soft" hard shell cases.   

-Gary K

[sachi]

Is it just the covering over the shell that's getting banged up? If so, it should be relatively easy for Taylor to address with its case supplier if it hears the complaints.

[Steve]

If they haven't done it yet, I believe Taylor is making the move to produce all of their own cases.

That said, complaining about a case that gets dinged is akin to complaining about strings that go dead. It's gonna' happen and, if you take your guitar anywhere with any regularity, it's gonna' happen...

[tnfiddler]

If you just cover it with every kind of sticker you can get like all of us bluegrass pickers do, then you don't have to worry about the case cover itself getting messed up!!  The stickers will take the hit for you!!!

[egkor]

That said, complaining about a case that gets dinged is akin to complaining about strings that go dead. It's gonna' happen and, if you take your guitar anywhere with any regularity, it's gonna' happen...

Taylor's "regular" (black) late-model cases dent way too easily.

I have other hard shell cases (Gibson factory HSC for electric for example) that don't dent/scratch/gouge/tear like the Taylor cases do.

That's the reality, and the complaint.

-Gary K

[Steve]

Taylor's "regular" (black) late-model cases dent way too easily.

I have other hard shell cases (Gibson factory HSC for electric for example) that don't dent/scratch/gouge/tear like the Taylor cases do.

That's the reality, and the complaint.

-Gary K

I've done countless Road Shows over the last few years, and have taken countless 300/400 Series guitars on the road with me. I'm pretty certain that not too many people subject a guitar case to what a Taylor rep subjects it to during a week of Road Shows. Sometimes the cases got dinged/ripped/scuffed but, again, that was when a couple dozen guitars were being packed into the back of a Dodge Caravan and, again, that's the purpose of a hardshell case...

[egkor]

@Steve,

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

My experience and that of the OP is different.

-Gary K

[ebick]

Is there a difference in the quality of the cases that corresponds to the series?

In other words, is the case that comes with an 814 better quality than the one comes with a 114?

[Edward]

Is there a difference in the quality of the cases that corresponds to the series?

In other words, is the case that comes with an 814 better quality than the one comes with a 114?

Yes.  And I think this is the OP's finding. 

FWIW, the "early" black cases/chrome hw weren't bad ...just not as robust feeling as the normal brown ones that came on 500+ series guits.  Perhaps the factory has changed a few things on the lower-end cases, though...

Edward

[Steve]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but a 114 doesn't come with a case...