dstretch - Posted - 12/17/2024:  20:45:30

Hello everyone,

I am new here and could not find a post regarding my quest. I picked up my first square neck, an RK Phil Ledbetter, and I am starting to learn. Got everything I need together, and now I need to find a good case before next spring so I can hit some festivals. Can anyone give me some thoughts on the best case for my specific Reso? I spoke with Greg Rich and he said the Guardian CG-022-SQ should fit, but finding one at a decent price has been difficult. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Danny

hlpdobro - Posted - 12/18/2024:  06:50:32

The Guardians sell in the $100 range (Check Reverb.com) . If that's out of your price range you should explore gig bags.

I recently tried to replace a TKL 8801 ( the OEM case for several builders) and was shocked at the pricing ($275).

I opted to repair instead of replace.

Welcome and hope you find something suitable.

h

BrianMac - Posted - 12/18/2024:  07:15:33

Welcome Danny!



If you’re going to do lots of festivals, I’d recommend a gig bag style case that you can wear on your back. It’s great having your hands free while walking about. Allows for carrying other things, grabbing your wallet, shaking hands, etc.



If you can spring for a good one, this style of case can provide nearly as good of protection for your instrument as a hard case. I bought a Reunion Blues case 10 years ago for my dobro and it has held up exceptionally well. I’m carrying it with me all the time and not one problem.



FYI, I was born and raised in the Apple Capital, Wenatchee, WA! Also home of the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival every June.

Edited by - BrianMac on 12/18/2024 07:17:26

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 12/18/2024:  07:29:09

If I took a guitar to a festival in a gig bag I would watch it like a hawk. It only takes one misstep….

hlpdobro - Posted - 12/18/2024:  07:48:18

There are some terrific sturdy gig bags out there. Also almost all of them can be worn like a back pack. Great for portability.

h

dstretch - Posted - 12/18/2024:  09:12:53

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FYI, I was born and raised in the Apple Capital, Wenatchee, WA! Also home of the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival every June.

Hey Brian, it is a great festival. Been going for the last 3 years. Been playing mandolin and guitar for about 3 years, and just added dobro.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 12/18/2024:  09:37:44

As Howard wrote, there are some really sturdy gig bags out there. Unfortunately for Danny they don't sell for under a hundred bucks. Not a reso, but when Todd Clinesmith built me an eight string lap steel several years ago, it came in a really nice gig bag from Blue Heron Cases here in Northern California. I questioned the idea of him not supplying a hard case but he assured me that Blue Heron would give good protection - and it does. Todd said that he chose them after examining Blue Heron soft cases at festivals where guys were carrying around vintage Martins in them. 

The moral of the story is when "festival hopping," it's no fun to be lugging around a hardshell case all day (or for multiple days).

Not a festival per se, but in a trip to ResoSummit in Nashville a number of years ago, I carried my Clinesmith reso around the campus the whole time that week  in a Cedar Creek hardshell case, and it got old pretty quickly.

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 12/18/2024 09:38:36

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 12/18/2024:  10:32:08

My point of reference is the Road Runner gig bag my Redline lives in - a very serviceable & inexpensive backpack case but way down the food chain as far as cases go.

dstretch - Posted - 12/18/2024:  13:38:24

Hey All,

Thanks for the response. I have been able to find the Guardian case, but most are over 200 plus 50 in shipping. I do expect to pay about 130-150 for a case, just want to be sure that it will fit. Other than gig bags, or the Guardian, do you know of a case that will fit a square neck?

SlimPickins - Posted - 12/18/2024:  14:48:44

Hey Danny,



Here is a Guardian squareneck case from Elderly Instruments going for $159. It’s not the same model number that you posted but should fit your guitar.

tinyurl.com/46fjsj5k



I know that you are looking for suggestions beyond a gig bag, but as several have mentioned, there are some bags out there that offer as good or better protection than a lot of typical hardshell cases.  I suggest this one:

tinyurl.com/593e4ak6

I've used one for years now and would trust my guitars in this as much as my TKL cases.

As Howard mentioned, the TKL is another option, but start at $250.  TKL owned Cedar Creek Cases which custom made cases for just about any guitar, but I don't believe that they're around anymore.  Beyond those production cases mentioned, there aren't many other options for squareneck guitars  these days other than gig bags and custom cases with large price tags.  Some folks have had luck with buying regular roundneck guitars and altering the neck block/accessory compartment to fit a squareneck.

Edited by - SlimPickins on 12/18/2024 14:57:23

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 12/18/2024:  21:14:38

By the way - it’s Leadbetter with an “a” after the first “e.”



I bought a year ago from esteemed Dobro collector, player and author Steve Toth a 1936/37 Model 37 Dobro which came with the original case. These are kinda cool because of the vintage factor, but they are pretty weak as far as cases go.



I was thinking about getting a modern case due to the shortcomings of the vintage case, haven’t done it yet, measurements required - but the modern Epiphone Dobro case might work for the Leadbetter.



$129 - check it out, you get the Dobro logo which is nice - never mind that Gibson has driven the brand into the ground.



zzounds.com/item--EPI940EBICS

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 12/18/2024 21:19:47

LukeL - Posted - 12/19/2024:  11:58:34

I really like the Reunion Blues continental voyager dreadnought bag for festivals, etc. I have 2 of them and use them for my Dobros constantly. The neck rest can be customised to fit your guitar, and they are sturdier and more protective than many inexpensive cases. They are hardshell bags- not floppy bags like what comes with a cheap guitar. You could stand on it if you had to. (Don't!)

amzn.to/4065oqQ

NCNewbie - Posted - 12/20/2024:  13:48:43

quote:

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Originally posted by hlpdobro

There are some terrific sturdy gig bags out there. Also almost all of them can be worn like a back pack. Great for portability.



h

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You might check out Travelite cases. They are reasonably priced and made with hard foam. I have one for my dreadnaught and it has back straps that are really useful.  I also have a mandolin case by Travelite that served me well.

NCNewbie - Posted - 12/20/2024:  13:53:09

Congrats on the Phil Leadbetter resonator. I am also new to resonators and bought a Phil Leadbetter after doing a lot of research on guitars. I had heard that some folks didn't like the nut width, but because I was just starting out it didn't matter to me. I have adjusted well and am not learning online with Mike Witcher's class from Peghead Nation. I also signed up for some private lessons via zoom from Mike. Good luck on your case search!

dstretch - Posted - 12/20/2024:  21:28:39

quote:

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Originally posted by NCNewbie

Congrats on the Phil Leadbetter resonator. I am also new to resonators and bought a Phil Leadbetter after doing a lot of research on guitars. I had heard that some folks didn't like the nut width, but because I was just starting out it didn't matter to me. I have adjusted well and am not learning online with Mike Witcher's class from Peghead Nation. I also signed up for some private lessons via zoom from Mike. Good luck on your case search!

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Thanks, really like it alot. The nut width was something I read as well. But like you said, not a big deal for a newbie. I do have a travelite case for my mandolin. Will look into them. I am doing the PH nation as well. I did get a dobro course from Truefire that is pretty good. Looking into the ResoFlix as a possibility. Thanks again.

mudman612 - Posted - 12/23/2024:  16:22:37

Ditto on the epiphone dobro case. I have three of them. Best quality for the money. I even have a Beard E Odyssey in one of them. Epiphone.com

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 12/23/2024:  16:49:24

I once had a Travelite case. Only problem is if your strap doesn’t disconnect at the headstock there not be enough room to leave it attached in the case.

NCNewbie - Posted - 02/24/2025:  14:37:41

quote:

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Originally posted by BrianMac

Welcome Danny!



If you’re going to do lots of festivals, I’d recommend a gig bag style case that you can wear on your back. It’s great having your hands free while walking about.

I have a TKL hard gig bag that would fit the bill.  It's got hard foam padding on top, bottom and sides and straps on the back to carry it, along with a zippered pouch on the front.  It's a lot like Travelite cases and has served me well while being lightweight and protective.