Violin case: how to make the best choice?

Once you have acquired your violin, you will definitely need to think about equipping yourself with a case to protect it. Its role is also to facilitate the transport of your musical instrument. In today’s market, manufacturers offer an incredible diversity of models. The choice is therefore not simple, which is why you will need to know a few tips to find the right case. It must be adapted to the violin, and here are the criteria that will help you in this sense.

The size of the violin

Obviously, theViolin case should be proportional to the size of your musical instrument. You therefore note that the size 4/4 designates a violin for an adult person. The other references are those of instruments for children. You will therefore need to take note of the dimensions of your violin, in order to find the size of the case that corresponds to it. You can take the measurements yourself to simplify the purchase, or search for those of your violin on the internet with its references.

What should you do if these methods are nevertheless unsuccessful? Go to the case store with your violin to find the most suitable protective cover.

Violin accessories

To get the most out of your violin, you will also need to equip yourself with some accessories. Some are essential like:

• The bow;
• The ropes ;
• Rosin.

Others are more occasional or completely optional. The ranges of violin cases most often have locations for transporting various accessories. It could for example be a pouch, or fixings to hold the bow. Ropes and the like can be stored in spaces provided for this purpose. The ideal would be to carry out a trial storage of all these accessories before purchasing the violin case.

You will also have the assurance that your instrument will not be damaged.

The exterior material of the case

Regardless of the choices you make, note that violin case coatings are generally waterproof. The instrument is thus protected from the various bad weather conditions that could impact it. There is a wide variety of more or less resistant materials, from which you can choose. These are for example:

• The canvas: it can be ordinary or varnished depending on the manufacturer. This is the most minimal protection your violin could benefit from. However, a canvas case can easily tear;
• The fabric: here you will have the choice between two variations. Cordura can be washed and holds up well to wear and tear. Tex for its part is waterproof, and is not as afraid of tears unlike canvas;
• Faux leather: it is a plastic material that has the same appearance as leather. Your violin will be perfectly protected, especially against knocks and pressure exerted on it.

The inner matter

In addition to the exterior material of the case, that found inside also plays a significant role. Indeed, the reception the violin receives must be appropriate to avoid scratches and shocks. It is for this reason that polyfoam is frequently used to line the interior of violin cases. This foam is characterized by its expandability, which also helps protect the instrument in the event of a fall. The same goes for other subjects such as:

• Suedecloth;
• Velvet.

The interior of the violin case can also be made of wood. You thus have the guarantee that your instrument will have nothing to fear, even in the event of crushing. However, a soft interior material protects the violin against rapid wear.

The shape of the case

You will mainly have the choice between two varieties of shapes when it comes to violin cases. These are in particular:

• The rectangular shape;
• The shape is identical to that of the instrument.

As you might imagine, each of them has its good and bad sides. A shape identical to that of the violin is much more presentable, and creates less bulk, especially during transport. The main disadvantage is that you will have less space to store accessories, and little protection.

Total weight

Some violin cases can weigh around 3.5 kg. To this, you will need to add:

• From the violin itself;
• The different accessories used;
• Sheet music.

You will therefore need to take these details into account when purchasing, especially if you need to travel frequently with the violin. Violin cases for children rarely exceed the one kilogram mark. They will therefore have no trouble transporting the instrument.

Many criteria must therefore be considered for choose your violin case. These include the shape, the accessories of the violin, the exterior and interior materials.