Gator GL-Mandolin Light Case

Ostin tämän laukun A-mallin maniskalle, kun en raaskinut satsata kovaan laukkuun enkä toisaalta myöskään halunnut, että laukkua voisi kantaa vain kahvasta. Laukku osoittautui paremmaksi kuin kuvittelinkaan, ja olen siihen todella tyyyväinen.

Ensinnäkin tämä on sisustaltaan käytännössä kova laukku, jossa on muotoon leikattu paikka soittimelle ja asianmukaiset pehmustukset. Laukku sopii myös vähän isommille F-mallin mandoliineille, mutta A-mallikin pysyy siinä hyvin paikallaan. Ulkoa laukku on puolikova, eli pinta on lujaa keinokuitukangasta, mutta runko on sen verran hyvin kovitettu, että kova laukku ei käytännössä suojaisi juuri paremmin. Vetoketju on järeä.

Sisällä on aivan näppärän kokoinen piilolokero, joka jää soittimen kaulan alle . Siihen mahtuvat helposti varakielet, plektrat, capo ja niiden lisäksi ehkä vielä hyvin pakattu hihna. Ulkopuolella on sitten vielä asiallisen kokoinen vetoketjutasku, joten säilytystilaa on oikeasti hyvin.

Kantohihnat ovat edullisen laukun hihnat - ihan ok, mutta ei maniskan painoinen soitin toisaalta edes kaipaa mitään vaellusrepun kantolaitteita. Kankainen kantokahva on omaan makuuni parempi kuin kovan laukun matkalaukkukahva.

This is a perfect fit for my mandolin. The spaces inside are well thought out to keep the instrument stable. There's adequate space in a boxed storage area behind the neck space for holding smaller odd shaped items such as a tuner, capo etc. and front pockets of good size for folded paper. The only puzzle I have is where the instrument strap can best lay without having to take it off the instrument- I am still experimenting on that.

Carrying by side handle feels well balanced, there are sturdy plastic studs to prevent damage when placed on the ground. Carried on the back, the case feels a little low against the body despite adjustment of straps, but not uncomfortable. Straps feel Strong.
I would feel very confident of taking my instrument out to a variety of places using this case.

I required a "light" case so that I could take my mando on an aircraft more easily. In reality, this case is only marginally lighter than my hardshell. It's also slightly longer. In the end I took a cheapo mandolin in a very basic case and just took care with it in the overhead locker. If I was taking a higher end mandolin I'd probably take this case.

Inside it's just like any other case. There's not a lot of room for a strap e.g. I have a leather strap with a padded shoulder pad and it just about fits in the compartment inside.

The zips seem quite sturdy and the only issue I have is that they do tend to catch on the lining at the headstock end of the case.

The front pocket is meshed so that you can see what you have inside, but there again so can everyone else. Taking into account the size of the instrument the pocket is quite generous but you'll not fit much more than an A5 music book. Nevertheless a few plecs in a little pocket wallet and a tuner etc. fit quite well.

The best point about this case is that it comes with straps. The downside is that the connecting hooks don't feel overly strong and the straps don't feel particularly strong or well made. So far I've taken it to one festivel and the case, and the mando, survived.

When I started looking for a case it became apparent that there's not a great deal of choice in the "light weight" sector. I think that there must be better, lightweight cases than this and when I do find one I'll get rid of this one.

Overall, apart from the straps, there is little to be gained by having this case over and above a hardshell case. It's marginally bigger than my hardshell (Kinsman) so what you gain in the (alleged) lighter weight, you lose by having a larger case.

Average.