Well, Christmas came and went and there was no case under the tree for my long neck Ode. I'm trying hard NOT to talk myself into buying that Canadian case they have over at Elderly, I even can get it at a discount with a coupon for the next few days. But they want to charge me a lot (arm and part of leg) for shipping it to me and I am hesitating because I'm just too damn cheap to pay that much $$ (almost 1/2 the cost of the case); especially when they offer free shipping on almost everything else. I've decided that before I pull the trigger I'd put the question out there one more time to all my BHO buds:
Is there a better long neck banjo case deal out there anywhere? What are y'all using? Howabout a sturdy LN gig-bag, is that a possible option? Know of any? I'd even spend more money on a high quality case IF....
I know, I know, it's an old old issue and a problem we've all faced and we've all discussed before. But, hey, I figure it doesn't hurt to ask one more time ....
25 Comments |
 | pastorharry says:
1/8/2014 1:23:58 PM
Gold Tone makes a very sturdy gig-bag, give them a call. Shipping should be very reasonable as well. You can black out the G and T on the outside of the case to read OLD ONE or, even just leave O D E showing ;)
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 | john bange says:
1/8/2014 1:47:08 PM
If you do not travel a lot with your Long neck, I guess the gig bag would do. If you're hauling it to gigs, I think you need a hard case. It's just my opinion and I know some of my bandmates think I'm overly protective, but I don't care.
In the 7 years of gigging, I have seen 2 go over, bending tuners on both.
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 | John Gribble says:
1/8/2014 2:20:53 PM
Usually the seller has no control over the cost of shipping, other than the choice of carrier or the guaranteed speed of delivery.
A good gig bag isn't cheap, either and would probably have to be a special order from one of the "boutique" bag makers. Longnecks are "weird ducks" and have special needs.
I think you should bite the the bullet and get the case you want. You'll probably be happier in the end.
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 | darwinyarwin says:
1/8/2014 2:25:50 PM
Yeah, John, I'm kinda reluctant to go for a gig bag for just the reasons you mention; although Harry's suggested Gold Tone seems a bit more robust than most It's my 2nd option I guess, and is a better choice than my current choice which is basically a gunny sack. Any other hard case options out there? Thanks!
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 | mainejohn says:
1/8/2014 2:34:49 PM
I got lucky a few years back and bought a Harmony longneck on ebay for $150. I only bought it because I noticed it came in a like-new vintage 50's Lifton hard shell case. I sold the Harmony for $125 on Craig's list and kept the case. My point is that you never know what kind of case you might get by looking at cheap, resalable longnecks on ebay.
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 | coalandice says:
1/8/2014 3:22:13 PM
DIY ?
I'm using the cardboard box
mine came in as a pattern
but...
minstrelbanjo.ning.com/photo/o...=activity
minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/t...=activity
and so forth
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 | Lew H says:
1/8/2014 3:43:32 PM
First Quality Music Supplies (Louisville, KY) offers a TKL longneck case for about $135. I don't know what the shipping charge is, but the price is good, I think.
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 | BobLusk says:
1/8/2014 5:45:45 PM
I echo the Gold Tone gig bag - I have 2 - they are very heavily padded and big enough for a long neck with a resonator.
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 | martinsindian says:
1/8/2014 6:21:56 PM
might try running an ad here at BHO ... wanted Longneck banjo case ... never know what might turn up ...
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 | wizofos says:
1/8/2014 6:42:53 PM
You might consider talking to Larry Hill (Helix) he builds long necks and has developed a custom shipping case that as far as I can tell is made from a foam block with a canvas cover of some sort. If he can ship long necks in one, it should be strong enough for general usage.
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 | kwfolk1 says:
1/9/2014 6:28:40 AM
I recently just purchase two TKL from Eldery to replace case from the mid 60's. There are more expensive hardshell cases, but the new ones will do the job for me. You've got an ODE, so my suggestion is to reconcile yourself to eat the shipping.
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 | vega long neck says:
1/9/2014 6:42:21 AM
I bought a TKL hard shell from Elderly in about 2006 to replace a Vega (Boston) case on my Seeger model and it has been a problem from day one. Elderly had to do surgery to noticably lower the neck saddle of the case just to get the case to close; it took them two tries while I waited at the store. I didn't pay enough attention and when I got home two days later I found that the padding around the pot was way too thick and the banjo had to be forced in AND out of the case, the headstock way compressed againt the end of the case and the strings were already wearing the lining on the case lid. The TKL case DID NOT fit a '64 Vega, at least not a Seeger model. It's been worked no again and is usable but I'm not happy with it and I never store the instrument in it.
Be very careful about a mail order gig bag for a long neck. I bought a gig bag from Colorado Case ($$$) for the same long neck as a custom mail order order. They clearly state that since the owner supplies the pattern there is no warranty on the fit. Based on my experience with the TKL case problems I ADDED more than an inch to the generously traced paper patterns neck length. Guess what? it's a snug fit and Colorado Case is true to their warranty. Usable and much better than the TKL that sits, very dusty, under a bed. It's also much lighter than a hard case and my preference for local playing. The quality of the gig bag and the workmanship is definitely very nice.
I now live near a lady who makes really upper end gig bags for any instrument on order. Betty Vornbrock sells her cases all over the country and they are much sturdier than the one from Colorado Case. She's making one for me as I write this and the Colorado Case gig bag will house another long neck that I'm building. I guarantee that it'll fit!
This all sounds a bit whinny but I found that with the variety of manufacturers for both banjos and cases problems can, and do, come up. Make sure you keep yourself in a position to get the problem solved, warranty wise. Who knows, I'll probably build another long neck to fit the TKL case rather than have it sit empty.
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| darwinyarwin says:
1/9/2014 8:57:20 AM
Wow! Thanks everyone for your responses! You've given me a lot to think about before I make a purchase. The one fact that has been reaffirmed for me is that there are still no "go to" cases for our long necks the way there is for the short-neckers. I'm tempted in the meantime to go for coalandice's idea of building something nice, or wizofos's idea of getting Larry to clue me in to his secret shipping container. But I think y'all have helped me to order my options as:
1) Keep searching for the case of my dreams and spend the bux. I'm aware that Calton cases are again being produced here in the US and I'm sending out emails to their dealers to see if it's possible to get a LN case made.
2) I have a Gold Tone dealer here in my area so I can actually try on their Gig Bag before I buy one. I do local jams and some gigs so I'd prefer a hard case, but I am going to check out the Gold Tones.
3) Keep my eye out on eBay and here at BHO for a used case for sale. (I'm relying on you guys to spread the word among other LN pickers.)
4)If I do have to "bite the bullet" and order a case from Elderly I am at least forearmed by vegalongneck's warning. (The "Canadian" case is actually a TKL without the nametag.)
Anyway, thanks a hell of a lot to all of you. Watch this space, 'cause I'll report back (eventually) with what happens. Ya know, what with the resurgence of long necks, it seems like it should be easier to get a reliable case!
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 | phdm says:
1/9/2014 10:26:31 PM
I have two original hard shell cases that came with my 1962 Seeger model and my 1964 Folklore model. However, they weigh a ton, especially with the banjo in them. About 8 years ago I read that Pete Seeger had replaced his home-made gig bag that his wife Toshi originally made for him (and which he describes how to make, with drawings, in his "How to Play the Five String Banjo" book). He went with a soft sided / gig bag made by Blue Heron Cases. I Google them and checked out their website. Long neck case is currently $219.
I decided to buy one and it is the best case purchase I have ever made. When you order them, they will talk with you about where you want the handle, depending on the balance of your long neck. They make their long neck cases one at a time to your instrument's specifications. They are amazingly well padded, well thought out, with a shoulder sling also. Great use of pieces of leather in the handle and at key stress points. It is now the only case I use for my long necks. Plus they are great folks to talk with. They are not just floppy lightweight sacks, but well padded, heavy gauge fabric with heavy gauge zippers. I can't recommend them enough. And, no, I am not a secret shill for them. I was just very impressed with their work and the company in general. They make carrying my long neck a relative breeze. And as I can sling it over my shoulder, it frees up my hands.
My two cents. Peter McKee - Seattle
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| darwinyarwin says:
1/10/2014 4:10:36 AM
Thanks Peter! I'll check out Blue Heron too. Looking at their website. Is your case similar to that pink one in their picture gallery?
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 | CLAWTINTHEACT says:
1/10/2014 7:46:56 AM
Ditto on Goldtone. Call them up. I'm real happy with mine.
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 | Mulligan says:
1/10/2014 12:36:35 PM
I ordered a Gold Tone long neck hard shell case from my music store. The price was reasonable (I recall $100-$125 but that was several years ago) so I assume that dealers get a better deal on shipping. It's a good case with four latches. I also have a Gold Tone padded gig bag and it is quite sturdy. For a while I was bummed carrying my Gibson around in a Gold Tone case but I have gotten used to it...
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| vega long neck says:
1/10/2014 1:32:51 PM
In the 60s I made one of the gig bags that Seeger showed and detailed in his book out of leather. It was a nice case and took a lot of abuse from me. The really cool thing about that was the banjo was suspended in the case off of the carrying strap some how. It also had a lot of room inside for some food and a couple of days clothes..... remember the 60s?
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| vega long neck says:
1/10/2014 1:34:17 PM
Oh yeah, I did NOT carry the Seeger banjo in that case. I used a Sears Roebuck beater with a standard scale neck.
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| darwinyarwin says:
1/10/2014 5:22:07 PM
I remember them too, Scott! My mom sewed me up a soft bag out of some thick sweat pants to protect MY Silvertone on a Greyhound trip to OKC. Later that summer I got my first Ode long neck and the next payday I bought one of those brown alligator chipboard Gibson LN cases. It lasted for years.
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| phdm says:
1/10/2014 6:32:07 PM
As to the Blue Heron case – yes, my longneck case is similar to the ones you see in the photos at their website. Mine is all black – I wonder how many pink cases they actually sell? However, they show a standard banjo case, not a longneck case. When I ordered my longneck case, the companytalked with me extensively to measure my banjo and make sure the balance would be just right for the placement of the handle.
Also, when you're looking at the website, you will note that there is an optional small "ditty bag" that can be Velcroed inside the case, over which the neck rests. I also got that, and it gives you some extra storage.
Also, you may have missed the feature inside the top lid of the case. Up near the headstock section, they put a section of leather. I didn't notice it until I realized that the peg tuners hit there, and the sharp metal string ends would otherwise scrape against the fabric, possibly cutting the fabric. The leather resists this. That's what I call attention to detail.
None of the photos that I quickly viewed on the website showed the included shoulder strap which connects from the middle to top part of the neck around to the bottom of the pot. It is heavy duty, wide, and well-designed. The connectors are also well stitched. I use that continuously.
It is the only case that is perfectly balanced when carrying by the handle. My hardshell cases either have the headstock up or the pot down due to ill-placement of the carrying handle. And obviously, the Blue Heron case adds little weight to the overall heft of the banjo, as compared to a hardshell case. - Peter
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| john bange says:
1/11/2014 6:29:32 AM
I have wanted an Ode model 33 Long neck for a Long time. If I ever find one, I'll reside in a hard case.
My Vega is in an American Vintage and my George is in a TKL flat top. There is a huge jump in fit and protection between the two.
For a nearly irreplacable Long neck piece of folk history, I would buy an American Vintage or Cedar Creek...I would think twice about it
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| john bange says:
1/11/2014 6:32:11 AM
I have wanted an Ode model 33 Long neck for a Long time. If I ever find one, I'll reside in a hard case.
My Vega is in an American Vintage and my George is in a TKL flat top. There is a huge jump in fit and protection between the two.
For a nearly irreplacable Long neck piece of folk history, I would buy an American Vintage or Cedar Creek...I would think twice about it
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| john bange says:
1/11/2014 8:53:05 AM
wouldn't think twice...don't know why my new computer added it twice
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| darwinyarwin says:
2/16/2014 8:23:29 AM
My Ode now rests in a brand new TKL hard case. I "ate the shipping" cost after having a long talk over the phone with a nice lady in Elderly's shipping dept. She explained their issues with shippers and the high costs and I accepted what she told me. Any hard case from any supplier would have about the same charges.The TKL fits my Ode perfectly and it's sturdy enough for me. I only got to try out a Gold Tone gig bag, which was indeed nice, but I just couldn't bring myself to trusting a soft bag to protect a long neck in the back of the van. Also - Elderly had a discount code going on the day I ordered it. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I'm okay with my choice, but I agree with you guys that there are some other worthy alternatives.
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