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Violin case measurements
Problem in finding one that fits my violin
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ElisaDalViolin

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October 22, 2015 - 5:44 pm
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I recently bought a german violin and I’m searching a good case for it before the cold/humidity season starts. I tried a few but it didn’t fit perfectly. Not knowing why it was happening since by looking at it it’s not very clear, I measured and compared my two violins, stating that the german violin is taller than the standard full size by two cm. This creates a problem since I can’t find violin cases that have the body lenght more than 36,5/37 cm or don’t damage the bridge by the pressure of the top part of the case. I thought maybe I could buy a 15” viola case but I’m not quite sure if it will work.  Any suggestions? 

 

The measurements of the instruments are listed below

Chinese violin:

Instrument lenght : 60 cm / 23,6 inch

Arm lenght : 24 cm / 9,4 inch

Body lenght : 37 cm (with button) / 14, 5 inch

 

German violin:

Instrument lenght: 62 cm / 24,4 inch

Arm lenght: 25 cm / 9,8 inch

Body lenght: 38 cm (with button) / 14,9 inch

Thank you :)

 
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Hermes
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October 22, 2015 - 10:20 pm
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It could work, provided that your violin holds its place without any excessive movement (more than 1cm or something like this). Otherwise, the suspension of the case, would not work properly, and your instrument could get damaged from a sudden impact. 

I know that there are some viola cases with transformable interior,  allowing the player to adjust the length of the body to match their instrument.

However, The main issue is the body of your instrument, because you could find violin cases without any accessory compartments near the scroll, and solve part of the problem

Maybe you could also be lucky with a case that stores the violin diagonally? like the Courier by Embassy, or the Diagonale by Gewa?

If you are in a hurry you could go diy (I had to do this twice, and I was lucky). Many cases are quite cushiony, and their main material besides the outer shell is some kind of polyurethane or polystyrene, lined with a silky or velvety textile. If you are careful, you could place a soft cloth over the lining, and then work with a hammer (or even your hands), to shape the case to fit your violin. Eventually you will get a 61 cm case (which is not a rare size) to something a little more comfortable. 

If nothing of the above works, then there is the option of custom made cases, according to the pattern of your instrument. (I know that Dimitri Musafia offers this option but it could prove expensive I guess, and you could also ask Negri and Riboni)

But I would go for the viola case if it holds your instrument firmly. There are many advantages, more accessory compartments, they are sometimes cheaper than violin cases

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Fiddlerman
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October 23, 2015 - 7:32 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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Where do you live? The best thing to do in this case is to visit a violin shop.
I can try some cases out today to see which have the most space.
The bridge shouldn't be so high that it touches the top of the case excessively. I'm wondering if you didn't get a small 15" viola which has been strung to a violin. Viola's tend to be thicker.

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ElisaDalViolin

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October 23, 2015 - 4:20 pm
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Thank you so much for your replies! :)

 

@Hermes I saw some of those transformable viola cases online but I'm not sure if it's safe due to the width of a viola and/or not having the velcro part that holds the arm. I can't test one in real life so I'm relying on the measurements only. I was suggested a custom made too but sadly I can't afford it :/  

 

@Fiddlerman I live in Portugal. I bought the violin from a luthier personally but he hadn't cases that would fit (we tried a few). He was very nice and wanted to help me so he lent me a old wood case which it's not for sale until I find one for myself. It's a old fashion case without any protection (foam or velcro parts, only structure so it fits), I have to cover the instrument with a lot of fabric to avoid moving too much on the inside. I visited other music shops but here is very difficult to find since they often prefer to sell material for guitar players. The few cases I found I would ask the owner to measure it for me but the body lenght was always 37 cm. Therefore I'm turning to online research but few have the full measurements of the cases which I fully understand due to the instruments having a standard system. 

The bridge isn't very high, I even had it lowered to match my previous one. The reason it was being pressured by the top part of the case was because the violin wouldn't fit properly in the shape of the foam, so it kinda sit on the top of it tilted. Thank you so much Fiddlerman, that would be really awesome :)

 
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ElisaDalViolin

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October 26, 2015 - 6:56 pm
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Good news!

I've been working on my cheap chinese violin case with a hammer like Hermes suggested and after a couple of tries and heavy work, I accomplished to achieve a nearly good fit for my violin. I'm very glad that it's possible to somehow make it fit ( only if the body lenght of the case is 37 cm, no less, or else might ruin it with the excessive "modelling")  but my question is, by doing so is there any chance of reducing its protection from the weather/temperature variations? 

 
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Hermes
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October 26, 2015 - 8:43 pm
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ElisaDalViolin said
Good news!

I've been working on my cheap chinese violin case with a hammer like Hermes suggested and after a couple of tries and heavy work, I accomplished to achieve a nearly good fit for my violin. I'm very glad that it's possible to somehow make it fit ( only if the body lenght of the case is 37 cm, no less, or else might ruin it with the excessive "modelling")  but my question is, by doing so is there any chance of reducing its protection from the weather/temperature variations? 

Glad that you made it!!! I can really remember this feeling when I made it work in the past.

The question refers to future "remodelling" or on the current situation? 

Anyway, if the outer shell and its canvas (if there is one) is intact you are as safe as you were before. Yes, technically if you remove a part of insulation mass of something you may reduce its capabilities, but I really doubt there was such a severe action on this particular case  :)

So if you have an intact outer shell, with foam interior and some kind of a velour, and then your instrument, I suppose it should be as ok it were before.

When it's really really cold I like putting my violin in a silk bag before storing it on the case. And for extreme conditions there are some supplementary "jackets" that you could wrap your case in them (especially if its a plastic, fibreglass or compound one)

You sound like someone that really cares for her instrument so I suppose that you already have a hygrometer and humidifier, just to keep you relaxed.

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damfino
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Glad you got your case to fit your violin :)  

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ElisaDalViolin

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October 26, 2015 - 10:05 pm
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Thank you @Hermes  :)

The question was mainly to future remodelling (new case) specially because the german is more delicate instrument than my chinese Stagg. 

When is cold, I wrap the violins with extra fabric, a silk scarf and other made of cotton and I have a dehumifier in my room. My main worry is the excessive humidity and not the opposite, the temperatures don't go extremely low here. I'm trying to research the best option for me at this moment but the measurements,  the lack of them in the cases descriptions online and the lack of cases available in physical stores here are making it a bit difficult so the diy surely brought me some relief  :)

 
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ElisaDalViolin

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October 26, 2015 - 10:17 pm
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Thank you @damfino, but I still don't have one for the german violin. It was an experiment on my stagg violin case to see if I actually could work on a future case to fit it when I buy one. I'm very happy it is in fact possible! dancing 

 
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Hermes
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ElisaDalViolin said
Thank you @Hermes  :)

The question was mainly to future remodelling (new case) specially because the german is more delicate instrument than my chinese Stagg. 

When is cold, I wrap the violins with extra fabric, a silk scarf and other made of cotton and I have a dehumifier in my room. My main worry is the excessive humidity and not the opposite, the temperatures don't go extremely low here. I'm trying to research the best option for me at this moment but the measurements,  the lack of them in the cases descriptions online and the lack of cases available in physical stores here are making it a bit difficult so the diy surely brought me some relief  :)

I see

So, get the largest you may find, in all aspects I guess. (more length, more foam to remodel hehe).

Wow, with all these fabrics, velvet, foam, plywood and canvas, I think that you will be ok when going outside, no matter how much you will have to press the foam :)

Good luck with the case-hunting!

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loren

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January 27, 2016 - 3:33 pm
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Hi, Elisa

I had the same problem with the violin case for my dauther. My case-hunting was lucky and ended  buying Jacob Winter case here  Violin cases

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ElisaDalViolin

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January 28, 2016 - 1:56 pm
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I'm so sorry, I've been a bit away from the forum and I forgot to update this. In December I received my case! It's a Rockbag (I think it is its name) and had the perfect measurements for my violin. Even though I'm not used to such large case compared to those basic ones (and because I'm not a tall person XD), I'm very happy with it. 

 

@loren  I'm glad you found a good violin case for your daughter :) I've heard JW cases are pretty good.

 
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Hermes
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January 28, 2016 - 10:57 pm
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Glad you found a solution !!!

btw, was it a violin or a viola case?

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ElisaDalViolin

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Thank you @Hermes . It's a violin case :)  

 
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Fiddlerman
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January 31, 2016 - 4:07 pm
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We have Winter as a distributor. We should probably add them to our site. We get them directly from the Winter warehouse in Florida. I'll get someone on that. Thanks for the reminder loren. :)

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