Case Showdown! [Fender Classic Series Wood Case vs Gator GW-Jag]

[GilmourD]

Looking for a case for my offsets and I'm curious which is the better case.

I'm not talking price so much (cuz I can find good deals on stuff if I dig hard enough) but more along these criteria:

• Which case fits better? Does either case allow the guitar to slide around inside or will the guitar be nice and secure either way?
• Which case is more able to take a bump?
• Which case has better latches?

Here's the links to the cases I'm talking about, just for specifics:

• https://www.fender.com/en-US/accessorie ... 16306.html
• https://gatorco.com/product/jaguar-styl ... se-gw-jag/

[sunburster]

Both of those are junk. For about the same price you can get a 1SKB-62, which is a lot better (I have one of these and love it). Or pay a bit more and get a G&G case (I have four of these and love them too!).

[mcatano]

I'd say more than half of the SKB JM/jag cases I've come across have had broken latches or cracked corners.
I broke a latch on one of mine going from our practice space to a club 10min away in a car. They're maybe not the best cases.

[whitewatersky]

I've found that these are great:

https://www.fender.com/en-AU/accessorie ... 12306.html
I don't like metal latches due to rust here on the coast...

[Futuron]

Yeah, the deluxe moulded Fender cases are amazing

[GilmourD]

OK, I appreciate the alternatives... But I'm not a touring musician.

I'm looking for something on the lower end of the budget that isn't floppy like a gig bag (and thus able to be stood up or stacked) for storage purposes. I would LOOOOOVE that Fender Deluxe molded case, but the bank account is already very unhappy with me.

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

I have the Deluxe Molded Case and the Gator Case.
Both do their job.
The handle of the Fender feels better - and the fit obviously is - I prefer the Fender one (handling, balance, feel) but from a (in your case not relevant) touring aspect it could be the Gator surviving longer - as the ABS plastic could break at some point.
Would love to try an SKB or find a Hagström case that is a perfect fit (is there any) for a slightly lower price point and the freaking best/most comfortable handle ever.

[GilmourD]

OK... What about this guy here? Not as aesthetically pleasing but how's it hold up compared to the fender and the nicer looking Gator?

Gator GC-JMASTER Deluxe Molded Case for Fender Jazzmaster Guitars https://reverb.com/item/64605530?utm_so ... t=64605530

[andy_tchp]

Hiscox are better, stronger and lighter than everything mentioned so far.

Probably pricier depending on where you're located though.

[GilmourD]

Hiscox are better, stronger and lighter than everything mentioned so far.

Probably pricier depending on where you're located though.

North Jersey. 🤌

[ryanthellama]

I'm looking for something on the lower end of the budget that isn't floppy like a gig bag (and thus able to be stood up or stacked) for storage purposes. I would LOOOOOVE that Fender Deluxe molded case, but the bank account is already very unhappy with me.

Stratosphere often sells these for a decent bit under list price. They have more of the Strat/Tele ones, but if you’re not in a rush you can probably keep an eye on their website or eBay store and snag one for a good price. That’s how I got all of mine. When Fender has sales, they’re often included too.

[Futuron]

I'm looking for something on the lower end of the budget that isn't floppy like a gig bag (and thus able to be stood up or stacked) for storage purposes. I would LOOOOOVE that Fender Deluxe molded case, but the bank account is already very unhappy with me.

Stratosphere often sells these for a decent bit under list price. They have more of the Strat/Tele ones, but if you’re not in a rush you can probably keep an eye on their website or eBay store and snag one for a good price. That’s how I got all of mine. When Fender has sales, they’re often included too.

I used to get them this way, until their international postage went through the roof. The price including domestic postage would be very attractive

[GilmourD]

OK, seriously, now.

Are the Gator cases I mentioned actually junk or is that hyperbole? Links for them are here, just in case you want to double check what I'm talking about.

GC-JMASTER - ABS Guitar Case For Fender Jazzmaster

GW-JAG - Jaguar Style Guitar Deluxe Wood Case

The only case I have that is indeed junk is some no-name vintage-looking hardshell with terrible latches and hinges that I got for... I don't even know. LOL It wasn't much.

Other than that, my kid's Strat came with a Gator molded case, my Wolgang Special came with whatever Peavey shipped them with, I have an SKB soft/hardshell that I paid only $65 for in 2015, the Fender G&G Kurt Cobain Jaguar case, and I have the G&G case I got for my Strats/Teles. Jeebus, I paid $191.91 shipped for that G&G BRAND NEW from MF in April of '21! Maybe that's why I just can't deal with case prices right now! LOL

Oh, and I have a bunch of different gig bags (Fender, Gator, another brand that I can't remember right now but I'm not home to look) that just flop all over the place and fall off whatever shelf I put them on.

I tried to keep that all out of the OP because I was trying to avoid cluttering things with unnecessary information. I was just trying to get a comparison between two specific cases, but neither of those cases have been mentioned since the OP.

I think the Fender Classic Series case is a known quantity of being... alright... Nowhere near the G&G but not the worst thing ever. But I threw it in this thread as a comparison for the Gator as a known quantity.

Remember, I just need something to take the Jazzmasters out of the house occasionally that stays where I put it when I store it. I'm not touring. I'm sadly not even currently occasionally gigging at the moment.

OK, now that this got way longer and more complicated than I had intended... Please give me some honest answers.

[flying_squad]

I have just taken delivery of the Fender Deluxe Moulded Jaguar/Jazzmaster case (I have a new MIJ Jaguar that only has a very flimsy soft case). Initial impressions of the case are:

Great build quality
Guitar stays in place - no jiggling about
Convenient storage pocket
Lightweight ABS makes it surprisingly easy to move around

It’s no hardcore flight case but I didn’t really want that: they are heavy and overkill for an amateur like me. The wooden traditional cases look great but I get the impression they’re not particularly hard wearing. This ABS case can be had direct from Fender for 5-10% discount and feels sturdy and manoeuvrable compared to the other options.

If you are considering a hard case then you could do a lot worse: this will keep your pride and joy safe without breaking your back or bank balance.

[GilmourD]

Is everybody completely ignoring my questions about the Gator cases trying to tell me something?