Violins are beautiful yet delicate instruments that can be easily damaged while transporting them from one location to another. As many experienced musicians will tell you, violins are also very sensitive to temperature changes and humidity levels. The best violin cases are the ones that will not only provide durable protection against physical damage but also insulate your instrument against changing temperatures and humidity. There are several trusted brands on the market that provide both levels of protection in their violin cases.
When looking to find the best violin case, you will definitely want one that comes with a hard shell. Some less expensive violins come with a soft cloth case that will not offer much protection at all. Hard shell cases, for the most part, are either made of wood, plastic, hard foam or fiberglass. Wooden shells have often been touted as the most durable, but hard foam and fiberglass cases are also quite sturdy and are generally preferred over plastic. Cases made of foam or fiberglass are lighter to carry than wooden cases and also tend to resist temperature changes better than either wood or plastic cases.
The interior design is also a crucial factor when choosing the best violin case. Basically, violin cases are considered either suspension or non-suspension. Suspension cases are heavily padded on the inside and hold the violin firmly, preventing it from being jostled against the interior of the case. Non-suspension cases also have padding, but not as much, and there is more room for the violin to shift against the interior. Suspension cases tend to be more expensive than non-suspension, but offer better protection overall for your violin.
Some higher-end violin cases also come with hygrometers and thermometers built into the shell. A hygrometer measures the humidity levels in the case and the thermometer measures the temperature. Monitoring both these conditions is important for the health of the instrument, since violins are easily affected or damaged by extremes in temperature or humidity levels. Some cases even come with a built in humidifier to make sure the air inside the case is neither too moist or too dry.
Different cases come with different accessories as well, and while the types of accessories don’t necessarily affect the quality of the violin case, the best case for you might depend on your particular needs. For instance, you might have several bows and therefore require a case that has an area to store and hold various bows. Consequently, when choosing the best violin case, aside from considerations of durability and temperature resistance, you might make a list of your particular needs and search for a case that has the various compartments and accessories to suit those needs.
It is helpful, when choosing the best violin cases, to look for certain reputable manufacturers. Such trusted brand names include Bobelock, Musafia, BAM and Gewa Maestro. Generally, these manufacturers produce quality cases that will protect your instrument against damage. Violin cases can range greatly in price and can cost into the thousands of US Dollars, but generally, for a basic, quality case, cost will be significantly less.