10 Best Violin Cases - Buyer’s Guide, Advice & Reviews (2024)

Tired of using the same old violin case?

What if you wanted a cooler looking case with better protection or a unique color and style that reflects your personality?

You’re in the right place. It turns out there are options, you just need to know where to look.

Fortunately for you, we’ve put together this guide telling you everything you need to consider to get that case of your dreams, along with 10 of the best violin cases money can buy.

Note: Clicking the links in this article will take you to further information and current prices on Greatviolincases.com.

Product Round-up and Reviews – The Best Violin Cases

Let’s take a look at some of the best-selling cases and why violinists have been very happy with them.

Gewa Pure (Top Pick)

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Key features:

• new polycarbonate shells, scratch-resistant, adjustable neck cushion for ¾ and 4/4 violins, removable accessory pouches
• Price: $220 – $251
• Weight: 4 – 5.3 lb

One of the newest cases of 2020, these German-engineered polycarbonate violin cases are exceptionally protective at an affordable price.

The contoured cases only weigh 4 lb., and the oblong cases weigh 5.3 lb. They’re more scratch-resistant than most of the glossy hardshell cases out there.

Polycarbonate is one of the strongest plastics you’ll find. It’s used to make shatterproof glass! And because it is a type of plastic, it does not heat up under the sun like carbon fiber cases do.

The Pure cases are adjustable to accommodate ¾ and full-size violins. And they feature removable accessories pouches.

Bam Hightech (Best Premium)

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Key features:

• Hightech shells, 4 different shapes, several styles, removable accessory pouches
• Price: $546 – $947
• Weight: 2.6 – 5 lb

These cases are the ‘Louis Vuitton’ of violin cases. Designed in France, these are some of the most stylish cases in the world.

The Hightech shells are made of a triple-ply structure. 2 ABS sheets with a layer of Airex foam sandwiched between the ABS shells. You get the protection of the sturdy ABS shells, with the insulation properties of the Airex foam.

Because of their beautiful exterior styles, these cases make incredible gifts for professional violinists!

The Bam Hightech is also specifically designed to meet the strictest airline carry-on regulations, making it the best violin case for travel on our list.

Keep in mind, there may be several collections and styles of Hightech cases, but they all feature the same Hightech shells underneath the exterior layers. So all Hightech are the same in terms of protection and durability (except the Hightech Supreme cases, which are stronger polycarbonate cases).

Gewa Bio (Best Budget)

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Key features:

• Simple, unique exterior texture, affordable
• Price: $144 – $154
• Weight: 5.7 lb

These are professional-looking and simple violin cases around $150. They come in 2 colors: black and brown. But the texture of the case is what makes it so unique.

The shell is made of flax sheets, which is an organic material. Making the case temperature-resistant as well. The flax sheets give the exterior of the case a very unique textured look.

The interior is as simple as it gets. One spacious accessories compartment. And 2 bow holders.

This case is basically stripped of all it’s “bells and whistles”, so you’re only paying for the protection and durability. Plus it just happens to look really unique!

Bobelock Corregidor

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Key features:

• Temperature-resistant, traditional wooden shells, luxurious interior, spacious accessory pockets
• Price: $299
• Weight: 8 lb

These cases are ideal for violinists looking for a traditional wooden case with great protection at an affordable price.

They’re actually as protective as most of the $800 wooden violin cases out there. The only downside is weight. These cases do weigh 8 lb.

However, for the price, protection, durability, and luxury you get, many professional violinists have chosen this case over more expensive and lightweight cases.

These cases also have the most spacious pockets of any violin case. One of the pockets can fit a Bon Musica shoulder rest.

Gewa Air (Best Protection)

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Key features:

• Light, temperature-resistant, combination locks, removable accessory pouches, several colors to choose
• Price: $499 – $588
• Weight: 3.5 – 4.4 lb

These cases are the predecessors of the Gewa Pure violin cases. The German engineers at Gewa wanted to make a case as strong and light as carbon fiber cases, but does not heat up like carbon fiber cases, and also available at a more affordable price.

Their solution? The Gewa Air thermoplastic violin cases! The secret is in the manufacturing process. Many cases out there use sheets of protective material, then bend them into the shape of a case. However, this makes the bent areas more susceptible to damage.

The Gewa Air cases on the other hand, use extreme heat to mold the materials into the shape of the cases. So nothing is bent into shape. Thus creating a stronger case made of more affordable materials.

Gewa Air cases weigh between 3.3 – 4.4 lb. They’re incredibly protective and durable. Many professional violinists have chosen these cases over $1,400 carbon fiber violin cases!

Jakob Winter Greenline Decor (Most Lightweight)

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Key features:

• Light and affordable, colorful, compact, popular among students
• Price: $219
• Weight: 3.5 – 3.6 lb

These cases are some of the lightest cases you will find under $250. It only weighs around 3.5 lb, making it the best lightweight violin case on our list. And they’re very colorful. Making them extremely popular among students.

They may not be the most protective cases around, but they get the job done. They feature unique easy-open latches. And the shaped cases have space under the instrument for shoulder rest and accessories. Which is quite rare for a contoured case.

These cases are perfect if you’re looking for something unique, light, and affordable.

Bobelock Fiberglass Half Moon

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Key features:

• Half-moon fiberglass, travel covers included, spacious accessories pocket, several interior colors
• Price: $252
• Weight: 9 lb

For violinists looking for sturdy and durable fiberglass violin cases with luxurious velvet interiors. These half-moon cases come with washable travel covers that protect your case from scratches. You can also slide sheet music between the cover and the case.

There are several colors to choose from. And the interior colors are different as well. Making them one of the few cases out there with interior colors besides black.

The accessories pocket is very spacious. And there’s a velcro strap under the neck of the violin for shoulder rest. Each case comes with a hygrometer and a humidistat.

The only downside is that these cases are a bit on the heavier side, weighing 9 lb. But they’ll last you for decades.

Pedi Niteflash

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Key features:

• light, traditional look, comfortable backpack system, water-resistant fabric
• Price: $229 – $339
• Weight: 3.3 – 5 lb

These are good “go-to” violin cases. Not a lot of glamour or style, but incredible protection and durability at an affordable price.

They’re temperature resistant. They feature steel frames within the shells for extreme pressure resistance. Meaning you can jump on the case and your instrument will be fine.

They have actual backpack straps, instead of D-rings that hook up to 2 shoulder straps like most cases. Meaning they’re a lot more comfortable to carry on your back. There’s also a padded sheet music pouch on the back of the case.

The only downside is that the accessories pocket is quite small for an oblong case. You can fit a Kun style shoulder rest. But you can’t fit any non-adjustable shoulder rests inside.

Bam Saint Germain Oblong

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Key features:

• High-density foam interior, removable accessory pouch, lockable zippers, traditional look
• Price: $330
• Weight: 6.8 lb

These Bam cases have the best interiors of any case we’ve seen! It’s nothing fancy, but the interior high-density foam padding feels like a temper-pedic mattress for your violin.

The foam fully suspends the violin. So if you drop it, the instrument is well protected on all sides by that foam.

The exterior of the case has a nice traditional look. The exterior fabric is more tear-resistant compared to standard canvas covers. And it’s water-resistant as well. There’s a combination lock for your zippers, so you can lock your case.

Negri Venezia

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Key features:

• luxurious wooden case, swiss lock, chrome-plated hardware, unique interior design
• Price: $650
• Weight: 6.5 lb

These are beautiful traditional wooden violin cases with top quality craftsmanship. It’s the case with all the bells and whistles! From chrome-plated knobs, to micro-suede interiors.

This case is designed for violinists who want premium quality protection for their beloved instruments.

The laminate wooden case is temperature-resistant. The canvas cover is water-resistant. And the interior of the case is beautifully designed.

What’s great about Negri cases is the attention to detail. These cases do not use velcro straps to tie down the neck of the violin. Since velcro can scratch the violin strings over time. Instead, there’s padding on the lid of the case. So when you close the case, the padding presses down on the violin, keeping it in place.

There’s a small zippered pouch within the full-length sheet music pouch. Even the D-rings are screwed into the case, instead of using glue.

Everything about the Negri cases reflect quality craftsmanship. With the attention to detail, you know you’re getting a durable case that’ll protect your violin for decades.

Buyer’s Guide – What to Look For in a Violin Case

All violins, regardless of the type of violin, need protection from the elements. But no two cases are born equal, so before we dive into our 10 recommendations, first educate yourself on the key things to consider before you take the plunge.

Suspension System

A good suspension system will ‘suspend’ your violin within the case. There should be as little contact between your violin and the shell of the case as possible. This is to protect the violin from knocking against the case if you drop it.

Most cases feature foam-padded suspension systems. So if you drop the case, the violin bounces against the foam, instead of the hard exterior shell of the case.

Almost all popular brands will feature cases with suspension systems.

Durable Components

When we talk about how durable a case is, we mean by how long you can use the case in good condition. And the durability of a case really comes down to the durability of the small components. Such as zippers, locks, buttons, etc.

In general, the exterior shells of a case will stand against the test of time. Cheap zippers on the other hand, can break within months. You can have the strongest and most protective case in the world, but if those zippers break, the case will be pretty useless if you can’t close it anymore.

How can you tell if a case has durable components? By the brand, usually.

Brands are reputable for a reason. For example, Bam and Gewa have teamed up with travel luggage brands to create TSA-grade locks for their cases. You can rest assured that these brands are putting the same attention towards quality in all aspects of their cases.

Weight

Heavy cases are awesome! Said no one ever. Every musician wants a light case. For a violin case, light means under 5 lb. More traditional wooden oblong cases are generally between 7-9 lbs.

However, generally the lighter the case, the more expensive it is. That’s because case makers have to develop more advanced molding techniques to achieve lighter weights without sacrificing protection.

There are cases under 5 lb. that are also under $150. But we can pretty much guarantee those cases will be fairly easy to break.

Material

As mentioned before, case makers have to get creative when they want to manufacture cases that are light, durable, and protective. They have to experiment with different materials. We’ll quickly go over some of the most popular materials in building the shells of violin cases.

Keep in mind, each material has its own unique benefits. What works for one violinist, may not work for you. Choose the material that best fits your needs.

Here are the main materials:

Carbon fiber– As light and protective as it gets. Generally under 4.5 lb. But these cases heat up like ovens under the sun. Still a great option for professional violinists that generally keep their cases in room-temperature environments.

Fiberglass– A popular option for students. These hard cases generally have several colors to choose from. They weigh anywhere from 5.6 – 8 lb. They’re not as susceptible to heat as carbon fiber cases.

Wooden – The best option when it comes to temperature-resistance. Wood is an organic material. And it’s great for creating a safe little temperature bubble within the case. Think of a wooden cottage in the middle of winter versus a metallic shipping container. Which would you prefer to stay in?

Polycarbonate– Definitely the coolest new cases of 2020. Polycarbonate is one of the strongest plastics you can find. It’s used to make shatterproof glass! It’s light. And because its plastic, it doesn’t heat up like metallic or fiberglass cases do.

Hightech – This is Bam’s own patented protection. Hightech is a triple-ply structure with 2 ABS shells, and Airex foam sandwiched between the 2 ABS shells for better insulation. One thing to note, these cases are not made of carbon fiber! They may have cases that look metallic, but that’s just the exterior look. These cases do not heat up as carbon fiber cases do.

Thermoplastic– These are the popular German-engineered Gewa Air violin cases. Thermoplastic is a technique of using high temperatures to mold strong plastics into the shape of a case. This makes the case almost as strong as carbon fiber but doesn’t heat up like carbon fiber. Plus they’re incredibly light too!

ABS– ABS plastic cases are generally cheap hardshell violin cases. They’re quite heavy. But they can definitely take a beating. ABS comes in all forms. Hightech cases use a more advanced type of ABS plastics.

Styrofoam – Incredibly lightweight cases. Great temperature-resistance; since they do not absorb heat or cold. But horrible protection. You can break the case just by sitting on it. Styrofoam is generally used on the inside of cheaper wooden cases.

Shape

Violin cases generally come in 3 shapes – contoured, oblong, and half-moon.

Contoured – slim and compact. Great for traveling musicians who want to bring their violins on an airplane. These cases can generally fit slim shoulder rests, such as a Kun style shoulder rest. There’s usually no space for sheet music.

Oblong– spacious cases with ample room for shoulder rests of different sizes. A lot of these cases also feature sheet music pouches. And they have bigger accessory compartments or pouches.

Half-moon– These cases are between a contoured and oblong case. They’re slightly more spacious than the contoured cases. And they can often fit larger shoulder rests. The most famous half-moon violin cases are Bobelock half moon fiberglass violin cases.

Functional

By functional, we mean the icing on top of the cake. These are features that make life easier for violinists. Here are some popular examples:

Removable accessories pouch – No more running back and forth between your music stand and your case just to get your rosin or pencil. Conveniently bring all your accessories and cleaning supplies with you with removable pouches. These are usually attached to your case via velcro.

Comfortable backpack straps – A lot of cases now feature padded backpack straps for more carrying comfort.

Combination locks – Cases with combination locks are quick and easy to open. Plus you have the option of locking your case without having to worry about misplacing a key. As long as you remember your combination!

Sheet music pouch – You’ll generally find these with oblong cases. Great for violinists who prefer to keep their music with their cases.

Adjustable neck cushions – This has been a relatively new feature. Neck cushions are adjustable to accommodate ¾ and full-size violins. This is great for students that’ll be switching to a full-size violin, and not have to worry about getting another case.

Temperature-Resistant

With summers getting hotter, temperature-resistance is becoming more and more important. Violins do not do well in inclement weather. This is why it is important for a case to protect the violin from hot, cold, humid, and dry climates.

As mentioned before, some materials aren’t designed to protect your violin from inclement weather. So if you’re a musician who has to walk in dangerous temperatures quite often, you’ll definitely need to make sure you get a case that’ll protect your violin from those elements.

So, Which is Right For You?

Our top pick goes to the Gewa Pure. It is the perfect combination of strength, durability, temperature-resistance, and affordability. Plus these cases are more scratch-resistant than the majority of hard cases.

Our premium pick goes to Bam Hightech. Trusted by top violinists and museums around the world, its designed to protect high-value violins.

If you’re on a budget, we suggest the Gema Bio, a great case minus all the ‘bells & whistles’. You’re simply paying for great protection and durability. It also has a large accessory pocket to fit any size shoulder rest.

Thanks for reading, we hope you found this buyer’s guide helpful.

Good luck!