The cello may not have changed much in the past decade. But cello cases have come a pretty long way from the original models.
Thanks to modern technology, manufacturers have been building cases that are lighter, more durable and scratch resistant.
Are you in the market for a new case for your instrument? We’ve got you covered. In the following guide, we’ve reviewed the best cello cases available. We also go through what you'll need to know when buying a case. Read on to learn more.
6 Best Cello Case Reviews
Protecting orchestral instruments has never been so easy. Check out these top-rated cases for cellos:
1. Bam France Flight Cover for 4/4 Cello Cases
Have you been planning to buy a hard cello case for your favorite musical instrument? If you have, the Bam France Flight Cover is precisely what you need.
As you might have guessed from the title, this case is designed to protect your cello, primarily during aircraft travel.
For this reason, it emphasizes features that enhance its portability. First off, it’s equipped with rollerblade-style rubber coated wheels, making it easy to navigate through high-traffic areas like airports. Better yet, there’s a handle attached on the rear, helping to guide the wheels.
If you prefer to carry your Bam Flight Cover case differently, then consider using the two padded back straps that have security hooks.
We also like that the Bam Flight Case is designed with durability in mind. The exterior shell is made of a sturdy Polypropylene material alongside water-resistant nylon fabric strips.
The interior comprises 1 to 2 inches of insulating polyurethane foam. This creates a very effective shock-absorbent layer to protect your prized and precious cello.
Pros
Cons
While reliable, cello cases are pricey. If you factor in the cost of an expensive musical instrument, such an accessory might exceed your budget.
If you’re on a tight budget, a good alternative is a cello bag. It offers a decent amount of protection and makes it easy to carry your instrument from point A to B.
Specifically, you’ll want to check out Protec 4/4 Cello Gig Bag. Although it’s a soft cello case, this doesn’t make it any less durable. In fact, the exterior is made of heavy-duty 600D nylon.
You will also be impressed by the number of storage pockets it has. The cello gig bag even has a compartment with a hook and loop closure, which is dedicated to bows. For the interior, ProTec employs a soft 3mm padding alongside an abrasive nylex lining.
Finally, you’ll find it very easy to carry this bag as it has multiple grab handles and adjustable backpack straps.
Pros
Cons
If you’ve been searching for the best cello case that would be suitable for a traveling cellist, the Bellafina ABS Cello Case is just what you need.
One of the biggest highlights of this case is that it offers you multiple options for carrying. The one that offers the most convenience is the set of embedded wheels.
Others include three handles, and padded backpack straps enabling you to wear the case like a backpack.
Bellafina cello case is designed with the security of your instrument inside. This explains why it comes fitted with six latches and an aluminum valance.
This high quality cello case also prides itself on having multiple storage pockets. These include two bow holders and a removable accessory pocket. The manufacturer has also provided a movable foam block to protect your cello from impact.
Pros
Cons
Want to invest in the best professional grade cello cases? Then you’ll be hard-pressed to find one better than the Bobelock 2000W Cello Case.
Right off the bat, one of the things you’ll notice is its sleek design that’s evident both on the exterior and interior. The exterior is a matte black color while the interior has a gorgeous wine red lining.
In terms of build, Bobelock 2000W has an outer shell made of fibergass. As explained below, this has its fair share of perks and demerits. On the bright side, the fiberglass exterior makes for excellent durability. On the downside, this makes the cello case rather heavy. Thankfully, it comes with a set of wheels to make portability easy.
But if you prefer to carry your cello case on the back, the manufacturer has also provided a separate shoulder strap. Also onboard the Bobelock 2000W cello case are two bow holders, offering you greater convenience.
Pros
Cons
Have you been hunting for an affordable cello case? If you have, you’ll be pleased to learn about the Travelite TL-20.
There’s a lot to love about this cello case starting with its construction. The manufacturer has used premium-grade materials that offer excellent protection.
To be more specific, this case constitutes a heavy-duty ballistic nylon exterior cover. This not only shields it from inclement weather but enables the case to maintain its sleek look over time.
Moreover, the compartment where you store your cello is made of lightweight high-grade foam. This helps to provide unmatched shock absorbency.
Also important to note about this compartment is that it consists of a plush blue grey velour and it’s equipped with two bow holders.
Another reason why the Travelite TL-20 is considered the best cello case is the range of accessories it comes with. In addition to the bow holders, you also get a hygrometer to control humidity and shoulder straps for easy carrying.
Pros
Cons
This is another cello gig bag you can go for if you’re not looking to spend a ton of money on this affair.
Apart from being affordable, the Sky Brand is also a lightweight cello case. It weighs just 2 pounds, making it ultra-light and portable.
Its portability is further simplified by the inclusion of backpack straps and a handle. So if you ever wish to carry the cello case on your back, you’ll be able to.
We were particularly impressed to learn that the lightweight structure doesn’t compromise the functionality or durability of this cello gig bag.
For the exterior, the manufacturer has used heavy-duty rainproof fabric. Thanks to this waterproof ability, you can carry your instrument in inclement weather and not have to worry that it will come into contact with moisture.
And for the interior, Sky used a high-density foam padding, guaranteeing optimal shock absorption. This gig bag is also fitted with a zipper, which facilitates easy loading and unloading of your precious instrument.
Another impressive addition to this gig bag is the accessory pocket. This gives you enough room to hold a pen, rosin, keys, a spare bow among others.
Pros
Cons
Types of Cello Cases
When you first start shopping for cello cases, one of the things you’ll need to figure out is what type you should go for. On that note, here are the different kinds of cello cases that exist:
Suspension hard case
Popularly known as hardshell cello cases, these remain to be a favorite for many musicians because of the sheer durability that they offer.
Originally, these types of cases were overly bulky and difficult to carry. But thanks to modern technology, they’ve become much lighter without compromising on their functionality or longevity.
Hard Foam Case
As implied in its title, this kind of cello case is made using hard foam that’s been pressed. Compared to conventional hard cases, the hard foam varieties are a tad bulkier and heavier.
However, they’re also likely to be cheaper. If you travel a lot when playing your cello, you’ll have to weigh the pros against cons and determine whether this is the right case for you.
Soft Padded Case
This is the second most popular cello case, and understandably so. It’s merely a cello bag, and is often provided when you buy certain brands of cello.
As you can tell from the name, gig bags have very soft padding. So it’s only ideal if you have a much safer spot at home where you’ll keep your instrument. Still, you'll want to ensure that the cello bag offers a decent amount of protection. This way, you don't have to keep purchasing additional bags every couple of months.
Flight Case
This is a specially designed case for your cello, meant to be used when you’re flying. It makes it incredibly easy to check in your cello. And it offers the best protection for your instrument when you’re on a plane.
Given the uncertainty of the conditions you'll encounter when you're traveling by plane with a cello, you'll want to ensure that you're investing in temperature resistant cases too.
Electric Cello Case
While they produce fairly similar tunes, an electric cello is different from an acoustic one.
With an electric model, it comes in a slightly different shape and it’s not as brittle as its counterpart. Due to these differences, electric cellos have unique cases that are made just for them.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Cello Case
Without a doubt, cellos are very delicate instruments. But before you dive headfirst into shopping for one, here are some factors to take into account when buying musical instrument cases:
Protection
The primary reason for buying a cello case is to protect your musical instrument from potential damage. As such, the most crucial factor to take into account is the amount of protection a given case offers.
Go for cases made of materials that can take a beating. This way, you’re guaranteed that the case can withstand anything you throw at it.
On that note, check the materials used in the construction of the case. The most common and reliable options include, polycarbonate, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. (More on this below).
Suspension
Sure, your cello case should be made of a hard and sturdy material. But, it should also have a proper suspension system inside.
What the suspension does is to ensure that your instrument doesn’t come into contact with the hard shell.
If you were to accidentally drop your case, the last thing you want is for your delicate instrument to slam against a hard surface. Thus, an extra layer of padding in the case’s interior is necessary.
Keep in mind that not all cello cases will have this suspension system. If you want to offer the best protection for your cello, invest in one that has.
Size and Weight
Once you’re certain that the case offers maximum protection, check its size and weight.
Cellos come in numerous shapes and sizes. So you’ll want to ensure you pick a case that can fully accommodate your cello size.
At the same time, pay attention to the weight of the case. You don’t want to end up with a case that’s too heavy to carry. As you’ll see below, the weight will depend primarily on the material used for construction. So ensure you choose wisely.
Carrying Comfort
The best cello case should not only offer protection but it should also be comfortable to carry. On that note, here are a couple of features that make a cello case easier to carry:
Handle
In this case, you’ll want to check the handle’s placement.
A handle positioned on the side is better as it allows you to carry your instrument like a briefcase. Nonetheless, this will require you to have ample space ahead and behind you so you don’t end up hitting obstacles.
Straps
If a side-positioned handle doesn’t work for you, then look for one with padded backpack straps.
The good thing about carrying heavy cello cases on your back is that the weight gets evenly distributed. With the former type, all the weight is exerted on either your left or right shoulder and arm.
If you decide to go for straps, ensure that they’re adjustable. This way, you can position them in a way that provides greater comfort.
Wheels
If you don’t like the idea of shouldering the entire weight of your cello, then consider getting a wheeled case. The wheels make it so much easier to transport your musical instrument. This is particularly beneficial to players who don’t have the physical strength to do so.
Materials
The type of material used to make your cello case is another imperative factor to consider. Here’s a brief look at how different materials stack up against each other:
Wooden Cello Case
This is one of the most preferred materials for making cello cases, and rightly so. Not only does it offer a great deal of protection, but it’s also highly durable.
Another reason that makes wood a favorite choice is the fact that it protects cellos against inclement weather.
Since it’s an organic material, it’s able to control the internal temperatures inside the case. This, in turn, ensures your cello stays in tip-top shape. The fact that wooden cases also have very low heat conductivity is also a plus.
The only drawback of purchasing a wooden case is its weight. If you're looking for the lightest cello case, then wooden material is not for you.
These cases can be quite heavy, making them difficult to carry. For this reason, wooden cello cases are best used for permanent storage.
Fiberglass Cello Case
If a wooden case just isn’t your cup of tea, then consider one made of fiberglass material.
One of the benefits of fiberglass cases is that they’re available in different colors. But like their wooden counterparts, these cases are also quite heavy.
Due to this, most fiberglass cases come fitted with a set of wheels for easier portability.
Carbon Fiber Cello Case
If your greatest concern is the weight of your cello case, then opt for a carbon fiber case.
Unlike the wooden and fiberglass counterparts carbon fiber cases are ultra-light cello cases. And they offer a decent amount of protection and durability.
The biggest setback is that they don’t offer any temperature resistance. Carbon fiber tends to heat up as temperatures rise, and this can be catastrophic for your cello.
Why? Well, because extremely high temperatures negatively affect the friction between the string and bow. The end result is that when you play, your cello will start to produce squeaks or other unpleasant tones.
Thermoplastic Cello Case
It’s very rare to find a cello case that’s constructed using thermoplastic material. But, it’s not entirely impossible.
This thermoplastic build not only results in lightweight cello cases, but also ones that are scratch-resistant and temperature-resistant. With temperature-resistant, the cello won’t get damaged by prolonged exposure to the sun. This then means that you can play your instrument wherever, regardless of the weather.
It's important that you don't confuse thermoplastic with cheap plastic. This is a more high-strength material. As such, it's likely to offer better durability than what you'd get from cheap cello cases made of conventional plastic.
Compartments
One question you should ask yourself is, how many compartments does the cello case have?
Here's the deal, there’s a lot more that’s required to play most cellos than just the musical instrument itself; from spare strings, bows to cleaning cloth and sheet music.
Regardless of whether you’re carrying your cello from one class to another or driving to a gig, there’s no doubt you’ll need these accessories.
So when you’re looking for a case, be sure to check whether it has additional compartments. Thankfully, most cases come equipped with between one and four compartments.
Some models will have storage sections that run the entire length of the case. Others feature sheet music pouches and other smaller pockets that are strategically built into the case. Whichever style you go for, ensure that the compartments can accommodate all your accessories.
Brands
While it shouldn’t be the primary deciding factor, another thing you should pay attention to is the brand that you purchase from. Here’s a list of the best cello case brands:
Gewa
This is a German-based manufacturer that specializes in making cases for orchestral instruments. The Gewa cello cases are known for their premium-quality standards boasting features like sturdy straps, latches, and locks.
Accord
Accord is a much newer cello case brand that's based in Croatia. It excels at finding the perfect balance between weight and durability.
Bam
The French company has experience that spans many years. They offer specialized cases at varying price points to accommodate different budgetary needs. Bam even makes flight and wheeled cases.
Eastman
Like Bam, Eastman also offers a wide array of cello cases that can suit different budgets. Their cases feature exceptional quality and durability, which is why their cases are so popular among both teachers and students.
Accessories
If you’re looking to get the most out of your cello case, then consider one that comes with all the accessories you’ll need. For instance, some feature sheet music pouches, others have a rain cover, wheels, a separate shoulder strap and more.
Conclusion
If it’s your first time owning a cello, then you understand the importance of having a case. But every case is designed differently. If you’re looking to invest in the best cello cases, one that may have all the features you'd want is the Bam France Flight Cover.
It’s a hard case that’s really well-made. The exterior is constructed of strong polypropylene while the interior contains 1 to 2 inches of insulating polyurethane foam.
Another thing you’ll love is that it has multiple options for carrying. You can carry it on your back with the provided backpack straps. Or, you can use the rubber-coated wheels, allowing it to roll easily.
