Violin case for a 3/4 violin and full size bows

April 5, 2010 at 11:38 PM ·

Have my doubts about any 3/4 cases like that. Get some foam, cut as long a strip as you can and  make it about as wide as the space between your violin & the case. If your case has a velcro or a tie for the neck, pad the end enough to keep the violin close enough. Try attaching the foam with heavy duty double-face tape if you think you'll want to remove the foam eventually, or maybe use contact cement if it's staying. Sue

April 6, 2010 at 12:27 AM ·

I sell cases and I don't know of anything like that.  Some of the budget adjustable viola cases are "adjustable" because there is inside a crescent shaped pad, loose, which goes at the end button end of the case if you have the smaller viola.  I'd make one of those on a sewing machine (or by hand) by cutting the crescent shape in foam, and then covering it with a black velvet casing. 

April 6, 2010 at 10:20 PM ·

Thanks so much for your responses!  I found one at Shar that is similar to the viola cases that Connie described - a 4/4 case with cushion for 3/4 size:

Shar Ethos Oblong Violin Case

However, my luthier said that my heavy 4/4 bow may choke the sound of a 3/4 violin (Does anyone have any experience about this?), so I'm reconsidering my options...

November 18, 2010 at 04:28 AM ·

I'm in the same situation, have to downsize and have to keep my carbon fiber bow 4/4 because I can't sell it where I live, can't buy another 3/4 (my friend brought it back here for me) bow which wroth 200$ :(. Kinda stuck with it.

I may have to look for a bow case, then try to strap them to my violin case or I can use a plastic pipe with cushion to secure it.

November 18, 2010 at 05:35 AM ·

If the liner of the violin case is felt, how about a band of padding around the violin in a 4/4 case? It shouldn't be too hard to make a sleeve with Velcro in spots on one side; then stuff the sleeve with 1/4 closed cell foam, or some other padding,

1/4" for the foam, another 1/8" to 1/4" for the thickness of the fabric, and you will have a sleeve that makes the case 1/4" shorter and 1/2" narrower (two sides, only one end).

November 18, 2010 at 12:06 PM ·

I can live with carrying an oblong case for 4/4 which contains my 3/4 to save the cost. I'm thinking of using the foam they use to make mattress, then use velvet to cover them (sewed). Put the foam around the hollow inside. Then I can use the glue gun to glue them together. That would be uglier than any regular cases interior but guess I have no choice in the budget wise and bow length wise.

What makes me worried the most is not the ugliness, I'm very afraid that the glue from glue gun may harm the violin, esp in my 39Celcius weather? Can anyone with knowledge give me an idea?

Thanks!

November 18, 2010 at 10:28 PM ·

Make a long narrow tube out of the velvetand then insert the foam into the tube. It will resemble a stuffed flat snake.

Use Velcro (sewn to the tube) or pins to attach the tube to the side of the compartment. Pins (or possibly small screws) should be good to hold it in place; just make certain they are not somewhere they can get in contact with the violin or bow.

I would not use glue; in an enclosed space like that, anything that breaks down from the glue will have nowhere to go but your violin and/or bow.