Recommend a hard case for a 335-style guitar

[SpinWheelz]

I just ordered an Epiphone Riviera, but it doesn't come with a hardshell case. Can anyone recommend a reliable, not-too-expensive case?

Thanks!

[djwilbanks]

Epiphone 335 Hardshell Case and more Guitar at GuitarCenter.com.

The Riviera has the bigsby on it, so it might not fit well into just any 335 style case. For this one you might have to depress some of the padding above where the tremolo arm will be.

[SpinWheelz]

Thanks for the heads-up about the Bigsby - I'd forgotten to account for that. With that in mind, I wonder if this, which is described as being about 0.5 inches deeper, would accomodate the Bigsby arm.

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

Thanks for the heads-up about the Bigsby - I'd forgotten to account for that. With that in mind, I wonder if this, which is described as being about 0.5 inches deeper, would accomodate the Bigsby arm.

Sorry it took me so long to get back with you.

What I would do it just measure the distance from the top of the body to the bigsby arm.

If its .5 inches or less then you're good to go. If is near .5 inches, then you can get it and go ahead and depress a bit of the foam (albeit less than the Epi case) and you should be ready to go!

Looking at that case though, I would wager that it's no deeper in reality because it looks like it has a wedge that holds the body up slightly so its not balancing on the neck inside the case.

Either way, either you'll have to get a 335 w/Bigsby designed case, or you'll probably be depressing some foam. If the arm on the tremolo will spin around on the anchor piece you should have to depress even less foam than you would if it has to stay extended.

Hope that helps!

[SpinWheelz]

Thank you for the advice. I called Musicians Friend last night and got a stellar deal on an Epiphone 335 case for around $50. I'll see how I fare with that, especially with the Bigsby. The Guitar Center shop guy told me that all I needed to do was swing the Bigsby to the point towards the rear of the guitar and it should fit these cases fine.

Thanks again for the advice.

[djwilbanks]

No problem.

I know on the Epi LPs with Bigsbys in the normal Epi case the arm hits the top no matter where you have it.

Hopefully you won't have that problem.

[SpinWheelz]

So I got my Epiphone 335 case today. Lovely case. Pleather exterior, nice firm but fluffy interior... and best of all: my Epiphone Riviera P93 with Bigsby fits like a charm. I needed to do is swing the Bigsby arm towards the tail of the guitar and it becomes virtually flush with the guitar. Nothing protruding untowardly in the case.

And for a scratch & dent case from Musician's Friend, I saved about $40 for virtually nothing - I can't find a damn thing wrong with the case. It's impeccable.