Cedar Creek Guitar Cases

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Allen
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Cedar Creek Guitar Cases

Post by Allen » Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:17 pm

As a lot of us have been looking for a case manufacturer that would meet our needs of a quality case, custom sizes, and reasonable price. Cedar Creek was one of the very few suppliers that I could find that offered custom sizing, exterior and interior options, a luthier's discount, and actually seemed to be interested in my business.

The ordering process started out with an inquiry on March 25/08 with a quick response with a Luthiers price list and a confirmation that they would not require a body tracing of a size 5, as they already had the specs.

I placed the order on April 1/08 and received confirmation along with an order tracking number. Their web site says that orders will take from 8-12 weeks, and I was informed with the confirmation that they would do their best to honor the time frame, as they realize that many of these cases are going with an instrument that is being sold as soon as it's completed.

My credit card was debited with the deposit that they require on all new orders, and I didn't think about the case for a couple of months. I contacted them again on May 21/08 and I was informed that the production manager informed them that perhaps another couple of weeks and they would be ready to ship.

I didn't hear anything in a couple of weeks, so not wanting to be a pain the the ass, I let it sit for another 2 weeks, June 26/08 to be precise. I then fired off another email and I was informed that the case was glued up and they would do a final inspection before packing up. I was then informed on June 28/08 that the case was shipped and I was given a tracking USPS tracking number and informed of the postage cost. I received it on July 11/08

I should add that initially I had inquired about shipping costs, as I didn't want to get burned as Bob did by Ameritage. I was informed that for a box this size that shipping would be approximately $110 - $115 US. The postage ended up being $85 US so a pleasant surprise.

The case arrived in a large cardboard box that was filled with foam off cuts I assume from the manufacturing process. One end of the box was open, and I couldn't say if it was due to careless handling, or whether customs looked inside and didn't tape it up again. Either way the case was fine, so I'm not loosing sleep over it.


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I chose the "Mountain Cranberry" outer covering as I wanted this to look like a custom case, with a custom color. There is a $30 surcharge for a change in outer cover from the standard Black.

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This is one spot that caught my attention. Perhaps this is as good as you can expect with thicker outer coverings. I've only seen really thin, almost photo finish type of coverings that don't display this puckering.

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There isn't any extra charge for interior color. Anything they have is the same price.

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As you can see, the instrument is very well padded, and in fact, you need to help the instrument in and out of the case. It's not tight per se, the foam is quite soft. It's just that the foam holds everything very snug. You could turn the case upside down with the lid open and the instrument would stay put, no problem.

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There is very good support for the neck, and the standard compartment for odds and ends that you like to store in the case.

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The top and back are also well padded. The area on the back upper bout is also more heavily padded to support this area when packed away.

From my pretty limited experience with cases, this one is a really nice case. It was built in one of their custom lines. Not their cheapest and certainly not their most expensive. All told with the up-charge for the exterior color, and the shipping from the US to Cairns, the case cost $312.58 AU.

They has a host of options including custom embroidery, and hygrometers. Other than the puckering around the top of the case, there's not much to fault about the product. Their customer response is adequate, but I would not call it outstanding, but they aren't the very small business that I'm use to dealing with, that really goes out of their way with customer service.

I will use them again. Hopefully a full size case won't put the shipping over the top.
Allen R. McFarlen
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Bob Connor
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Post by Bob Connor » Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:38 pm

Looks great Allen.

And it's ceratainly in the ball park of what you'd want to pay for a custom case.

I think I'll pay them a visit in September and see if I can get some definite answers on the shipping costs for larger cases.
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Allen
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Post by Allen » Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:40 pm

I just fired off an email and asked about an OM size case. I'll let you know when I hear back.
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Post by WaddyT » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:11 am

I just talked to those guys yesterday. My classical is a relatively small bodied guitar with a lower bout of about 14", and none of the regular classical cases will fit it. It just flops around inside. The quote I got seemed pretty reasonable, and I probably will go ahead with the process. it may not be as high end a case as the Ameritage, but seems adequate with a significant savings.
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Post by ap404 » Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:48 pm

Thanks for this report !

The case looks great.
And they already knew what a Martin size 5 looks like!

I believe an OM case or similar would significantly increase the shipping costs
involved ( based on my experience with USPS size restrictions to Australia ). Your size 5 case may have surprised even them when it squeeked in under the size cutoff ( hence the reduced postage ).

With smaller cases often being the trickier ones to track down however, these guys are looking good.

I guess there is still a niche here for an antipodean case maker to fill ... but imagine devoting that much time towards something you can't even strum when it's done ...

... imagine having that much time to try it in the first place !
A.P.

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Post by Hesh1956 » Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:26 pm

Mountain Cranberry......... what a ...........festive.....color :D It kind of looks like a urinary track infection....:D

Allen bro the case looks fantastic and you have me wanting to check out Cedar Creek for my cases as well. but I aint going to get that girly color......

Great report!

:cl :cl :cl

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Lillian
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Post by Lillian » Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:47 am

I don't know Hesh. I think that the color would compliment your pink shop towels nicely.

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Allen
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Post by Allen » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:41 am

Hesh, you need to check out some of the colors they have available. One of my favorites for interior trim is Vintage Pink. Very pretty. :lol:
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Post by Hesh1956 » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:18 pm

OK, ok I know when I am out numbered..... :D Keep it up and I will call in my dear friend Billy :D

Lillian Lance is the one with pink shop towels - I wear pink pajama bottoms with Grumpy on them...... :D

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Post by Lillian » Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:16 pm

:oops: Please allow me to apologize Hesh. I don't know how I could have mixed up towels with pj bottoms. I withdraw my comment.

Actually I think it would look stunning with your black guitar sitting inside.

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Post by Kim » Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:26 pm

Hesh1956 wrote:OK, ok I know when I am out numbered..... :D Keep it up and I will call in my dear friend Billy :D

Lillian Lance is the one with pink shop towels - I wear pink pajama bottoms with Grumpy on them...... :D
Come Hesh fest up to the whole sordid affair M8. We already know from those photos of you recent move that you have a 'bag-less' hot pink and purple vacuum cleaner, and now your telling us about u'r Pansie pink PJ's!

I think we have a clear cut case of the pot calling the kettle black here buddy :lol:

Cheers

Kim

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Post by Bob Connor » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:07 pm

This is absolutely one of Billy's finest.

I don't know if they do a Pulitzer for Photoshop but this deserves it.

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Post by Hesh1956 » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:04 pm

Hey you can't talk about my vac(s) that way......... :D Bagless......so insulting...... :D

This is war!!!! Oh Billy!!!!! :D

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Allen
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Post by Allen » Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:49 am

I just received a reply from Cedar Creek about OM/000 cases. They tell me that the case fits into the same size box, but weights more so they estimate another $10 - $12 more for shipping. So that puts shipping at $95 - $100 US.

I asked them if they've sent this size of case to Australia before, as I hate surprises. Wouldn't want it to get stuck at the border by Australian Post. As it is still well under the 20 kg limit and the size of the box is the same, there shouldn't be an issue. But one never knows. :?

BTW. I like the look Hesh. 8)
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