Description
Review of the Gator Deluxe Wood Case for Double-Cutaway Electric Guitars, Black
The Gator GW-ELECTRIC is a hardshell wooden case built to fit double cutaway electric guitars, finished in black with a plush lined interior. It is a case rather than an instrument, aimed at anyone who needs real protection for a guitar that travels, is stored long term or gets handled by other people.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Rigid wood shell construction. A hard case resists crushing and impact in a way no gig bag can, which matters if the guitar goes in a car boot, a van or a loft.
- Plush foam padded interior, which cushions the instrument and stops the finish being scuffed by the case itself over years of opening and closing.
- Locking latches, so the case cannot spring open when it is carried by the handle with a heavy guitar inside. That is the failure mode that damages instruments most often.
- An accessory compartment for cables, picks, a tuner, a capo and a spare string set, which keeps everything with the guitar rather than scattered.
- An ergonomic moulded handle, worth more than it sounds on an eleven pound case carrying a nine pound guitar.
Cons
- The spec table records “Number of Strings: 6” for a guitar case. A case has no strings. That field has been inherited from the instrument category and should be ignored.
- The imported description has lost characters throughout. It reads “Ergonomic Hle”, “Accessy Compartment” and “Hardshell Wood Case f Double-cutaway Electric Guitars”. The listing text is corrupted, which means it cannot be relied on for detail.
- Only external dimensions are published, at 42 by 16 by 4.75 inches. The internal cavity measurements are not given, so fit cannot be confirmed for any particular guitar without measuring first.
- The latches are described as locking but the listing does not say whether they lock with a key or simply snap shut under tension. Those are very different levels of security.
- At 11 pounds empty this is a heavy object. Combined with a typical solid body electric it makes a package near twenty pounds, which is a consideration for anyone walking any distance with it.
Detailed Product Description
The shell is engineered wood, which means a manufactured board rather than solid timber, wrapped in a black exterior covering. Engineered wood is the standard construction for cases in this class: it is stiff, consistent and far cheaper than moulded composite, and it gives the case its rigidity. The interior is lined with plush over foam padding, which does two jobs. The foam absorbs shock and the plush stops the lining abrading a nitrocellulose or polyurethane finish over time.
The shaping matters. This case is cut for a double cutaway outline, the body style where both shoulders are scooped away at the neck joint, which covers Stratocaster style guitars, most SG style guitars and instruments such as the Ibanez GRX20Z and the Monoprice Cali Classic. A single cutaway guitar with a wide lower bout, or a semi hollow body, will not sit correctly in it. Because the interior dimensions are not published, the sensible step is to measure the guitar’s overall length, lower bout width and body depth and compare them against the 42 by 16 by 4.75 inch external figures, allowing for the shell thickness and padding.
The accessory compartment sits in the usual position under the neck. It is worth remembering what should not go in it: a spare set of strings, picks and a cloth are fine, but leaving a heavy object loose in the compartment on a long journey can let it work its way out and press against the neck.
What Comes with the Product
- The hardshell wood case in black, with plush foam padded interior, accessory compartment, locking latches and a moulded handle
Not included: a guitar, a shoulder strap or backpack straps, a humidifier, a lock or a key. There is no indication in the listing that the case can be carried on the back, so it is a hand carry item only.
Who It Suits
This suits an owner of a double cutaway electric guitar who transports it regularly, plays out, or needs to store an instrument safely for months at a time. It also suits anyone who has moved past treating a guitar as disposable and wants proper protection without paying for a flight case. How a hard case compares with the alternatives is set out in the guide to guitar cases versus gig bags.
It suits less well someone who walks or cycles to lessons, where the weight and the lack of shoulder straps become the deciding factor and a padded gig bag is the practical answer. It also suits less well an owner of a single cutaway, semi hollow or offset bodied guitar, since the case is shaped for a specific outline. A soft alternative is the MONO M80 sleeve and a comparable hard option is the ChromaCast electric guitar hard case. The full range of protection and accessories sits in amps and accessories.
How to Maintain
Keep the latches clean and free of grit. A jammed latch is usually forced, and forcing is what breaks the mechanism or the shell around it.
Let the case reach room temperature before opening it after a cold journey. Opening a cold case in a warm room puts condensation straight onto the guitar’s finish and strings.
Wipe the exterior with a dry cloth and keep the interior plush free of dust. Grit trapped in the lining is what scratches a finish over years.
Tips and Recommendations
Measure the guitar before ordering. Overall length, lower bout width and body depth are the three numbers that decide whether it fits, and the interior dimensions of this case are not published.
Store the guitar horizontally in the closed case rather than standing it upright on its end for months. Correct long term storage is covered in the guide to how to store a guitar.
Slacken the strings slightly before a long journey or a period in storage, particularly if the case is going somewhere with swinging temperatures. It reduces the load on the neck without needing to detune fully.
Product FAQ
Will it fit any electric guitar?
No. It is shaped for double cutaway bodies. Single cutaway, offset and semi hollow instruments may not sit correctly, and the internal dimensions are not published so the guitar should be measured first.
Do the latches take a key?
The listing says the latches lock but does not state whether a key is involved or supplied.
Why does the specification mention six strings?
That field has been carried over from the guitar category. It has no meaning for a case.
