Who makes the best case for the money?
- Thread starter thegloworm
- Start date
skor said:
I agree with Skor. If you want the best bang for your buck then the
Instroke Premier is hard to beat, but if you are looking for a nice
higher end then heres my opinion. I've tried pretty much all the bigger
names in the last year or so. I've had a Whitten, A Murnak, A Justis,
and a John Bartion Flowers tribute. I had a couple small issues with the
Whitten and the Justis. The Whitten would not stay on my shoulder for
nothing, and the Justis would not take slightly oversized joint protectors.
Other than that all 4 cases were awesome and had their own positives.
If I had to rank them, I'd have to go with the Barton as number one. The
main reason is that you cant find a better leather case for $ 300 shipped
to your door. The case is awesome. I love it. The Murnak came in a close
second. Phenomenal case. I only used 1 shoulder strap, and the other was
taught with no slack. The only thing about the Murnak compared to the JB
was the extra $ 60.00 price tag plus shipping. Thats all. The Justis and the
Whitten are great cases, just those little things. Hope this helps.
Never seen a Murnak in person (Wish he would get a booth at the BCA in Vegas in May), if I were to get a case made I think I would seek him out for something with alot of carving as I have seen him do on afew of his cases. They look awesome.
That said, Justis is not going to be making cases for a lot longer most likely and his cases are going to become far more collectable once he stops making them and I expect the price will rise on them quite alot. So for value for the money I would say it is hard to beat Justis when a case bought this year for $700 is worth $1000+ 10 years down the road if kept in great shape.
That said, Justis is not going to be making cases for a lot longer most likely and his cases are going to become far more collectable once he stops making them and I expect the price will rise on them quite alot. So for value for the money I would say it is hard to beat Justis when a case bought this year for $700 is worth $1000+ 10 years down the road if kept in great shape.
I can't say who is the best because I haven't owned everybody's, but I can recommend three casemakers I have owned - Justis, Murnak and Marc Turcasso (Matcase). All three were in perfect condition and just what I asked for.
I'd like to say a little about Marc Turcasso because he is the least well-known of the three. The Matcase is a 1x2 envelope style so not practical for most, but it uses really great leather and the stitching (no rivets) was perfect double needle saddler's stitch (like Chas Clements, who is retired for health reasons). Marc was also terrific to deal with, very accommodating. He may make larger cases - I don't know. If he does, please consider him.
Although I haven't owned one, I would also recommend John Barton's (JBCases) based on his innovations and experience in building cases. See his website for some beauties (www.jbcases.com).
All these are higher end cases, however. I really can't speak for less expensive cases.
I'd like to say a little about Marc Turcasso because he is the least well-known of the three. The Matcase is a 1x2 envelope style so not practical for most, but it uses really great leather and the stitching (no rivets) was perfect double needle saddler's stitch (like Chas Clements, who is retired for health reasons). Marc was also terrific to deal with, very accommodating. He may make larger cases - I don't know. If he does, please consider him.
Although I haven't owned one, I would also recommend John Barton's (JBCases) based on his innovations and experience in building cases. See his website for some beauties (www.jbcases.com).
All these are higher end cases, however. I really can't speak for less expensive cases.
thegloworm said:
I would personally recommend Rusty Melton's cases, for beauty, durability, and craftsmenship. Rusty's cases are completely hand made, hand cut, hand stamped, and hand stitched. Rusty's cases are kinda heavy, due to the thickness and quality of the leather. Rusty is a Forum Member caprefairpool.
It is very hard to beat the price for Rusty's work, and in a short time it will take years to get a case from him.
manwon said:
I forgot rusty, he is coming of age to join the best also.:thumbup:
It depends on what your idea of best is?
If you think that protection is the most important criteria, and by that I mean soft padded interiors that cradle your cue in cushy softness surrounded by a hard shell or tubes then the array of cases we build is for you, from the $80 basic cases to the $1200 one-of-a-kinds I use the same protection on all of them. Please see www.jbcases.com for my views on what makes a good case.
If you can compromise on protection and aesthetics are the major factor for you then there is no shortage of cases that can satisfy that requirement.
Justis and Whitten and Murnak and On Q Case all have a certain signature look that is very popular and of those four Murnak has the widest variety of styles.
If being collectible and resale value is the most important then Justis is currently the front runner as he will not be making cases much longer and so the supply of "Jack" Justis made cases will certainly not grow. Perhaps he will pass the torch to someone else but none of those will be made by him.
If you want great padded protection combined with a sleek look then it's worth looking at the GTF cases. Someone mentioned It's George and if you like that style, and the Fellini style then GTF is the only case right now that does cases in the same way as Fellini with the folded leather ends. GTF also makes a Centennial style version with solid endcaps. please see this website www.gtfcases.com and check out the videos on the cases.
Ron Thomas also does an It's George/Centennial style case worth looking at and comparing to the GTF. Naturally since I build the GTF cases I feel that they are better but Ron's cases are very well done.
In my opinion the BEST cases for the money are the small round tube cases we make. Those are $29, padded interiors surrounded by a perfect circle of plastic. Very tough, very durable. Get a strap and strap together as many of those babies as you need and you have the perfect case.
For real protection against just about everything you can't beat a Zero Haliburton aluminum case.
In conclusion there is no best case. Everyone has different ideas of what they want in a cue case. Some people care more about protection and others don't care so much, settling for "good enough" in favor of getting a pretty case.
If you are going to wait until Valley Forge then I would encourage you to read my website on what I feel is important in a cue case and then to go to the Sterling Booth and look at the array of cases on display and see my words made real. Then go around the show and inspect all the other maker's cases and buy the one that is the best balance of what you want in a case. One thing is certain, this year there are more choices than ever before so there is no excuse for making a bad one.
If you think that protection is the most important criteria, and by that I mean soft padded interiors that cradle your cue in cushy softness surrounded by a hard shell or tubes then the array of cases we build is for you, from the $80 basic cases to the $1200 one-of-a-kinds I use the same protection on all of them. Please see www.jbcases.com for my views on what makes a good case.
If you can compromise on protection and aesthetics are the major factor for you then there is no shortage of cases that can satisfy that requirement.
Justis and Whitten and Murnak and On Q Case all have a certain signature look that is very popular and of those four Murnak has the widest variety of styles.
If being collectible and resale value is the most important then Justis is currently the front runner as he will not be making cases much longer and so the supply of "Jack" Justis made cases will certainly not grow. Perhaps he will pass the torch to someone else but none of those will be made by him.
If you want great padded protection combined with a sleek look then it's worth looking at the GTF cases. Someone mentioned It's George and if you like that style, and the Fellini style then GTF is the only case right now that does cases in the same way as Fellini with the folded leather ends. GTF also makes a Centennial style version with solid endcaps. please see this website www.gtfcases.com and check out the videos on the cases.
Ron Thomas also does an It's George/Centennial style case worth looking at and comparing to the GTF. Naturally since I build the GTF cases I feel that they are better but Ron's cases are very well done.
In my opinion the BEST cases for the money are the small round tube cases we make. Those are $29, padded interiors surrounded by a perfect circle of plastic. Very tough, very durable. Get a strap and strap together as many of those babies as you need and you have the perfect case.
For real protection against just about everything you can't beat a Zero Haliburton aluminum case.
In conclusion there is no best case. Everyone has different ideas of what they want in a cue case. Some people care more about protection and others don't care so much, settling for "good enough" in favor of getting a pretty case.
If you are going to wait until Valley Forge then I would encourage you to read my website on what I feel is important in a cue case and then to go to the Sterling Booth and look at the array of cases on display and see my words made real. Then go around the show and inspect all the other maker's cases and buy the one that is the best balance of what you want in a case. One thing is certain, this year there are more choices than ever before so there is no excuse for making a bad one.
JB Cases said:
DITTO.:smile:
JB Cases said:
John does the Stearling have the same WARRANTY as Porper, as we had a guy with a 10 y/o Porper, Zipped Crapped out, he sent it to Porper, and they Fixed, and Returned it to him.
All he paid was the return postage? Personally I would have trashed the case, as he got his money of it it, but thre guy is SQUEEKY CHEAP!
As far as I know Sterling has never refused to take care of a customer with a case issue, most of the time they just send a new case. If you are asking if the Sterling cases carry a lifetime warranty then no, they don't. But I ask you which is better, to have a case that offers superior protection every day of it's use or one that you can get fixed anytime?
Personally I'd want the one that is built not to break and offers better protection. If a zipper break after 10 years then it costs all of $10 to take it to a local luggage repair place and fix it. Surely that's more convenient than shipping it off.
Guiseppe and Porper both offer lifetime warranties. That still does not change the fact that the new Sterling cases are better than both of them in a point for point comparison.
Personally I'd want the one that is built not to break and offers better protection. If a zipper break after 10 years then it costs all of $10 to take it to a local luggage repair place and fix it. Surely that's more convenient than shipping it off.
Guiseppe and Porper both offer lifetime warranties. That still does not change the fact that the new Sterling cases are better than both of them in a point for point comparison.
While me and John have in the past got into it about every second thread we are both posting in this
http://www.jbcases.com/agardenday.htm
is one of the nicest cases I have ever seen. I saw it back when they first built it and it is still unreal. If I had a tiny gripe it would be the feet at the bottom of the case should be a silver or bronze metal and not the black plastic. That carving on the bottom deserves better.
The kicker for me is there is stuff I love about this case, of course it cushions the cue like crazy (and it better, we hear enough about that! =P) but I have always loved the lid style of Fellini/Thomas cases where you get that air tight seal and the lid is a seperate piece. Especially the new Thomas cases where the lid is kept on without a latch and goes on tight.
My dream case is a case starts with a shell much like a Ron Thomas, custom molded for a 3X4 setup like this which would make for a good base for carving design and pocket attaching. The shell would be a hexagon with rounded corners. (I had to use the periods to keep the stuff from being gimped)
.......O O
......O O O
.......O O
It has the wooden base of a Thomas with silver or bronze feet that are set deep into pre-drilled holes that protect the wood from touching the ground when putting your case on the ground or leaning it on a table. It would have the lid system of a Thomas where the lid slides on tight, and as it and the base are connected to the molded shell the thing would be air tight when the lid is on.
It would have an internal tube structure like a Barton within the shell. When it comes to the way to do the leather over the shell I am not sure how to do it but I would want the clean tight leather around the case much as a Thomas with no rivets and not seperate patches of leather but I would like pockets that actually are riveted on and are more like a Barton as seen in the above case where you can see the leather of the pocket is attached to the base leather where there is even carving of that base leather INSIDE the pocket, ridiculously nice touch, plastic feet after all that?.
Basically noone builds my dream case, it is a hypothetical hybrid of good designs and ideas that alot the case makers have and use but noone has put them all together as yet.
http://www.jbcases.com/agardenday.htm
is one of the nicest cases I have ever seen. I saw it back when they first built it and it is still unreal. If I had a tiny gripe it would be the feet at the bottom of the case should be a silver or bronze metal and not the black plastic. That carving on the bottom deserves better.
The kicker for me is there is stuff I love about this case, of course it cushions the cue like crazy (and it better, we hear enough about that! =P) but I have always loved the lid style of Fellini/Thomas cases where you get that air tight seal and the lid is a seperate piece. Especially the new Thomas cases where the lid is kept on without a latch and goes on tight.
My dream case is a case starts with a shell much like a Ron Thomas, custom molded for a 3X4 setup like this which would make for a good base for carving design and pocket attaching. The shell would be a hexagon with rounded corners. (I had to use the periods to keep the stuff from being gimped)
.......O O
......O O O
.......O O
It has the wooden base of a Thomas with silver or bronze feet that are set deep into pre-drilled holes that protect the wood from touching the ground when putting your case on the ground or leaning it on a table. It would have the lid system of a Thomas where the lid slides on tight, and as it and the base are connected to the molded shell the thing would be air tight when the lid is on.
It would have an internal tube structure like a Barton within the shell. When it comes to the way to do the leather over the shell I am not sure how to do it but I would want the clean tight leather around the case much as a Thomas with no rivets and not seperate patches of leather but I would like pockets that actually are riveted on and are more like a Barton as seen in the above case where you can see the leather of the pocket is attached to the base leather where there is even carving of that base leather INSIDE the pocket, ridiculously nice touch, plastic feet after all that?.
Basically noone builds my dream case, it is a hypothetical hybrid of good designs and ideas that alot the case makers have and use but noone has put them all together as yet.
JB Cases said:
Like I said having seen said Case, it would have got TRASHED if mine, as he more than got his money worth. Now he has a Battle Scared 10 year old relic with working zipper.
