Since I try to bring my flamenco guitar everywhere I go, I decided a few months ago to buy the Thomann SafeCase 80 C-Guitar case to replace my heavy and not very handy (yet very classy) ABS case.
I originally wanted to get a Mono case because they are known to be strong and handy so perfect for traveling. But of course, this reputation has a price… and it was not in my budget.
While doing some research, I found out that Thomann offers similar cases, dedicated to transport/travel, and a bit cheaper: the Thomann SafeCase. I paid only 115 € for mine.
Two things convinced me: the positive reviews (5/5) and this video of a German guy testing the cover by throwing it (with the guitar) from a balcony. For those interested, it’s at 16:40.
A few days after receiving the case, I took it on the plane to Tenerife where I stayed for a couple of weeks. And now, I’m writing this article after returning from Italy where I took the plane but also the train (4-5 train trips because I visited several cities) with my guitar in the Thomann case.
So I tested it in many circumstances and transports (plane, train, car) and in this article, I will give you my detailed opinion about this case. Besides the fact that it protects very well the guitar, you will see that when you travel, this bag is very handy.
Overview and specifics of the case
Before we show you in detail the inside of the case and the storage, let’s go over the specs of the Thomann SafeCase 80C.
First of all, you should know that there are 4 Thomann SafeCase:
- 80A : for accoustic guitar
- 80B : for bass
- 80C : for classic guitar (or flamenco like mine)
- 80E : for electric guitar
These models are designed for “touring and traveling”.
I get the 80C model adapted for classical and flamenco guitar of size 4/4 (standard).
The case without the guitar weighs 2.71 kg and these are its dimensions:
- Lenght: 104cm
- Width: 38cm
- Depth: 18 cm
Please note that there may be a difference between the measurements on the website and mine. For more precise (and official) dimensions I invite you to read the complete description of the cover here.
Regarding the material, Thomann has chosen a 900DX400D water repellent polyester. The term water repellent means that it is a material that protects against moisture and water.
Now let’s go inside the house and see how our guitar is protected.
I created a book for all the flamenco rumba aficionados. Inside, you’ll find 31-chord progressions that are fun to play no matter what your level is (they sound really “flamenco rumba”)!
Here is an example of a chord progression that I play and that you will find in the book :
Inside of the Thomann SafeCase guitar case
Here is the inside of the case which, in terms of size, fits perfectly for a classical / flamenco guitar. As you can see, the inside material is very soft and pleasant, it’s PVC rubber that looks like a very thick soft velvet.
Here is the inside of the case without the guitar where you can see the padded neck rest as well as the extra reinforcement for the sides at the bottom.
I also made this collage of pictures so that you can see that the inside of the cover fits the guitar well. The neck rest is adjustable with a simple scratch system and in my case it supports exactly the heel of my guitar.
The same goes for the bottom of the guitar which is well kept safe in the PVC rubber of the case. The first time I put my guitar in this case, I really felt that it was solid and that I could trust this case.
When I fly, I always try to protect my guitar as much as possible in case it gets mishandled. I’ve heard so many bad stories of broken, cracked or otherwise damaged guitars in the cargo hold that I even take a second seat for the guitar.
Here’s how I protect my guitar even more when I fly:
First of all, it is recommended to slightly loosen the strings. I then add a piece of clothing at the head level, on both sides of the heel, and on each side of the sides at the bend. And as you can see, this technique also allows me to lighten my suitcase!
Unlike some guitar cases that have small storage spaces inside to put a bunch of strings, a capo or anything else, this Thomann case has no storage space inside the house. However, it has some on the outside, and you will be surprised!
The outside of the case and the storage space
To hold and carry the case
Before going directly to the pockets and storage, I would like to show you the different supports that will help us hold the case and carry our guitar anywhere.
Already, in terms of handles, there is a main one on the side which is quite nice because of its thickness. There is also a “hidden” handle on the back of the bag that you can see on the left of the picture. In some situations where your cover has to be standing, for example in a queue, this handle will be useful.
Of course, as you have seen on the first picture of this article, there is a strap system to carry the cover on the back like a backpack. And this system is very well done because the straps can be folded down when you don’t want to use them (see picture 3 on the bottom right).
I thank the team that designed this case for making real straps that are very comfortable. As you can see from the strap system, everything is adjustable so that the cover fits any body type.
Storage
Let’s move on to exterior storage!
The most interesting part, and where you will put the most stuff, is on the front part. It closes with a zip all around the pocket and a hook that closes a flap.
You can put a lot of things in this pocket. There is a inner pocket to put a computer or a tablet. On the picture I could put a 10,9 inches tablet and I can also put my 13 inches computer (but this will be the maximum size for this pocket).
You can see in photo 4 everything I put in this pocket but I think I could have very well put twice as much of it. I really love this storage because for example, for a summer weekend, I can easily put light clothes in it and not have to deal with a second bag or suitcase.
For the snack and drink lovers, Thomann also thought of an isothermal pocket. I know that it can be very useful for guitar teachers between 2 lessons. I don’t have it with me because I don’t use this pocket which is detachable with a system that you will understand with the picture below.
At the top of the cover, there is also a storage on the whole gridded part (so quite deep). It will allow you to put quite thin objects. I personally use it to put my capodastre, a pack of spare strings and papers if needed. This compartment is really discreet and I didn’t even notice it the day I received the cover.
Miscellaneous
At the bottom of the cover, there are also reinforcements to put the cover upright without bumps.
Pros
Price: for this quality, the price is very advantageous if we compare it to equivalent models of brands like Mono or other which cost twice as much.
Solidity: The materials used are of very good quality and we feel that we can transport our guitar safely with this case.
Storage: You can put a lot of stuff in the front pocket so that for trips of a few days (well, not in winter), you might only need this cover!
Comfort: When I took the plane with it, I had to wait a lot, between the departure, the different transfers etc. Fortunately, the straps for the back are very comfortable which allows to have the bag on the back without too much fatigue.
Cons
As for the cons, I didn’t find many for this cover which suits me perfectly.
Aesthetics: I don’t really like the grids and I would have preferred a simple cover in a plain color… but this is a matter of personal taste.
Optimization of the neck rest: I think Thomann could have had the idea to make it as a box. Let me explain: on some covers, the handle rest is a kind of trap door in which you can store some accessories (capo, strings, etc.). This would have optimized even more the space!
