Geib style cases
BD
I have a couple of Martins with Geib style cases. Somewhere my education
must be lacking because although I know what a Geib style case is - who or
what is Geib?
Additionally, are there any benefits of a Geib style over a 640 style?
Love my Martins
Wade Hampton Miller
>I have a couple of Martins with Geib style cases. Somewhere my education >must
be lacking because although I know what a Geib style case is - who or >what is
Geib?
Geib was a company that made the really nice hardshell cases for Martin back in
the 1920's and '30s. Prior to those, a lot of the early 20th Century Martin
cases were surprisingly cheesy, often featuring those "bottom-dropper" flaps
that let go at exactly the wrong moments.
Another good case company that made some cases for Martin (though not in any
huge quantities) was an outfit call "Lufkin." You tend to see these dating
from the early post-war period, say around 1946 and '47.
Lufkin made some very nice violin cases and some very nice guitar cases. They
seem to have sold more guitar cases to Gibson than Martin, but there are a few
Martin Lufkin cases out there.
Anyway, the Geib company itself is long gone, but that Geib brand name
definitely carries a cachet with collectors who know a bit about vintage
guitars.
What it signifies is a high quality arched lid hardshell wooden case, with
heavy-duty hardware and a nice quality plush lining.
I'm not privy to the exact decision-making process or exactly when Martin
decided to revive the Geib brand name, but it was clearly a marketing choice,
in order to do something to set their more prestigious guitars apart from the
standard line.
Ever since Martin revived the Geib name (which rhymes with "tribe," by the way,
not with "dweeb,") the cases have been built for them by the TKL case company.
BD asks:
>Additionally, are there any benefits of a Geib style over a 640 style?
Oh, YEAH....they're sturdier cases, they tend to fit better, they don't have
the little aluminum weatherstrip/rim around the edges that can get bent and
stop closing properly....
The one thing I like the 640 thermoplastic case for is that they have somewhat
better insulation in them than do the Geib-style cases, which can make a bit of
a difference if the guitar is exposed to extreme cold. But I prefer the
Geib-style cases, myself, and have always upgraded to them over the 640 cases.
BD concludes:
>Love my Martins
Yeah, me, too.
Wade Hampton Miller
Chugiak, Alaska
Remove the "Howdy" to reply...
Steve Hawkins
news:20030904144327...@mb-m22.aol.com:
> Another good case company that made some cases for Martin (though not
> in any huge quantities) was an outfit call "Lufkin." You tend to see
> these dating from the early post-war period, say around 1946 and '47.
>
> Lufkin made some very nice violin cases and some very nice guitar
> cases. They seem to have sold more guitar cases to Gibson than
> Martin, but there are a few Martin Lufkin cases out there.
I have a 1970 Gibson ES-335 with a case made by Lifton. There's a small,
oval, metal plate inside the case with "Built like a Fortress" over the
Lifton logo. Ever heard of Lifton?
Steve Hawkins
Gillespie Gail
J-45, but they're expensive. A friend's early 50s Southern Jumbo is in its
original Lifton/Built Like a Fortress case. They look very cool, but of
course won't stand airline travel & a Calton costs only slightly more than a
vintage Lifton so I'm about to give up.
Haven't heard of "lufkin," -- I have a later Martin --from the 50s -- and it
came in a nice black case that might be a Geib, though I'm not sure since it
doesn't say. It's a black case with deep red plush lining.
G
in article Xns93EC7DD5B71E6r...@199.45.49.11, Steve Hawkins at
res0...@verizon.net wrote on 9/4/03 3:13 PM:
BD
Thanks for the lesson on Geib (as I now know rhymes with vibe or tribe)
style cases. It sounds like they are worth the extra cost.
Thanks again.
Baz
Peter MacDonald
<diwellbR...@netspace.net.au> wrote:
I have a Martin Geib-style TKL case in excellent condition for sale if
anyone is interested. It is an OM size and a perfect fit for either
Martin or Santa Cruz OMs. A Taylor x14 will not fit - not sure about a
Taylor x12. A 000 would also fit.
Email if interested.
pjm...@pants.insightbb.com
Drop the pants to reply.
Peter
Wade Hampton Miller
>I have a Martin Geib-style TKL case in excellent condition for sale if>anyone
is interested. It is an OM size and a perfect fit for either >Martin or Santa
Cruz OMs
What are you asking for it, Peter?