Four case families dominate the market. Understanding their engineering trade-offs helps you position your line.
ABS Molded Shell
Injection-molded plastic: affordable, waterproof, consistent. The volume workhorse. Weight 2.5-3.5 kg. Scratches show but structure holds.
Carbon Fiber
Vacuum-bagged shells: the lightest strong option (1.8-2.5 kg), premium price, sells on airline-travel stories. Higher tooling cost for OEM – best for flagship SKUs.
Wood (Tweed / Leather Covered)
Plywood cores with tweed or leather covering: the heritage look, excellent rigidity, heavier. Perceived value is highest at retail display.
Soft Shell (Gig Bags)
Padding 10-25mm: lightest, cheapest, collapsible. 20mm+ padding approaches hard-case protection for daily transport.
Positioning Advice
Most brands succeed with: gig bags (volume), ABS (mid), and one flagship material (carbon or wood) for margin and brand image.