I've had this case for about a month and I like it so far! I'm a professional violinist who carries her instrument around quite a bit to gigs and teaching. Sometimes walking to work about 1 mile, so I wanted something super light. This one is definitely very light and easy to carry! I paired it with a cushy shoulder strap and it feels like I'm carrying nothing at all. The only concern is that (though it has a small amount of suspension cushioning) I'm not sure it provides that same kind of protection that my old heavy-as-lead Bobelock case provided for my instrument. But I just have to remind myself to be more gentle on the case than I used to be, so as not to knock my violin around too much. I absolutely love the look of it, even more than the pricey BAM cases.

Finally got this delivered today. The only cons I can tell so far is that there are no instructions on how to attach the optional music pouch (pain in the butt, by the way), and no instructions on how to attach the straps (haven't attempted that yet). Including those would be nice for future purchasers. Other than that, I love how roomy it is! It will have plenty of space for little extras like a shoulder rest and rosin, maybe even a small tuner. It came with a little sachet to absorb moisture and a violin blanket, which I wasn't expecting, so that was a plus. We'll see how it holds up in the long run, bit so far it looks pretty sturdy.

I got this case for Christmas and I have enjoyed it a lot. It is much lighter than my twenty year old Continental case. I gave up the convenience of stashing my music in my case for having one that didn't weigh a ton; consequently I actually left music at a rehearsal never to find it again. This, of course, is operator error, not the fault of the case. My only complaint about this case, resulting in my four star rating, is the accessory bag which is fastened with Velcro, leaving large gaps through which mutes escape. I'd hate to lose my mute, which I rarely remove from my instrument, but worse is the metal practice mute which, luckily, hasn't scratched my instrument. Spare strings are a tight fit, and there's not a terrific place for a pencil either. It does have a Velcro loop to secure a shoulder rest, however, and it is otherwise structurally sound and sturdy.

I got the SL compact case in "gum drop purple", which in real life is more of a lilac. Very pretty. I've gotten lots of compliments on it from my chamber orchestra. They liked it's size, weight, shape, and color. The SL Compact really ought to be better known. This is a light weight case, without feeling flimsy. The positioning of the d-ring for the back pack carrying style keeps the violin above my hips for easy backpacking, which is a big plus. The straps are nothing special, but nothing wrong with them, either. There is no padding on them, just plastic, so when I take this case to Japan this summer I will get padded covers. The bow latches feel secure, but the case really only holds one bow comfortably. The lower bow has to sit on the side of the case. The velcro used in the case is nice and strong, and my violin, Everrest shoulder rest, and accessories feel very secure. The violin blanket is not attached to the case, and did want to slide down. The case latches are easy open--perhaps too easy, because it is literally easier to open them than to close them. Just lift the little tab and whoop! your latch is open. The handles feel sturdy and well made. I especially like the subway handle. There is a glue smell, but though I am sensitive to things like that I didn't get sick just from opening and shutting the case. It is airing out nicely, and I like the case. All that being said, Shar should step up their quality control a notch. The case I received had a small chip and a scratch around one of the feet, and the black edging is not tight against the case on the neck of front lid.(Picture included) I can run a fingernail in the crack, and see a bit of the fabric used to line the case. I can see how a small chip and scratch could get missed, but the seal bothers me. I almost returned the case, but decided that the hassle wasn't worth it. The case is still usable, but if I had seen this particular case in a store, I would have selected one that had properly affixed edging. The gappy edging is a problem that should have been easily caught, which is why I give this case 4 stars instead of 5. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. To make the SL Compact case really perfect, redesign the lower bow holder, step up quality control, and make the latches a bit more secure. To make it fabulous, you could include padded straps. I have good hopes for the SL Compact, and I feel it will protect my violin well, without straining my back.

Allow me to preface this review by saying I'm a cellist, not a violinist. Similarities are drawn but there's just too many differences between the two for me to speak as an authority on the upper strings. Nonetheless, this is merely my opinion as a prospective student of the treble clef. Not a bad little case for the price! It feels rather sturdy, but I wouldn't park a truck on it. The side handle is glorious to hold, with just the right amount of give but still remaining firm. The top handle is a bit less so, but I wouldn't wander around toting my violin case by the top anyhow. Great for picking it up in a pinch though. The straps are pretty serious for such a small, light case. These are straps I'd expect to come in handy to pull a car from a ravine, so certainly they should be acceptable for the job they're given. You get two, so you can backpack it or sling it. There's more than enough D-rings to attach the straps to suit just about any imaginable carrying style. As light as this case is, I doubt you'd need to truly backpack the thing. But, coming from the cello to the violin, everything feels lighter, smaller, and more manageable; I might be biased. The sealing surfaces seem to mate up snugly, which makes opening it a little bit of a challenge the first few times. Three spring-loaded latches keep it all together, and while I'm not super crazy about the style, they serve their purpose. My only complaint with the latches is they don't seem to put a firm amount of pressure on the lid, but after slinging my case around for a few hours I never saw any of them give out. I did toss it in the shower for a few minutes, and the interior didn't seem to get soaked from the treatment. I wouldn't go swimming with the case, but certainly if you had to make a dash in a drizzle the cargo should be safe. The hinges are riveted on, but they seem solid enough to withstand a multitude of opening and closing sessions. The finish is wonderful, for what the case is. Close inspection reveals some imperfections in the surface, such as bumps and pits where a piece of dirt may have been painted over. But from even a foot away, the silver does a great job of masking them. The nearly glass-smooth surface lends itself well to decals, so great news to those who want to customize their cases. The feet on the bottom and back of the case keep that finish from being marred as you toss the case about; unless you land on some gravel, those surfaces should be all right for wear. The inside is pretty spartan. Two bow holders with spinners seem to keep your sticks from moving about too much, and the spinners themselves have positive feedback and good retention. I didn't run into any issues with the bows contacting the violin. There's no excess of plush foam and nicely swept velvet. A practical support system should keep your violin from dancing about in the case, but I did find my particular instrument left about 1/2" of a gap between the bottom of the violin, opposite of the chinrest, and the cushioning. Not enough to seriously concern me, but might be an issue for some. There was plenty of clearance around the scroll and pegs, and the neck strap was plenty long without going overboard. The bottom storage was a huge selling point for me, personally. Some of these smaller cases I looked at simply couldn't accommodate the Everest shoulder rest I have, so finding one that could not only hold it but also keep it secure was a big plus - there is a velcro strap that snugs the shoulder rest against the bottom of the suspension cushion, and it's a really nice touch. The accessory pouch at the very bottom of the case is large enough for a cake of rosin and perhaps a string or two, maybe a mute and some cleaning cloths. I wouldn't try to fit an entire studio in the bag, but for what I personally need it's more than enough space. Overall I'm more than pleased with the purchase. After going through a few in the $99 range from other vendors, I decided the extra $50 was worth the investment for the features I was after. Plus, getting something from an actual vendor is more comforting to me than the common Amazon/Ebay route for such inexpensive items. At least I know I've got a name to turn to should something go awry. Even with the quirks of the case, I'm still offering five stars for the product. It would be closer to 4.8, because it isn't a perfect case, but when it comes to shaped cases, they do run high and make some compromises to stay small and light. Knowing the limitations can avoid disappointment.

I can't speak to the case itself because it hasn't arrived. This is a review for the service. Everyone at Shar has been polite or friendly, but I've made two orders and both have had a significant problem. In this case, three days after my order I found out it was backordered. And now, 11 days later (after being told "any day now") I find out it will be three more weeks before it will even be ready to ship. I had to follow up for that information as no one reached out with details. I understand that small(ish) companies are busy, but I could have had a case from any other online source days ago. Unfortunately, this may be my last order with Shar.

I bought the grey violin case for my daughter for Christmas. It is absolutely an excellent case. Not just "great for the money," but really an excellent case. It protects and looks really stylish, too. She has a small frame, and her other case was very heavy. This one is very easy for her to carry.

I bought this case because I liked the color/cello-like design and wanted something very light to carry while walking to where I teach. The case is great, but it has a very strong glue/chemical smell. I've had it for a few months now, and aired it out even for a few weeks, but it still smells nasty. If I keep my violin in there overnight, it will pick up the smell. From reading other blogs, I had a sense that it might smell, but I hope it will stop off-gassing soon! And, let's hope it is not too toxic?

I love this case! I wanted something lighter than my old and I am so happy I decided to get this. I was disappointed it didn't come with a hygrometer so I bought a digital one. I sewed a piece of clothing elastic in between the bow holders to hold it so it wasn't taking up space in the pocket, works like a charm! The pocket fits my shoulder rest, rosin, metro-tuner, pencil, and the little pouch has my practice mute and peg dope. I wasn't able to fit my wiping cloth comfortably in the side pocket, but I keep it underneath my instrument. I would highly recommend this case.

This is very comfortable an compact violin case. Very good for travels. It feels very light on my back. It is very beautiful! I have got a red color!

NIce lightweight case with room for shoulder rest and a few other items. I bought it because it is so easy to fit in the overhead when flying.

I've had this case for about a month and I like it so far! I'm a professional violinist who carries her instrument around quite a bit to gigs and teaching. Sometimes walking to work about 1 mile, so I wanted something super light. This one is definitely very light and easy to carry! I paired it with a cushy shoulder strap and it feels like I'm carrying nothing at all. The only concern is that (though it has a small amount of suspension cushioning) I'm not sure it provides that same kind of protection that my old heavy-as-lead Bobelock case provided for my instrument. But I just have to remind myself to be more gentle on the case than I used to be, so as not to knock my violin around too much. I absolutely love the look of it, even more than the pricey BAM cases.

This case has everything that you need, and nothing you don't! It easily and securely holds my instrument, 2 bows, shoulder rest (mach one), pencil, rosin, and violin pickup. I got this case knowing that I wanted a smaller, lighter case than my previous oblong plywood case, and this fit all the criteria without costing an arm and a leg. From just looking at pictures online, I was a little afraid that the fiberglass shell would be really flimsy and weak however the shell is incredibly rigid and firm, and the rubber gasket along the edge creates a nice seal. I definitely wouldn't trust it getting run over by a truck, however I was unable to squish the shell with my own strength... it's plenty durable for everyday wear and tear. I've gotten many compliments on how sleek and professional looking this case is, and the red color of hte case is very fun. It is extremely comfortable to hold either by the handle, or the backpack straps however I've found that the straps can tend to get in the way when you lay it down on a table. The only thing I wish this case had is a hygrometer, but I can easily find a creative way to put one in somewhere. For $150, you are definitely getting your money's worth.

i like the storage at the fat end--room for a shoulder rest AND a light And rosin and tuner. The latches feel secure, the straps have a safety-keeper in addition to the clip. The external bag sized for sheet music is genius: it also makes it comfy on the back. The colors are nice. I still want to decorate it further and will have to see what stays on. I could find no instructions, but it was pretty clear. There was a packet of what I assume is dessicant, but maybe it is a humidifier? It seals so well, that it will take a while for the new-case smell to dissipate.

I got this case because I wanted a comfortable backpack case with good storage for music. I got the music case that attaches to the back, which was a bit of a disappointment: it's a bit small and not very protective. I was going to send the violin case back, unopened. But then I couldn't resist unpacking it and it looked so cute, I put it on my back. Very comfortable! And it's amazingly sturdy for the price. Seems very well built. Be warned, though: If your idea of a super light case is a foam one, this is much heavier. Nothing like a wooden case, but it's got pretty thick material, ant that weighs.

Perfect Together!!!

I got this case for Christmas and I have enjoyed it a lot. It is much lighter than my twenty year old Continental case. I gave up the convenience of stashing my music in my case for having one that didn't weigh a ton; consequently I actually left music at a rehearsal never to find it again. This, of course, is operator error, not the fault of the case. My only complaint about this case, resulting in my four star rating, is the accessory bag which is fastened with Velcro, leaving large gaps through which mutes escape. I'd hate to lose my mute, which I rarely remove from my instrument, but worse is the metal practice mute which, luckily, hasn't scratched my instrument. Spare strings are a tight fit, and there's not a terrific place for a pencil either. It does have a Velcro loop to secure a shoulder rest, however, and it is otherwise structurally sound and sturdy.

This case is absolutely stunning! I was kind of skeptical when I purchased it, because I was a hard core bobelock fan. But this case is definitely light weight but not too light. It's very sturdy. I did have a small dent in the case upon receiving which was a little disappointing, but I cannot get over how adorable it is. It's a great case for the price I paid!

Finally got this delivered today. The only cons I can tell so far is that there are no instructions on how to attach the optional music pouch (pain in the butt, by the way), and no instructions on how to attach the straps (haven't attempted that yet). Including those would be nice for future purchasers. Other than that, I love how roomy it is! It will have plenty of space for little extras like a shoulder rest and rosin, maybe even a small tuner. It came with a little sachet to absorb moisture and a violin blanket, which I wasn't expecting, so that was a plus. We'll see how it holds up in the long run, bit so far it looks pretty sturdy.

It is the most comfortable violin case ever. Love it! I got red color and it is very beautiful tone.

Very comfortable, even on a 50 mile bike ride. Waterproof in a light rain: did not test in a downpour. Recommend adding a cloth between the scroll of the instrument and the end of the case to prevent any wriggling, if you are going to be jumping off a bike or running. Wonderful colors, including some visible ones!

Very goooood quality ,strong and comfortable. The shape of the case is elegance and beauty. I can't move your eyes from it. You can choose to take it with one strap on shoulder or two straps on back that is really convenience . There are two locks on the strap that you dont have to worry about the damage when you lock broke. The space in the back is JUST right for the shoulder rests(with a velcro to fix it) and with a small bag for your rosin(that is sweet). You can put two bows inside,and with a quality cover for your violin. The sealing strip is tight and reliable to keep your violin from the rain. It is a deal that you wont regret. Just get it for yourself. You desrve a good case for your violin.

This case is a slam dunk. Shar has spent the time researching and testing how string players actually use their cases, and it shows in the recent updates to the SL design. I travel almost continuously from performance to performance, and the SL has proved its merit on the road. It is lightweight enough to fit anywhere yet still protective. It fits easily in the overhead of any airplane and has the added benefit of actually looking like a violin (which in my experience means TSA and flight attendants treat it carefully). The pockets for the bow tips keep the bows extra safe during transit. My absolute favorite feature is the large open pocket at the bottom. This space is perfect. I can fit everything I need for a live show or a soundcheck in here (shoulder rest, in-ears, lipstick and mascara, even occasionally runners or flats for after the show). My only complaint is the shoulder straps - which occasionally unclip themselves and are a little sparse on padding, but I am hopeful the next update may improve this. Love this case so much! I just canít wait for some more colors.

I got the SL compact case in "gum drop purple", which in real life is more of a lilac. Very pretty. I've gotten lots of compliments on it from my chamber orchestra. They liked it's size, weight, shape, and color. The SL Compact really ought to be better known. This is a light weight case, without feeling flimsy. The positioning of the d-ring for the back pack carrying style keeps the violin above my hips for easy backpacking, which is a big plus. The straps are nothing special, but nothing wrong with them, either. There is no padding on them, just plastic, so when I take this case to Japan this summer I will get padded covers. The bow latches feel secure, but the case really only holds one bow comfortably. The lower bow has to sit on the side of the case. The velcro used in the case is nice and strong, and my violin, Everrest shoulder rest, and accessories feel very secure. The violin blanket is not attached to the case, and did want to slide down. The case latches are easy open--perhaps too easy, because it is literally easier to open them than to close them. Just lift the little tab and whoop! your latch is open. The handles feel sturdy and well made. I especially like the subway handle. There is a glue smell, but though I am sensitive to things like that I didn't get sick just from opening and shutting the case. It is airing out nicely, and I like the case. All that being said, Shar should step up their quality control a notch. The case I received had a small chip and a scratch around one of the feet, and the black edging is not tight against the case on the neck of front lid.(Picture included) I can run a fingernail in the crack, and see a bit of the fabric used to line the case. I can see how a small chip and scratch could get missed, but the seal bothers me. I almost returned the case, but decided that the hassle wasn't worth it. The case is still usable, but if I had seen this particular case in a store, I would have selected one that had properly affixed edging. The gappy edging is a problem that should have been easily caught, which is why I give this case 4 stars instead of 5. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. To make the SL Compact case really perfect, redesign the lower bow holder, step up quality control, and make the latches a bit more secure. To make it fabulous, you could include padded straps. I have good hopes for the SL Compact, and I feel it will protect my violin well, without straining my back.