GL Combi Contoured Viola Case

I had my eye on this case for a couple years and finally made the purchase. I've had it for a month now and am very happy with it. Tons of compliments!! I love the sleek and minimalist style for a reasonable price compared to its competitors. The backpack straps fit comfortably, and I also purchased the velcro-on music holder, which I highly recommend. My viola is 15", and I was surprised by how spacious the inside is. I use a sponge rest, so I don't have any reference to how a full shoulder rest would fit, but it appears like that should be no problem.

I will have to say that I was a little hesitant due to the 1-star rating review I saw on this thread. I decided to purchase it anyways, and then if indeed the claims were true, I would return it. However, I would like to say that much of that review is completely incorrect, and the parts that might be, I would like to propose a solution. I have attached photos that counteract certain claims about how it stands, both with and without the added music holder on the back.

1. "The accessories pouch is too small and short to comfortably fit rosin, ear plugs, a metronome, and a pencil." ...Besides a metronome, it does fit all of the other mentioned items - perhaps download a metronome app on your phone to limit the amount of items you carry around.

2. "The shoulder rest compartment is too small to accommodate a medium sized standard Mach One." ...As mentioned, I use a sponge, so I cannot defend this claim. Though a 5-star review says that their shoulder rest does indeed fit.

3. "When closed, it's unable to stand on the edge because of the zipper (don't be fooled by the product picture)." ...100% not true. See the photos I have attached.

4. "When it's open, it tilts so that both halves of the case stick up in the air because of the shoulder straps." ...Also 100% not true. Again, see the photos I have attached.

Anyways, is writing this review going to make any huge differences in the world? Definitely not, but I did feel it my duty to make sure that these claims did not deter future viola case shoppers. There are not a lot of solid, well-priced, carbon fiber viola cases out there, and I did my fair share of researching. I am very happy with this case, and I suppose the only thing yet to learn about it is the longevity. Perhaps I will do a follow up in a year or so.

I'm mostly pleased with this case. It is lightweight and portable and thus ideal for my long commute by bus. However, I'm a bit concerned about its lack of insulating properties against temperature variance. I live in a land of extreme heat in summer and extreme cold in winter. I've noticed that even a ten minute wait at the bus stop in heat of 30 Celsius reached the interior of the case and warmed up my viola. I have yet to test the -40 cold, but I imagine I may have to switch back to my more cumbersome oblong wooden case with a Cushy cover, which performs well in all temps.

I'm mostly pleased with this case. It is lightweight and portable and thus ideal for my long commute by bus. However, I'm a bit concerned about its lack of insulating properties against temperature variance. I live in a land of extreme heat in summer and extreme cold in winter. I've noticed that even a ten minute wait at the bus stop in heat of 30 Celsius reached the interior of the case and warmed up my viola. I have yet to test the -40 cold, but I imagine I may have to switch back to my more cumbersome oblong wooden case with a Cushy cover, which performs well in all temps.

I absolutely love everything about this case and I'm so happy I bought it. The craftsmanship is beautiful and you can tell they thought about every facet of the case when constructing it. It's light and so easy to carry I no longer have shoulder pain. Well worth the money!!!!

I got this case to travel to Austria and Czech Republic. I've had no problems bringing it on board the plane, and I love the look of the case. It fit my viola perfectly, is lightweight and compact. I did sacrifice some storage space and my shoulder rest
just barely fits in the case. But I can get everything I need in there and love carrying it around. Strongly recommended!!!