One day.......I'd like my own cello.(maybe after my g5 in June) At the moment I've got a youth orchestra one which is quite battered but feels lovely to play and has quite a bit of character, and has a new ish but also quite battered Ritter Junior soft case. I was wondering what type of case is better and what most people have. Thanks (hope the poll works )

The main basis is the value of the instrument and the amount and type of travelling the cello will do as well. If an instrument is never exposed to any potentially dangerous or hazardous situation, then a soft-padded case can be adequate.

Hard cases are advisable if you are likely to be travelling on public transport a lot, or the cello is going to be moved around or left standing in crowded places - schools, backstage of a concert hall etc. In this sort of situation the possiblity of the bridge being crushed through the belly, or the instrument knocked flying is very real indeed.

If you get a hard case though, please don't be tempted to put music behind the cello - inside the back of the case. When you close the front of the case the bridge will be pushed through the front of the instrument!

Good point, I have to take my cello home on the crowded bus and get it out of school in time for the bus and through the door which can be a NIGHTMARE.

I was brought up to be polite and considerate to others, but there are a lot of ill-mannered people out there who'll just shove you out of the way in order to get a seat on public transport. With a hard cello case you can afford to push back when someone pushes you - buses and the London underground come to mind (if you use them). I'm sure I've mentioned this on the forum before, but I'll say it again - with a hard cello case on your back, just lean casually into the offending party..... they soon get the message

Yes, I've heard you say it before I have to deal a lot with a particuarly annoying boy who takes great delight in KICKING (or generally pretending to kick) my cello , (as well as being generally insulting, rude and annoying) so I'll definitely get a hard case. when I get my cello in many years time.

I'd recommend a hard case - I used to just use the freebie soft case that was bundled with my cello until one evening I knocked it against a wall while making way for some head-down-get-out-of-my-way barger on the footpath. Cracked the cello - luckily not badly, but lesson learned the hard way The case I opted is a lightweight rigid thing made by JTL. Cost about £150 - it's nice and light, and I know the cello's safe when it leaves the house :-)

i would suggest a hard one.
i've used a soft case with my current cello for 1yr but have decided to purchase a fibreglass one because its a lot easier to carry and can stand upright without worrying about damage.

You don't say how old you are. Yes a hard case always offers more protection, but if you're very young and still growing you ought to think about how heavy cases can damage you physically if you're going to be carrying it around A LOT. There are some decent intermediate type cases, (like the JTL, Pogo mentions) which are neither really hard nor as soft as the padded gig bags. They have a rigid frame but a foam cover and might suit you for the time being. (Not sure just how well they'd survive lout-ish boys though

Good point.

I had charge of a young cellist recently who really struggled with his hard case since he is only young and when at home always has his mum on hand to carry it for him. Whether this is a good thing or not is another issue!

In an ideal world I guess you'd have both kinds for different circumstances...