Hello and welcome to my review of the Yamaha HC AG1 Hardshell Acoustic Guitar Case.
This review will look at a number of factors and determine what I think of the case as well as show you what others think of it.
Among other things, the review will take the following into account:
- Protection/Fit
- Durability
- Weight/Compactness
- Quality
- Price
- Functionality
Overall Rating
Case: Yamaha HC AG1 Acoustic Guitar Case
Price: $89.99 (USD)
Fits: Dreadnoughts and Medium Jumbo acoustic guitars
Rating Score: 84.9/100
PROS
- Good protection (if it fits your guitar well)
- Heavy duty latches and handle
- Soft and plush inside
CONS
- Potential fit issues depending on your guitar. Some say that it didn’t fit their dreadnought and others say it fits well
- On the heavy side
Specs
Dimensions (inside dimensions)
| In inches | In millimieters | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Length: | 43.5" | 1105mm |
| Lower Bout (width): | 16-1/4" | 413mm |
| Upper Bout (width): | 12" | 305mm |
| Body Depth: | 5" | 127mm |
Weight
This case weighs 10lbs (4.54kg)
Materials
Shell: 3-ply laminate
Outer: Vinyl
Interior Lining: Plush and soft
Hardware: Heavy duty
Best Uses
Great for transporting your guitar if you’re going by car/taxi etc. I wouldn’t use it for air travel (get a flight case for that). It’s got good protection so it should do a good job protecting your guitar.
It’s also a good idea to store your guitar in a case at home – for protection from too much or too little humidity as well as potential dings. So this case would do a good job for storage – especially if you live in an environment with too much or too little humidity.
Best for Yamaha dreadnoughts and Mid Jumbos. Other brand dreadnought guitars will fit too but not all of them – make sure they do before you buy because some won’t fit properly. See the list of Yamaha guitars that it was designed to fit below.
Details
Below are the details for a number of different factors.
Protection/Fit
The case is solid and should provide good protection – so long as your guitar fits properly.
Protection is limited to fit – if your guitar is moving around inside the case then the shell could be made of high grade titanium and it wouldn’t matter!
There are mixed reports on the fit of this guitar. Some says it fits their dreadnought guitar perfectly and others say it doesn’t fit at all. Not all dreadnoughts are exactly equal and electronics on the side can also differ in size.
One problem with fit in this case might be that it’s trying to fit Dreadnoughts and Medium Jumbos.
Fit can be good but make sure that you size up your guitar and the dimensions of the case to make sure it’s a good fit.
Yamaha says that it’s particularly made for the following Yamaha models:
- F
- FG
- FX
- FGX
- FJX
- CPX
- A1
- LL
- LJ
So if you have one of those then you shouldn’t have any issues with fit. If you have something else double check that your guitar will fit before buying it.
Durability
By all accounts this case seems like it is very tough and well made.
Ease of Carry
It’s on the heavy side. But on the other hand it does have a good solid handle so it should be fine to carry but a bit heavier than the average hard case.
Compact
Again it’s on the heavy side and it’s not overly compact but it does the job and for the price it’s pretty good. To get a lighter/lower profile case with the same protection is likely to cost more.
Hardware
The hardware is heavy duty and good quality so no issues there.
Recommended
89% of those who reviewed this case on Musician’sFriend.com said that they would recommend this case.
It received 4.6/5 stars on amazon.com and 4.5/5 stars on musician’s friend.
Storage Space
There is pretty much the standard amount of storage space in this case – enough to store spare strings, picks, strap, tuner etc. The storage is under where the neck of the guitar sits.
Style
Nothing special about the style but nothing bad either.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the table below for the score breakdown.
| Out of 100 | Overall Contribution to Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Protection/Fit | 80 | 20.0 |
| Durability | 95 | 14.3 |
| Ease of Carry | 80 | 12.0 |
| Compact | 80 | 8.0 |
| Hardware | 90 | 9.0 |
| Recommended | 89 | 13.4 |
| Storage space | 85 | 4.3 |
| Style | 80 | 4.0 |
| TOTAL SCORE: | 84.9/100 |
Note: Things like protection get more contribution to the final score, and things like style get less – this is a reflection of what I believe is more or less important in a guitar case.
The Yamaha HC-AG1 doesn’t have any major weaknesses but not any major strengths either. It’s a solid all round case with good protection.
The biggest thing to watch out for is the fit. Some reports of people with certain dreadnoughts say that it doesn’t fit their guitar. So it would pay to make sure that the fit is right before buying this.
Value-for-Money
Value for money if you get the right fit.
Although I think that the Musician’s Gear Dreadnought Case that I reviewed last week is slightly better than this case and is $30 cheaper so I think that’s the better buy – unless you can find this one cheaper or if the dimensions are better for your guitar on this one.
Where to Buy/more info
Check out the links below for more info on this case plus a bunch of user reviews so you can see what others thought of this case.
Thanks for reading and I hope this review has helped you in finding the right case to protect and transport your guitar.
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