The Best Guitar Hard Cases for a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster

The Best Guitar Hard Cases for a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster

This article will cover the best guitar hard cases for a Fender Stratocaster or Fender Telecaster.  All of the guitar cases listed will fit right and left-handed Fender guitars. These hard guitar cases in this list are perfect for gigging musicians, for storing guitars, or as a replacement for an existing hard case.

 

1. Fender Deluxe Molded Stratocaster or Telecaster Case

The Fender Deluxe molded case is perfect for any Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster. This case had several advantages over many others that I will outline in this article. This military-grade polyethylene hard case is fantastic because it’s insanely durable and also extremely lightweight.

The plush interior of the hard case will fit your instrument very snug.  This tight fit is what you want in a quality hard case.  Never buy a hard case where the guitar can move around on the inside as you could potentially damage the instrument while it’s in the case.

Another massive advantage to the Fender Deluxe Molded case is that it has TSA approved locks and latches installed.  That means if you are flying in the US, you won’t have any issues locking it and TSA opening it at a check.  I had my non-TSA approved locks broken off a case once before, and I can highly recommend this for flights. The locks are robust and dependable, and I have never had issues with them accidentally unlocking.

Not only is it an excellent option for flying, but it’s also perfect for car travel and gigging musicians.  These cases are the best thanks to their lightweight ATA molded polyethylene shell.  This hard case shell keeps the weight down while also making the case near impossible to damage.

 

 

Buy it from Sweetwater | Thomann | Sky Music

 

Another benefit of the Fender Deluxe Molded hard case is the handle.  I love the way the handle is off-centered from the case body. This off-centered handle allows you to carry the case without any tilt.  If the handle were dead-center, it would be heavy towards the body of the guitar.  Balance issues are not the “case” with this one, and it is one of the most comfortable and practical cases on the market.

Overall, this, by far, my favorite hard case for a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, and I can highly recommend them.  Get the best price by using the links below.

 

Here is my video overview of the Fender Deluxe Molded Hardcase. 

 

2. Gator GTSA-GTRELEC ATA Molded Guitar Case

 

Get the best price on Sweetwater | B&H (USA) 

 

Gator has been making quality hard cases and gig bags for many years now and is one of the few third-party case companies I trust and use. Much like the Fender counterpart mentioned above, this is manufactured using ATA Military Grade Molded Polyethylene.  This case is robust and features some of the best TSA latches you are going to find on any hard case.

The Gator GTSA-GTRELEC fits both right and left-handed Fender-style guitars.  This flexibility means it will fit either a traditional Stratocaster or Telecaster-shaped guitar with no problems at all. Thanks to the quality design and build of this case, the neck of your guitar will be rested on a neck cradle, allowing it to be safely moved via walking or transportation.  Additionally, the guitar will not slip and slide around internally.  This ensures that your guitar will not be damaged while in the case.

The carry handle on the Gator case is designed to be off-centered. This off-centered design allows for a balanced carrying experience.  It also means that if you are carrying the case without a guitar, it will lean slightly.

If you have a high-value guitar or want to ensure the longevity of your guitar, the Gator case is one of the best in the World, and I can highly recommend it.  These cases are less expensive than a Fender case but are right up there in terms of quality and design.

 

3. Fender G&G Deluxe Hardshell Case for Stratocaster 

Buy it from Sweetwater | Thomann 

 

The Fender G&G Deluxe Hardshell case is the same case that ships with many of Fender’s higher-end guitars. I recently received this exact case when I purchased the Fender 50s Original Stratocaster, and it’s a monster, literally!  While the Fender G&G Deluxe hard case isn’t the lightest option out there, they are quite classic in their design and style.

The G&G Deluxe is a thing of beauty.  Each time I open these cases, I smile at how beautiful and plush the interior is.  The interior is a perfect fit for any Stratocaster or Telecaster, and it will fit in nice and snug.  This snug fit is essential as you do not want any internal movement once the instrument is secured in place.  The neck rest and padded interior top engulf the guitar to provide a perfect fit.  After all, these cases are made for Fenders’ higher-end guitars.  

These cases also store and stack really well. I have a number of these stacked like books in a cupboard, and they all sit very uniformly together thanks to their streamlined and uniform design. 

One advantage with the Fender G&G case over some molded cases is the included inner compartment.  This internal compartment is a welcomed addition for storing cables, capos, or even pedals! 

 

Small Downsides

The only downside of these cases is that people can find them too heavy, and the locks can be a bit of a pain too.  The Fender G&G hard case is a quality product, but they are quite a lot heavier than the first two options on this list. I also find the locks can be a bit too fiddly compared with the other two options above.  Generally speaking, the locks are decent, but there times when they don’t click to lock correctly or open easily.  With that in mind, they have never all opened by accident.  The center lock is more like a latch, and it works fine. 

Guitarists who want the Fender custom shop experience will get a kick out of these hard cases.  Fender G&G cases are some of the most popular in the World, and after owning, they are very reliable.  Tweed case will mark and scratch more easily than an ABS or molded hard case. 

 

Check the Vinyl Covered one at Sweetwater | Thomann 

 

4. Fender Classic Series Wood Tweed Case

\

 

Buy it from Sweetwater | Thomann 

 

The Fender Classic Series Tweed case comes in third.  Visually, this case looks fantastic, but it suffers from being far less functional than the first two cases on this list.  Sure, if you want a Tweed case, then this is the one to buy, but I much prefer the Fender molded case. 

Just to put it into context, I currently own three of these cases.  Whenever I do a gig, I move the guitar I want to play to the Fender or Gator ABS case because they are far lighter and don’t damage as easily. 

A huge benefit of these Tweed hard cases for Fender Stratocasters or Telecaster is their internal compartment.  These compartments are large enough to hold a number of cables and are deep enough to store regular-sized effects pedals. 

The plush interior and neck rest is also another benefit.  Along with the luxurious interior, the guitar fits in quite snug compared with many other cases. The Fender classic wood tweed case works perfectly well for both left and right-handed guitars.  I have mixed feelings about this guitar case.  Visually it’s a great design and matches the aesthetic of Tweed Fender amps and days of old.  Design-wise, they are not perfect.

 

Downsides

The main downside of these cases is their latches.  Unlike the previous two cases, the Fender Classic series Tweed case latches suck.  The reason why is they are very unreliable.  Sometimes the laches is easy to open, and sometimes they are not.  Sometimes they can also open when you do not want them to.  

I suppose if you have owned one of these cases before, you will probably be aware of the latching issues.  For those replacing a similar tweed hard case, you will be happy with this one.  Guitarists wanting a lighter and robust case with better latches should look at the previous two alternatives. 

While these Tweed guitar cases can take some abuse, they will wear and tear a lot easier thanks to their Tweed covering.  Some would argue that because it shows wear and tear, it adds to the charm.

 

Final Thoughts on the Best Hard Case for Fender

Each of these cases will appeal to different people depending on your needs. If you need the Fender logo, you know which ones to buy.  Alternatively, if you wanted to save some money while still getting an exceptional case, then you should go for the Gator. 

There are no trade-offs with the Gator case in comparison with the Fender ABS case. Either of these two cases will stand the test of time while being reliable and robust long term to protect your favorite Fender guitar. 

Each of these Fender hard cases comes with a Key to allow for secure locking of each case. If you want more information on what you want on a guitar hard case please click the link to my article on that topic.