What You're Actually Buying
A Hiscox Pro II case is a 2mm ABS plastic shell with polyurethane foam bonded directly to the inside. Not glued on top. Bonded into the structure. That's the difference between a Hiscox and most of its competitors, where the foam is a separate piece that can crush, shift, or detach over time.
The result is a case that weighs around 4.5kg, withstands 500kg of crushing force, and has been trusted by over 600,000 musicians worldwide since 1985.
We're the official UK distributor. We handle hundreds of these cases every month. Here's what we've learned.
Designed by a Luthier, Not a Factory
This is the detail most people miss. Hiscox cases weren't designed by a plastics manufacturer or an accessories company. They were designed by a master luthier, someone who'd spent years building guitars by hand and understood exactly how instruments needed to be supported.
The neck angle is a perfect example. When a guitar sits in a case, the angle between the neck and body determines where pressure falls. Get it wrong and the headstock takes the load on every bump and drop. Get it right and the force is distributed safely across the body.
Brynn Hiscox engineered variable neck angle accommodation from 0 to 4 degrees into every case model. That means whether you're putting a flat-necked Telecaster or an angled Les Paul into its case, the fit is precise. The neck is cradled, not clamped. The headstock is supported, not hanging.
It's the kind of detail that only comes from someone who's held a guitar with a snapped headstock and thought: I can stop this from happening.
What Makes Them Different
Every Hiscox case has an aluminium rim running the full perimeter of the lid and base. All the hardware, every hinge, latch, clasp, and D-ring, is riveted through this aluminium. Not into the plastic.
Most competitors rivet their hardware directly into the ABS shell. Over time, that plastic flexes. The rivets work loose. The latches fail. We've seen it happen with other brands, and it's the single biggest reason cases end up in the bin.
Hiscox solved this forty years ago.
Why Musicians Choose Them
Lightweight. At around 4.5kg for a Pro II, it's noticeably lighter than a traditional hard case. Lighter than a Gibson case. Lighter than most plywood alternatives. You actually want to carry it.
Genuinely protective. 500kg crush strength is not a marketing number. There are real stories of guitars surviving fires, luggage trucks, and trailer accidents inside Hiscox cases.
Nitro-safe interior. The crushed velour lining is dye-fast and won't react with nitrocellulose finishes. If you've got a vintage guitar with a traditional lacquer, this matters. Some gig bags and cheaper cases use rubber or foam compounds that can damage nitro over time.
Built to last decades. Forum users report cases from the mid-1980s still going strong. One owner on the Gretsch-Talk forum has a case from 1985 in "A1 condition." That's over 40 years of use.
Good value. A Pro II electric case costs around half what a branded Gibson case costs, and the protection is at least equivalent.
Customise the Fit
One of the things that sets Hiscox apart is the ability to tailor the case to your specific instrument. Every guitar is slightly different, even two of the same model, and the custom fit cushion pads let you pack out the interior for a snugger, more secure fit.
It's a small addition that makes a real difference. No movement inside the case means no risk of the guitar shifting during transport. For anyone gigging regularly or travelling with their instrument, the pads are well worth adding.
The backpack strap system is another game-changer. Every Hiscox case has four D-ring attachment points riveted through the aluminium, purpose-built for the dual-strap backpack. Clip it on and your hard case becomes a rucksack. Weight distributed across both shoulders, hands completely free. Walk, cycle, take the train. The convenience of a gig bag with the protection of a hard case.
Who Trusts Them
Over 140 instrument manufacturers ship their guitars in Hiscox cases. Brian May Guitars, Maton, FYLDE. Spanish retailer Guitarras de Luthier ships internationally in Pro II cases. When companies are staking their reputation on a guitar arriving safely, they choose Hiscox.
The Bottom Line
A Hiscox Pro II costs around the same as a decent set of pickups. If you own a guitar worth more than a few hundred pounds, it's the most sensible investment you'll make. The most protection for the money, designed by someone who actually understood how guitars break, and built to outlast the instrument inside.
Browse the full range of Hiscox cases, shop electric guitar cases, acoustic guitar cases, or use our case finder to find the right fit for your instrument.
Next: Hiscox vs Gator vs SKB - how the three most popular ABS cases compare.
