After dropping or dinging my guitar too many times at gigs, I replaced its soft carrying case with a sturdy protective one from First Quality Music of Louisville, Kentucky.

The case is fine; but its just that much heavier than a regular hard shell that at first, I could not tell by weight if the guitar was in it or not.

So of course, I did go to one gig with no guitar in case!

Just once--- but now I peek inside every time before I leave home...