Has Markbass lost it?

[dminer]

I'd heard a while back that Markbass was coming out with a hard rack case for the LM series and they had previewed them at Namm ect. I really want one for my LMIII and thought I'd bite the $100+ bullet when they became available.
Tonight I checked with Guitar Center and they are in stock. However, the list price is $599 and the store price is $299!!!!
Are they nuts or just really greedy? I mean, I know the LMIII list for $999 and sells for $599 but you are getting a 500 watt amp. $299 for a small rack case is totally ridiculous. I'll leave mine in the $100 gator case or have a case custom made before I shell out that kinda money....It's a friggin case

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Markbass...59-i1563095.gc

[dmusic148]

Yes but the case in question is downsized to be only slightly wider/deeper than the head itself- not like a regular box. And it appears to be built like a brick s**t house- all wood and metal, with four(!) handles. Might be worth it to a serious road guy.

http://www.markbass.it/products.php?...cat=4&vedi=151

[synterx]

You can get a custom case made out of the exact same materials for an entire 410 cabinet for that much or even less. Certainly that price will have to come down. $149 would be the absolute maximum it should be. $300 for that is nuts.

[naturalkinds]

Well, they need to regain ground for selling the LMII as a lost leader, right Brad?

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by synterx

You can get a custom case made out of the exact same materials for an entire 410 cabinet for that much or even less.

Where? A good padded soft cover for a 4x10 will run you $70. Hard to believe a high quality plywood and metal box could be had for $150.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by naturalkinds

Well, they need to regain ground for selling the LMII as a loss leader, right Brad?

Lol, and fixed it for you.

[Kwesi]

You guys just don't understand, that case was made with the intention of it being used to hold precious gems when they are to be shipped through warzones or similarly hazardous conditions. I mean, to charge that much for a headcase would be silly... I'm sure Markbass just forgot to put it in the "flight cases for hostile travel situations" section of their website.


What? You say that Markbass doesn't have a "flight cases for hostile travel situations" section on their site? Hmmm...

[dminer]

I guess I'm out of touch with case prices these days, and I'm sure the MB case is high quality, but wow, that just seems pretty steep to me (of course, the wife calls me Jack Benny sometimes.) I'm pretty sure there are places that can make you a small custom wood and metal "live in "case for less than that...meanwhile my MB can stay in the gator.

[synterx]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Where? A good padded soft cover for a 4x10 will run you $70. Hard to believe a high quality plywood and metal box could be had for $150.

Ebay. There are two sellers in New York that do this. They have hundreds of cases up there now, some for even less than $300. I have bought two of them and they are real quality plywood and hardware.

http://cgi.ebay.com/6-SPACE-16-DEEP-...ht_1350wt_1139

Here's an example. A 6-space, WITH SHIPPING, made of the exact same materials. $80 bucks out the door.

$300 for that mini case seems kind of crazy.

[dminer]

Certainly you would think that SKB or Gator or someone would have already jumped on the mini amplifier craze. I mean Markbass and Shuttles and Tiny Terrors all need mini road cases too!

[JimmyM]

the last thing i'd do with a micro amp is put it in a heavy box. and yes, i do think markbass has lost their minds if they think people will buy them en masse for $300. but i think the whole idea is crazy, not just the price.

[steamthief]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

the last thing i'd do with a micro amp is put it in a heavy box..

No doubt, kind of defeats the whole purpose! I'm sure many MB fanboys will still snatch 'em up, though.

[dminer]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

the last thing i'd do with a micro amp is put it in a heavy box. and yes, i do think markbass has lost their minds if they think people will buy them en masse for $300. but i think the whole idea is crazy, not just the price.

I totally agree about the heavy case, but I do think that a heavy plastic skb/gator type, made to fit the newer, smaller heads is a surefire seller. Actually that was what I was expecting from MB when I heard they were coming out with a MB rack/road case.
I put velcro on the bottom of my gator/MB case so that it'd stick to the top of my carpet covered cabinet in fear that I would lean on it or otherwise somehow knock the little bugger off.

[ErnieD]

I only move my MB amps to gigs in my back seat or SUV cargo area but I keep a LMII and and F1 in a 3 space, leather satchel I used for work; back when I worked. And it works for me.

[Reynoldbot]

I paid less than half that for my Aguilar head case, and that thing is heavy-duty plywood decked out in tweed tolex. $300 is just nuts.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by dminer

(of course, the wife calls me Jack Benny sometimes.)

Next time she does that, call her Rochester!


*hobbles away with walker, yells at kids to get off lawn*

[rpsands]

I wrap my Mb500 in a foam granny pad and stick it in a milk crate with all my cables, adapters, mics, and so on. Milk crate was free, granny pad 12 bucks or so at costco.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

the last thing i'd do with a micro amp is put it in a heavy box. and yes, i do think markbass has lost their minds if they think people will buy them en masse for $300. but i think the whole idea is crazy, not just the price.

That's what I was thinking. What's the point of a light-weight amp if you're going to at least double the weight with a bullum case? I'll bet they go on blowout pretty soon.

[gafbass02]

I thought the same thing at the price of their bass gig, bag what on earth ???!!?

[ga_edwards]

Originally Posted by gafbass02

I thought the same thing at the price of their bass gig, bag what on earth ???!!?

Just looked that up. Ouch!

I've just bought an iGig case which I consider to be 'top of the line' standard and hold my LMII, granted it's only a single bass gigbag, but it was still £200 less than MB offering.

Methinks the only people buying this are the true fanboys with more money than sense. Brand loyalty is fine when it's quality products but not when there's better stuff out there for half the price.