Hard shell cases with your guitar or bass.

[Bassist4Eris]

Here is a pic of my baby. I paid $1600 brand new.

Here are some shots of her case, after less than three years of gigging. This is why I can't use gig bags.

 

[Mr. Sound]

Two of my basses came with gig bags. I have hard cases for both. Normal gigs, which require a car full of gear, I would only use the case. But for jam nights etc. the gig bag is handy!

 

[Liam Wald]

Not important at all. They just tend to collect in the closet. I much prefer gig bags (Mono in particular) and would rather save the money and not get a hard case.

 

[59Bassman]

For me, pretty important. My first pro quality instrument was made by a friend who wouldn't let me leave his shop without also buying a case. 5 years of hard gigging later, that case is nearly destroyed, but the instrument is still in pretty solid condition.

I also recall a guy buying a custom ESP in Knut Koupe music in MSP back in the 80's. He didn't want the case. Right after he paid, he was on his way out the front door, and a guy from the back of the music shop slammed into him, denting the fretboard and scarring the custom airbrush paintjob on the door frame. Seems the smash-er had heard he was getting a parking ticket and was running out of the store to drop another dime in the meter.

As above, I'll use a gig bag for local jam sessions, but in a car full of gear I'm much more comfortable with a hard case.

 

[iriegnome]

They are extremely important to me and every bass I own has one...

 

[Amplified]

I have a bunch of hard cases, all not used. Prefer gig bags. Hard cases are too heavy and a pain to carry around. Just a preference.

 

[morgansterne]

my first guitar was a les paul special which had the neck crack majorly while being transported in a gig bag. never mind crying, I almost threw up.
I will never transport any of my instruments in a gig bag ever again.

 

[OldPlucker]

In that price range it either includes a hard shell case or I don't get it. I remember crap hitting the cases when transporting the bands equipment.

 

[Bim1959]

I didnt think much about hardshell cases until a friend who was taking a bass to a gig had the bar's door slam on his bass's neck, damaging it so he couldn't play. Yes they're big and bulky, but I'd rather transport my instruments in a hardshell case rather than a gig bag any day. As we all should know by now, poopie HAPPENS!!!

 

[davy4575]

i turn around and buy an ata flight case anyway. i dont care if it has a hard case or not.

 

[Turtle71]

I'd prefer a hard case with the sale, especially on $750+ basses, but I wouldn't buy any bass over $1000 without a case period.

That being said, I agree with many of the previous posters, I take a gig bag to practice & hard case to gigs where my gear will be in a truck/trailer.

 

[BazzTard]

I'm not impressed that $900 Fender MIM basses don't come with a case,

Fender can't afford a hundred bucks? I make the store throw one in or I'm outa there.

 

[Baird6869]

I hate hard cases unless I am travelling by air to a gig or when I am selling/shipping a bass. Too heavy, too bulky and a pain in the @$$ to store if you have a bunch. I prefer bring 2 basses in a double gigbag to gigs.

Basses over $1000 SHOULD come with a hard case but an option for a soft or hybrid hard/soft case/bag should be an option.

I recently ordered a new Valenti that was way over $1000 and I am happy as hell that I could request a Protec gig bag.

 

[Juststanley]

a $1000.00 bass---CASE ! a $200 bass...pffffft

 

[pnchad]

They are extremely important to me and every bass I own has one...

exactly - I wouldn't care except I have soooo many I need to stack

 

[headband]

I don't buy new basses so really can't answer. However, I like all of my basses (around 16) to have some kind of case, hard or soft for protection. For shows, my gear is loaded in with a lot of road cases, etc. so a good quality hard case is mandatory, and I have a few good ones. If it is a vintage instrument the original case is a plus, although I never take them out for shows. Most of these cases do not provide enough protection.

 

[verycoolname]

I think that anything $1,000+ should constitute a hard case being thrown in...it surprises me that American Specials ($999) only come with a gig bag.

I also believe that if an instrument is particularly large, oddly shaped, or otherwise difficult to accommodate that it should come with a case. When I bought my Fender AEB (only $529, but large and unwieldy) I had to settle with transporting it in an ill-fitting Ibanez AEB gig bag for a little more than a year. Fender sells hard cases specifically designed for the Kingman, but they're pretty difficult to find...I finally snagged one. Best $89 I ever spent, but it would've been better if they had provided a gig bag that fit the bass so I didn't have to lug it around semi-unprotected for a year.

When I bought my Gretsch ($900, minus a 10% discount) they sold me a case for $180 (minus a 10% discount)...when I got home I had realized that the case was 1) sold online for $169 and 2) was designed for a long scale bass...I mean, it still transports the thing just fine, but still.

All my instruments have hard cases because I find it a necessity, YMMV...

(I posted this picture on social media with the caption, "all packed for college!" Yes, I am hilarious...)

 

[Kmonk]

I would prefer that the bass come with a hardshell case but if it doesn't, and I like the bass enough, I will still buy it and then look for a case.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

If you're spending a lot of cash, I'd like to think that the builder would respect your purchase enough to supply a decent hard case if only for presentation and storage reasons...I don't use them much for an actual gig, though unless I really think the surroundings call for added protection...

 

[RandalPinkFloyd]

I would never use a gig bag. Not sufficient protection and they look amateurish. With that said, a new bass doesn't have to come with a case, but I guess if I'm spending over 1K, it should come with one.