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How important is having the original hardshell case to you?

#41
It's not. Not one bit.

I'd like molded ABS Schecter hardshell cases for my my guitars. What I have is the one my long-gone Yamaha RBX374 came with, and one cheap one from Musician's Friend. They protect the guitars during storage and transport. That's all they need to do.
 
#43
I’m one of the Talkbass one-percenters involved with the instrument solely out of love for playing it. Not a collector, flipper, or materials psycho. I don’t give a rip about the case, as long as it’s sturdy and wil last a few years of gigging. I usually replace an OHSC with Mono gig bag anyway.

Some guys haven’t figured out that you don’t play the case, apparently.
 
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#44
It seems odd that a stringed instrument would be retailed without a hard shell case. So where did they go if a used one is sold without one? Are they in the same place all the single socks are?

Last September I was in the market for a semi hollow body long scale and it was between the Epi Jack Casady 20th Anniversary and the Gretsch 5440. The Epi had a great flamed maple top in wine, and was $100 cheaper as no HSC was included, whereas it was included with the Gretsch.

I popped for the Epi. Great bass. But I eventually ordered the dedicated HSC for $125 and it arrives today. It was one of those things like I’d be kicking myself if Epi stopped making the HSC and I’d be out of luck if I waited until next year to order one or something like that.

So for me, I prefer a HSC. IMO, it makes it easier to sell, and easier/safer to pack for shipping as well.
 
#45
I recently got a new Fender J-bass with no case. It fits in the case that my Japanese J-bass came in.

I'll buy a nice padded gig bag with backpack straps next time I'm at Long and McQuade though.
 
#46
I don't care one bit if I have an original hard shell case. I like having cases my basses will fit in, but they don't have to be original. The only exception is a 1994 Fender MB-5 that I have where the hard shell case is molded specifically for that bass. I also have the gig bag for it which is a tad shorter than other Fender bass gig bags.
 
#47
Paulabass said:
If I'm buying a USED bass, I kinda expect the proprietary case, if it belongs to one, like a MM, or something with a logo. What the hell happened to the original case?
With vintage, the case has usually been missing for years. Factor that into the price.
Click to expand...
For people who could care less about the case, often cases are sold for $100+. That could go toward another bass.
 
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#48
My Fender Precision V came with one of those plastic molded cases. Not flashy, but it has held up very well. My 2014 Dimension Deluxe 5 came with one of those 'classic' style Fender cases with tolex, vinyl binding and a PLUSH felt interior and the gear trailer is beatin' the crap outta it. I would have preferred a plastic molded case because I use the damn thing. It isn't a collector's instrument.
 
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#49
For the collector I could see it being a dealbreaker, but for someone who actually plays the instrument it shouldn't matter. Heck, Fender even makes the same/similar vintage style cases currently in black telex, brown telex and even tweed, so if you're into keeping the same look you can buy those cases for under $150.

If you're someone who's into having everything original on a bass, getting all the original case candy, original case, etc., you're better off just buying new. But with that said, don't buy "new" from Guitar Center unless you watch them take it out of the original shipping box, because they are notorious for raiding cases of the case candy! I've even had them try and tell me that the guitar I was interested in didn't come with a case or gig bag, even when I pulled the guitar up on the Fender site and it clearly stated "comes with hardshell case"!

I went through a Jazz bass search last year and came across a guy selling an American Professional Jazz for $650! Only thing was he installed pickup and bridge covers, but screwed up the bridge cover the first time, so there were two sets of holes, hence the low price. I bought it, but didnt bond with it, so I sold it for what I got it for minus the case and kept that really nice Fender American Professional case for my Classic 70's Jazz.
 
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#52
It depends for me. If it's something I want as a player, I could care less. If I want it because of novelty or collectability, I may pass up a bass without an original case (hard or softshell is not important to me because some of the basses I am interested in never came with an OHSC).
 
#57
To me, an original case is only important for a vintage instrument in nearly original condition. But no case at all means a lower offer.

I have the original case with my mid-60s Jazz Bass but I never use it; if I gig with this bass I use a heavy-duty leather gig bag or the case from my '87 Stringray. When i bought a '67 Precision Bass last year, I knocked some bucks off my offer because it didn't have a case; but since the bass has been refinished i didn't expect an original case.
 
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#59
I'd say the OP's friend didn't really want the bass and looked for an excuse not to get it.

I used to like HSCs until I got bass that came with a quality bag. They are so much more practical, unless you are doing some serious touring, but that's not most of us.
 

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