How important is having the original hardshell case to you?

[lbbc]

Not important to me unless it was a custom fit for a very specific shaped bass. Other than that, I would rather use a padded gig bag or polyfoam case

 

[Axstar]

Less than unimportant. An old case might compromise the safety and security of the instrument. Its a box for goodness’ sake!

 

[bassbenj]

I can understand that the original case is an important vibe thing for a vintage bass. The closest thing I've got in basses is I have a used Steinberg Spirit with original case. The case is sort of cool because it's small like a guitar case so it's part of the image. Of course it's only a Spirit and a REAL collector would own a real Steinberg with the original case. The closest I come in anything to this sort of thing is I own a vintage Hound Dog Taylor 60's guitar and it is TOTALLY cool! And it has the original case which is the icing on the package! Yeah, I can seen wanting the original case for a truly cool vintage instrument.

As for my regular crap I have it all. Some have original cases, some are in Sam Ash cheapo hard cases (They had a sale and I bought about 5 knowing how I have GAS), there are a couple semi-hard bags (sort of like gig bags with rigid sides) that are Gator or something that were bought used and I have the rest in a variety of gig bags where those all came from a huge pile of used gig bags at GC listed at $10 each and I bought all I could that did not have tears or broken zippers. Sadly they are all used up now so I need another case/gig bag sale at a store again! GAS never ends!

 

[Wasnex]

A buddy of mine recently passed up a vintage P Bass that was, in his words, one of the best basses he’s ever played because it didn’t include the original hardshell case and that was the big dealbreaker for him.

His choice at the end of the day, but I think he’ll regret it. I feel like if it played and felt how I wanted I could get a new hardshell case from Fender. Thoughts? Do you feel the same way Is it a resale value thing for you? An authenticity thing?

IMHO a hard case adds extra protection if shipping is required. After I get the instrument I usually only use the hard shell case for storage or when moving. For local gigs I prefer a gig bag. When touring, I prefer a flight case for truck pack or air travel and a gig bag if the bass rides with me in a bus or van.

 

[BlueShox]

Fender Vintage Jazz Precision P Bass Hardshell Case 1967 to 1971 | eBay

 

[ultra60]

I'm a firm believer in hard cases over bags. The case does not have to be the OHSC, but a close approximation is nice. If somebody tried to sell me a bass in one of those coffin cases, I'd ask them to just keep it, and I would look for something more appropriate. That said, I just picked up a 35 year old Kramer Pioneer. I'd love to know what the original case looked like as I've never seen one.

 

[waveman]

Typically don't care.

But if it is a vintage Bass and the owner had the the original case, and I wanted to buy both together. That could be a deal breaker, unless the price of the bass was adjusted accordingly.

 

[tycobb73]

If it's priced accordingly I don't care. Bought my 75 p this way. I had a g&g case sitting around anyway. But it has to be priced accordingly.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I always look at an original hard case as a plus not a deal breaker...how often do you play that hard case? How much does it influence the sound or playability of the bass? It's a good excuse to use if the cost is too high, but let's be real...buy the bass and get another hard case for it or stick it in a gig bag if you don't have the $$ for a hard case.

If you're a collector and not a bass player and the bass isn't too rare, then maybe you'd pass it up and wait for another. But if it is "one of the best basses he’s ever played", that was a really dumb move in my opinion.

 

[mikewalker]

Not important in the least.

ditto! Maybe three of my ten basses will ever get played out, the rest are hanging on the studio walls, waiting to earn their keep.
Gigbags for the lot of them... (OK I got one nice bass with the OHSC but I wasn't even expecting it.)

In general, hardshell cases take up too much storage space!

 

[B-Mac]

A buddy of mine recently passed up a vintage P Bass that was, in his words, one of the best basses he’s ever played because it didn’t include the original hardshell case and that was the big dealbreaker for him.

His choice at the end of the day, but I think he’ll regret it. I feel like if it played and felt how I wanted I could get a new hardshell case from Fender. Thoughts? Do you feel the same way Is it a resale value thing for you? An authenticity thing?

Extremely. Like a matching tie and handkerchief. Especially if it is for a bass like a hollow body that needs a well fitting case. Maybe a P Bass not so much as a Fender case for a P Bass is pretty easy to get. However if it is a vintage P Bass with a high street value then the original case can an add $$ to its worth at least to a collector, maybe not so much to a player.
Check my gig bag vs hardshell case thread sometime. Gig Bag Vs. Hard Shell Case

It is also important to me if I know that the particular bass I am interested in when sold new actually included the hard shell case in the original price. Some companies do and others don't. If it is a used bass and a year or two old and the price is close to the original when new with a case originally included I think you have a definite bargaining chip.

Fender, Gretsch and Gibson usually include the HSC in their price per the website listings. Ibanez doesn't.

 

[GIBrat51]

I always like to have a case with every instrument I buy; and, yes, the OHSC is preferable. But, I can live without it; if the instrument is one I really want, a case isn't a deal breaker. Sometimes, though... This is a 1963 ODE model 3, Style 3 banjo, and the original case. This is what's known as a "Boulder" ODE; hand made by a husband and wife in Boulder, Colorado. They make OME banjos now (long story). They also hand made their cases. To a serious collector, that case can be worth twice as much as the banjo itself. And the banjo ain't exactly cheap, either. So, sometimes you really do want the original case. It just depends...

 

[bassstrangler]

Not important at all, I can always buy a case.

 

[JimmyM]

Case...lol! No, it's not important to me at all, although when I negotiate price I will use it as a weapon to get the price lowered

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I own 1 hardshell case. Most of my basses could fit into it, if necessary.
I bought for touring and heavy travel.
If I'm schlepping my own gear, i use a gig bag. Always.

 

[Nephilymbass]

A buddy of mine recently passed up a vintage P Bass that was, in his words, one of the best basses he’s ever played because it didn’t include the original hardshell case and that was the big dealbreaker for him.

His choice at the end of the day, but I think he’ll regret it. I feel like if it played and felt how I wanted I could get a new hardshell case from Fender. Thoughts? Do you feel the same way Is it a resale value thing for you? An authenticity thing?

Nah in fact I’d be willing to pay more money for a bass with some other cases. Most of the cases bass building companies sell are either plywood or a very cheap plastic case. I’ve had enough issues with both. The latches and hinges breaking on plywood cases, plywood cases being heavier, cheap plastic cases warping, chunks of plastic breaking off at corners, and moving parts falling apart. Lately I’ve been using these skb cases for most gigs.

Although if I’m driving my own car (if we’re not using a band trailer) which is the case for hometown shows I’ll even use decent gigbags. And then put the basses on our bands 7 Guitar stand with my bandmates guitars I get there.
. I’ve mainly used the Warwick gigbags , At one point I had 4 of the Warwick gigbags sitting around because most of the warwicks I bought came with a gigbag and id turn around a buy a hardcase for them and every bass including the 7 string Conklin I had fit in them.

 

[whero]

This is weird, I know, but...

I prefer hard cases to gig bags. That seems to be weird enough on TB, but it's not the weird part. While it doesn't have to be the original case, I hate it when it's a branded case and it's not the same brand as the bass. For example, I just bought a Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass. These don't come with a Fender case as standard, and the store had no Fender bass cases, so they threw in a Warwick RockCase for nix. Less than five minutes after getting it home I had removed the Warwick badge...

I'm sure it's a manifestation of an obsessive compulsive disorder. I'm the same with sports shoes/socks. If I'm wearing Nike trainers I have to wear Nike socks or plain, unbranded ones. I won't wear (say) New Balance socks with Nike shoes. I know this is weird. I know you're all judging me now. I'm OK with it.

 

[Kmonk]

Doesn't matter to me. If comes with it great, if not, no problem.

 

[jd56hawk]

A buddy of mine recently passed up a vintage P Bass that was, in his words, one of the best basses he’s ever played because it didn’t include the original hardshell case and that was the big dealbreaker for him.

His choice at the end of the day, but I think he’ll regret it. I feel like if it played and felt how I wanted I could get a new hardshell case from Fender. Thoughts? Do you feel the same way Is it a resale value thing for you? An authenticity thing?

Slightly more important than original strings.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

A buddy of mine recently passed up a vintage P Bass that was, in his words, one of the best basses he’s ever played because it didn’t include the original hardshell case and that was the big dealbreaker for him.

His choice at the end of the day, but I think he’ll regret it. I feel like if it played and felt how I wanted I could get a new hardshell case from Fender. Thoughts? Do you feel the same way Is it a resale value thing for you? An authenticity thing?

No doubt a hard case will provide better protection, but for me, it’s a separate issue than the purchase of the bass. If the price is good enough, I’ll get my own case. I was not aware that a bass and case came as a matched set.