MB LM hard case?

[pasta4lnch]

this is a link to a place selling it for 290 euro's - according to the conversion calculator I found that's $382.36. That's highway robbery! Paying nearly $400 for a case for an amp that cost $600 is insanity . . .

I'm hoping this is an unrealistic msrp, but still - even if that's the case (pardon the pun) how much lower could it be?

 

[KJung]

this is a link to a place selling it for 290 euro's - according to the conversion calculator I found that's $382.36. That's highway robbery! Paying nearly $400 for a case for an amp that cost $600 is insanity . . .

I'm hoping this is an unrealistic msrp, but still - even if that's the case (pardon the pun) how much lower could it be?

If that is the true cost, Guitar Center will not even bother to carry them. I was assuming the cost would be in the $200 range of so. Any more than that, and I wouldn't bother... you can have an Anvil or whatever made to the same specs.

 

[pasta4lnch]

I agree - I was secretly hoping for $150 but would have gone to $200 . . . there is still no word on US release - I PM'd Peter Murray, but I'm waiting on the official word.

not that this is the biggest deal, but I would like a hard case. I stack all my gear on a dolly and, more than once, didn't realize I was tightening the strap right on the knobs side of the bag. plus I think transport would be easier in general if it had a hard case . . . just a luxury is all

 

[KJung]

I agree - I was secretly hoping for $150 but would have gone to $200 . . . there is still no word on US release - I PM'd Peter Murray, but I'm waiting on the official word.

not that this is the biggest deal, but I would like a hard case. I stack all my gear on a dolly and, more than once, didn't realize I was tightening the strap right on the knobs side of the bag. plus I think transport would be easier in general if it had a hard case . . . just a luxury is all

My guess is the reason that the MB stuff is all released in a timely manner relative to announcement in the EU (i.e., in their 'local market') and later (or not at all) in the US has more to do more with whether they can sell a product into the Guitar Center system versus it 'being available' from MB.

 

[T. Alan Smith]

I'm dying for one of those hard cases as well. The zippers on my MB bag are all going to hell. Shame because it's a nice bag otherwise.

 

[KJung]

I'm dying for one of those hard cases as well. The zippers on my MB bag are all going to hell. Shame because it's a nice bag otherwise.

Yeah, the design of the MB bags is great, the quality is 'B-', specifically the zippers.

I'm using Mooradian bags with my small heads (about $125)... wonderful but obviously not cheap. They are custom made and sized exactly, and are pretty much indestructable. Not super protection (no bag is), but very sturdy, with a large cable 'pouch'. Great company to deal with... send them the measurements, and your bag shows up in 10 days or so.

K

 

[tombowlus]

this is a link to a place selling it for 290 euro's - according to the conversion calculator I found that's $382.36. That's highway robbery! Paying nearly $400 for a case for an amp that cost $600 is insanity . . .

I'm hoping this is an unrealistic msrp, but still - even if that's the case (pardon the pun) how much lower could it be?

I bet you could get Anvil or a similar company to make you a similar case for a lot less. I have had Anvil make me custom cases for several items, and their prices have actually been pretty good. Heck, the sweet case they made for my Trace Elliot V8 was less that that!

Cabbage Cases out of Columbus is another good one.

Tom.

 

[pasta4lnch]

Thanks Tom - I have been toying w/ that idea - in fact, in my typical overkill style, I started drawing out an integrated case for the LMII and the 3 pedals I use I'll send Anvil an e-mail just to see what it would cost . . . Im a glutton!

 

[T. Alan Smith]

Yeah, the design of the MB bags is great, the quality is 'B-', specifically the zippers.

I'm using Mooradian bags with my small heads (about $125)... wonderful but obviously not cheap. They are custom made and sized exactly, and are pretty much indestructable. Not super protection (no bag is), but very sturdy, with a large cable 'pouch'. Great company to deal with... send them the measurements, and your bag shows up in 10 days or so.

K

Thanks. Did you order yours spec'ed to open in the front & back, whereby allowing the unit to be used in the bag, ala the MB bag? That was a big selling point to me.

 

[KJung]

Thanks. Did you order yours spec'ed to open in the front & back, whereby allowing the unit to be used in the bag, ala the MB bag? That was a big selling point to me.

They don't do that (they are a custom shop though... I guess if you spec it exactly, they might be able to do it). Their standard bag design is a classic zippered bag with the zipper going all the way around the bag.

 

[Whitbass]

I bet you could get Anvil or a similar company to make you a similar case for a lot less. I have had Anvil make me custom cases for several items, and their prices have actually been pretty good. Heck, the sweet case they made for my Trace Elliot V8 was less that that!

Cabbage Cases out of Columbus is another good one.

Tom.

thanks for the info
I've had some custom stuff made before with decent results......

would they design and build a case using the basic amp specs, or would a person need to create specs and provide to them?

what material would they be using?


Thanks Tom!!

 

[KJung]

thanks for the info
I've had some custom stuff made before with decent results......

would they design and build a case using the basic amp specs, or would a person need to create specs and provide to them?

what material would they be using?


Thanks Tom!!

All these case companies have different level of protection, from the super heavy duty ATA spec (you wouldn't want that... expensive and it would weigh a ton), light duty (which would be similar to the Markbass model, and then, in the case of Cabbage, their kind of plastic case (nice... Thunderfunk uses a Cabbage briefcase type design as their OEM case... really nice).

Careful though with the LMII/III. The LMII/III are a little under 2 rack spaces high, but the optional rack ears are flared to fit a standard two rack space case. However, that would require a full size 19" rack... kind of silly with the little LMII/III.

The Markbass rack case must have holes in the side that allow you to screw the LMII/III right into it, without using the wide rack ears, and it is also less than two rack spaces high. Not sure if you could get the measurements and design exact enough for a case company to match that very small size (i.e., the 10 by 10 versus the 19 by 10 or whatever).

Hope that makes sense.

 

[tombowlus]

thanks for the info
I've had some custom stuff made before with decent results......

would they design and build a case using the basic amp specs, or would a person need to create specs and provide to them?

what material would they be using?


Thanks Tom!!

As Ken indicated, you can tell them what material you'd like to use, and you would have to provide them with measurements. But, these folks know their stuff, so if you said, my head is x" wide at the widest spot, y" deep at the deepest spot, and z" tall, with some feet that stick out 1/2" or whatever, they can take it from there.

Here are some pics of some of the cases that I have had Anvil make for me:

This is for my V8:

These I had made to fit my Onyx rack and PA gear:

Here's a case that came with my VA400 (it is similar to what Cabbage makes):

These are undoubtedly heavier duty than you would need for the LMII, but it gives you an idea of the range of cases that someone can make up for you.

I wonder if the LMII would fit into one of those SWR Electric Blue cases? I have one, and I'll check (when I find some free time! ).

Tom.

 

[Sparky Mark]

I was nervous about using a soft case for my LM3 so I bought one of these from Maplins (UK) for £30.


It's the perfect size for the LM3 and has space for the mains and speakon cables and the foam offers shock protection during transit.

You do have to take the amp out to use it but hey I never have to set up in 30 seconds anyhow. The MB case costs £245 in the UK which is way too much IMO.

 

[Whitbass]

cool, thanks folks for the feedback; I would want a case that the amp can be left in, with F/R lids....like most standard racks......
I am currently using the shallow SKB.......works fine, but really like the idea of a case closer to the size of the LMII...
especially when using with the Berg 1x12 cabs.....



thanks again!!!

 

[pasta4lnch]

I just e-mailed Anvil about a similar case to MB's . . .

 

[Sparky Mark]

Unless an amp has come in its own case/cover I have always mounted them in (ABS I think) SKB 19" cases. I think in the long term transporting the new mini/micro heads in the pocket of a gig bag or soft bag is asking for trouble if you are gigging a lot. Sooner or later you're gonna clip a door frame or some 'helpful' self appointed roadie is gonna throw it in the van with corner bending/knob busting results.

I like the look of the MB case, but I can't see if there is any rubber/foam shock mounting inside, which I think is neccessary for light amps which could slip around during transit more than a 30lb traditional head. I've just got a hunch that if an LM3 was dropped from 4 feet onto a hard surface in the MB case the internals might suffer damage, and as repairing these amps isn't a DIY/regular tech job, this is an easily avoided problem.

My ideal case for the LM3 would be similar to theirs but with 3/4" foam all around except where air vents are needed. A case as described should be sellable at around £100 ($150 - $160) and with the number of LM heads out there, should sell in worthwhile volumes. I'm surprised no case makers have jumped on this yet, I wouldn't have thought MB would have copyrights (or whatever?) over a hard case for their amps.

If anyone finds a case maker that can/does, please let us all know, cheers.

 

[KJung]

Unless an amp has come in its own case/cover I have always mounted them in (ABS I think) SKB 19" cases. I think in the long term transporting the new mini/micro heads in the pocket of a gig bag or soft bag is asking for trouble if you are gigging a lot. Sooner or later you're gonna clip a door frame or some 'helpful' self appointed roadie is gonna throw it in the van with corner bending/knob busting results.

I like the look of the MB case, but I can't see if there is any rubber/foam shock mounting inside, which I think is neccessary for light amps which could slip around during transit more than a 30lb traditional head. I've just got a hunch that if an LM3 was dropped from 4 feet onto a hard surface in the MB case the internals might suffer damage, and as repairing these amps isn't a DIY/regular tech job, this is an easily avoided problem.

My ideal case for the LM3 would be similar to theirs but with 3/4" foam all around except where air vents are needed. A case as described should be sellable at around £100 ($150 - $160) and with the number of LM heads out there, should sell in worthwhile volumes. I'm surprised no case makers have jumped on this yet, I wouldn't have thought MB would have copyrights (or whatever?) over a hard case for their amps.

If anyone finds a case maker that can/does, please let us all know, cheers.

I've been using soft bags with my micro's (starting with my Walter Woods) for almost 20 years. Zero issue.

With a rack case, there would be no reason for foam lining whatsoever. Once the head is bolted into the rack, it won't touch the sides at all... zero issue.

If you are looking for a case versus a rack, any case company can build a foam lined briefcase for you with the exact fit. The Cabbage 'plastic' custom case would be around $200, and is great quality (see the accessory page on the Thunderfunk website).

The idea of putting a small, 5 pound head, in a large 10 pound SKB type rack makes little sense to me. However, if you are worried about it being damaged in transit, a small, briefcase type case works great.

 

[Sparky Mark]

1) I've been using soft bags with my micro's (starting with my Walter Woods) for almost 20 years. Zero issue.

2) With a rack case, there would be no reason for foam lining whatsoever. Once the head is bolted into the rack, it won't touch the sides at all... zero issue.

1) Not everyone is as wise/lucky/careful as you Ken. It only has to happen once to be an issue.

2) Ken, that is plain wrong; ask anyone in the business of transporting sensitive equipment. Shock mounting is not primarily about stopping the amp 'touching the sides', it's to do with controlling the rate of deceleration as an object stops, i.e, when a box hits the floor the foam allows whatever is inside to stop at a slower rate than the box thereby reducing the forces on the internal components.

A metal box that has no give when it hits the floor will pass all the shock onto whatever is inside. That is not a good packaging solution in any instance especially for electronic assemblies. Crumple zones in cars are an example. The seat belt stops you 'touching the sides' and the CZ's help to stop your neck being snapped by the seat belt in a head on.

Cheers.

 

[KJung]

1) Not everyone is as wise/lucky/careful as you Ken. It only has to happen once to be an issue.

2) Ken, that is plain wrong; ask anyone in the business of transporting sensitive equipment. Shock mounting is not primarily about stopping the amp 'touching the sides', it's to do with controlling the rate of deceleration as an object stops, i.e, when a box hits the floor the foam allows whatever is inside to stop at a slower rate than the box thereby reducing the forces on the internal components.

A metal box that has no give when it hits the floor will pass all the shock onto whatever is inside. That is not a good packaging solution in any instance especially for electronic assemblies. Crumple zones in cars are an example. The seat belt stops you 'touching the sides' and the CZ's help to stop your neck being snapped by the seat belt in a head on.

Cheers.

If you feel you need to get a special rack case with foam in it for a lightweight, solid state head, that of course is totally your choice. I agree it will be protected more, I've just never known any other bass player that felt the need for that personally, and the standard SKB roto-type rack works perfectly for thousands of players year after year after year.

I agree that a bag would not be good to throw in the back of a van, so if you aren't hauling your own gear, then a padded briefcase type case is probably a good idea.