Musicman no longer including hardshell cases?

[FLStudiobassist]

You have now

Yep, 3 out of 10. Various age and road times. I find them clumsy when they work. And with respect to the MM basses, of which I am a big fan and long-time player, if that is considered 'best in modern production' I am grateful for the switch to Mono.

Wow, well it sounds like you've had plenty of them so you have a much better sample size to work with you learn something new every day. Thanks for the insight, I'm considering looking into one of these Mono cases because everyone seems to like them so much.

 

[Bass Viking]

"Yeah, let us know how that works out for you."

Yeah, "EdO", it works out just fine for me. I guess I try & make it a point not to stumble around and hit my gear against a wall or something. Sorry you have that issue, and thanks so much for your concern

And in the event you do hit your car door or a wall with your gear a gig bag generally won't leave a dent/mark.

 

[FLStudiobassist]

Clearly they aren't going to lower retail prices but it certainly reduces cost of goods made by using a less expensive case to manufacture.
Is it me or have Stingray Specials increased $400 since early December? A new Special now sells for $2,700 at some shops on Reverb.
Sandberg easily undersells them on price for an equally pro instrument.
The Stingray neck fits my hand like no other though.

Having paid $1700 for my mint Burnt Apple Red in December I'm completely seeing that thank God I did or I probably would never be able to buy this type of instrument on the used market in mint condition within the next six months for under $2k. If you want a particular type of burst or finish you're probably gonna end up paying $2200 used for mint/excellent condition examples. Raspberry Burst, something brand new like the Smoked Chrome or Amethyst Sparkle..

I'm absolutely seeing that it seems with "highly desirable" finishes such as Raspberry Burst or Amethyst Sparkle sell for $2500 I do see their point. They have a limited amount of ash to work with which is why they put "select hardwood" as the choice of woods and are known to use Poplar with some of the more matte colors of the SS line.

 

[Confunk]

And in the event you do hit your car door or a wall with your gear a gig bag generally won't leave a dent/mark.

Color me lucky. With more than enough load-ins/outs under my belt using a gig bag I have yet to hit my car door or a wall, or an iron piling with my instrument- Of course I use due diligence, and try to avoid banana peels and stumbling drunks when I can.

Sorry, but speaking for myself of course- I can't wrap my head around carrying my instrument around, in my car, to a gig , from my car, to the stage in a HSC. Not that its too heavy or anything-just cumbersome.
Obviously (I should think) if my bass is loaded into a van or bus with amps and such it will be placed in a case, but when I go "to work" in my own ride- WHY would I lug a case around? It's generally not too far a walk to my "office", and I feel reasonably confident that I won't run into anything or anybody on the way.
Knock on wood, huh?

 

[Runnerman]

Hundreds of load in/outs on this case. One of the lightest and best designed cases I own.
Wouldn't take my Bongo out of the house without it.
I have owned multiple gig bags over the years, zippers have failed on all, including my Pedal Train bag.
I've never owned a mono but I think I would pay for the HSC.

 

[Bass Viking]

Color me lucky. With more than enough load-ins/outs under my belt using a gig bag I have yet to hit my car door or a wall, or an iron piling with my instrument- Of course I use due diligence, and try to avoid banana peels and stumbling drunks when I can.

Sorry, but speaking for myself of course- I can't wrap my head around carrying my instrument around, in my car, to a gig , from my car, to the stage in a HSC. Not that its too heavy or anything-just cumbersome.
Obviously (I should think) if my bass is loaded into a van or bus with amps and such it will be placed in a case, but when I go "to work" in my own ride- WHY would I lug a case around? It's generally not too far a walk to my "office", and I feel reasonably confident that I won't run into anything or anybody on the way.
Knock on wood, huh?

I’m a gig bag man too. For most situations they’re perfectly adequate.

 

[KenD]

"And to make it easier for our valued customers to fine tune our instruments to their personal taste, we are now shipping all our basses with no strings."

 

[Tori2013]

Others have alluded to it, and I will mention it again. Changing to gig bags is likely a cost saving measure, but it is a measure that is also very practical for convenience and saving space. My bottom line is that it will allow Music Man to keep making quality basses in San Luis Obispo. It would be very easy for Music Man to make Skyline or Dingwall Combustion quality basses in Indonesia or China that we would love that could also save us $500-$1,500. I am happy to see those jobs kept stateside.

$2500 overseas made Dingwalls that ship with a ... gig bag

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Having paid $1700 for my mint Burnt Apple Red in December I'm completely seeing that thank God I did or I probably would never be able to buy this type of instrument on the used market in mint condition within the next six months for under $2k. If you want a particular type of burst or finish you're probably gonna end up paying $2200 used for mint/excellent condition examples. Raspberry Burst, something brand new like the Smoked Chrome or Amethyst Sparkle..

I'm absolutely seeing that it seems with "highly desirable" finishes such as Raspberry Burst or Amethyst Sparkle sell for $2500 I do see their point. They have a limited amount of ash to work with which is why they put "select hardwood" as the choice of woods and are known to use Poplar with some of the more matte colors of the SS line.

my guess especially with the sparkle colours and burst colours is that those colours require more expensive pigments and higher amounts of those pigments and more labor spraying and applying them, that depends on the red used on the raspberry burst and the violet used on the sparkle one.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

$2500 overseas made Dingwalls that ship with a ... gig bag

I’ll take one.

 

[creaturegods]

"And to make it easier for our valued customers to fine tune our instruments to their personal taste, we are now shipping all our basses with no strings."

Only a matter of time.

 

[Confunk]

Wow, a lot of insinuation that EBMM is up to no good with this change.
It's really no big thing as far as I can see. I imagine there is an appropriate HSC on the market for any MM model that only comes with this Mono bag.

I'm convinced that there are some very smart people working the business side of MusicMan, and their decision to change was based on costs/profits from both suppliers (Mono & whoever made their molded and/or G&G type BFR cases.) as well as a "creative" decision based on how they felt that consumers would welcome and accept the change.
Apparently, many here are quite good with it, and others seem ready to lead an insurrection to overthrow the San Luis Obispo facility.
I would say that despite some "glitches" (read "Gamechanger") Musicman's marketing track record is pretty good.

 

[steveinohio]

I’m all for cases. Just the same I can’t see them going to gig bags being a determining factor for a great deal people buying their instruments. For arguments sake I’m sure for the rare few they would lose they will also gain with the new Mono case. I kind of find it to be a bummer but I get the reasoning.

 

[bobdabilder]

It's all good. You might be fine with paying the same and getting less. Some folks just think it should be called for what it is. If you think it's all good, then it is for you.

Wow, a lot of insinuation that EBMM is up to no good with this change.
It's really no big thing as far as I can see. I imagine there is an appropriate HSC on the market for any MM model that only comes with this Mono bag.

I'm convinced that there are some very smart people working the business side of MusicMan, and their decision to change was based on costs/profits from both suppliers (Mono & whoever made their molded and/or G&G type BFR cases.) as well as a "creative" decision based on how they felt that consumers would welcome and accept the change.
Apparently, many here are quite good with it, and others seem ready to lead an insurrection to overthrow the San Luis Obispo facility.
I would say that despite some "glitches" (read "Gamechanger") Musicman's marketing track record is pretty good.

 

[Confunk]

It's all good. You might be fine with paying the same and getting less. Some folks just think it should be called for what it is. If you think it's all good, then it is for you.

Yes, it's all good for me.
How are you determining "what it is?" In your view, is management at MM out to pick our pockets with these? I don't think so.
...And "what is is" isn't less. The form-fit bag that they're having Mono make for them IMO is actually a lot nicer and more practical to me than the SKB-type HSC that came with both of my Sterlings, (one had a "meltdown") ; even the G&G Alligator case that they sent me for my Bongo.
That's because 95% of the time I prefer a gig bag, seeing as I work locally and transport myself and my bass in my car. If my gear were being loaded onto a bus, van or plane then I would use a case.
My bet is that the vast majority of MusicMan instrument buyers are in the same situation as me, by a HUGE margin. (Not that they/you are not entitled to want to use a HSC if they wish to!)

 

[newwavefrank]

I'll be upfront and admit I prefer hard cases. The reason I feel the need to post again is because of how many time I've seen people say they like the "convenience" of gig bags, as if they were inherently more convenient, and the rest of use are somehow working harder. Or they mention space savings..?? Anyway, I drove home Friday and as soon as I pulled into the garage I saw a Music man hard case and a Mono gig bag conveniently already standing up right next to each other since the last gig. I couldn't help myself so I did some rough measuring. The overall length of the hard case is maybe an inch or less more than the bag. Almost the same. The width is similar, and the thickness of the bag is greater than the hard case. Space savings? nope. Convenience? more subjective obviously, but I loaded three bases into my car for Saturdays gig, and they sure stack nicely, as long as no more than one is in a gig bag. I think it's obvious that most of this is just preference. Unless you are flying, or taking the subway, or something with very specific needs, it probably doesn't matter much.

 

[bobdabilder]

I own several stingrays and I always transport them in a hard case. You're entitled to your opinion. I just think it's wrong. Just my opinion.

Yes, it's all good for me.
How are you determining "what it is?" In your view, is management at MM out to pick our pockets with these? I don't think so.
...And "what is is" isn't less. The form-fit bag that they're having Mono make for them IMO is actually a lot nicer and more practical to me than the SKB-type HSC that came with both of my Sterlings, (one had a "meltdown") ; even the G&G Alligator case that they sent me for my Bongo.
That's because 95% of the time I prefer a gig bag, seeing as I work locally and transport myself and my bass in my car. If my gear were being loaded onto a bus, van or plane then I would use a case.
My bet is that the vast majority of MusicMan instrument buyers are in the same situation as me, by a HUGE margin. (Not that they/you are not entitled to want to use a HSC if they wish to!)

 

[Runnerman]

There probably should have been a poll in this thread

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Only a matter of time.

I doubt it. It would just come with cheaper strings.

 

[Confunk]

I own several stingrays and I always transport them in a hard case. You're entitled to your opinion. I just think it's wrong. Just my opinion.

"Several Stingrays" that you "always transport in their hard cases". Well good for you!
It just so happens that I think you're dead wrong- (about getting less for one's $$ by receiving an EBMM/Mono gig bag instead of a HSC.) That is exactly my opinion ...that you're wrong, that is.
Now, as for how you carry your "several Stingrays" around, it doesn't matter a bit to me! Why would it?