Musicman no longer including hardshell cases?

[Relsom]

As much as I like/prefer cases , I seldom use them. A gig bag is infinitely more convenient, specially if your Ferrari/lambo/bmw only has two seats.

Don't kid yourself. Though I think the EBMM Mono bag will be just fine, my RB Continental was the tallest of all my cases. I couldn't get both back doors to close when laid across the back seat of my Scion xB, let alone the Lambo. Great case otherwise.

 

[Gizmot]

I’ve been using Mono cases for over 10 years now and use them instead of regular hard-shell cases. The Mono bags are are much easier and more comfortable to carry and protects the instruments just as well. The Mono bags are probably somewhat less expensive than a hard-shell case and may help keep prices down or let the instrument manufacturers make more money. I’m okay with this

 

[DWBass]

I don't like HSC's anyway. I'll gladly take the Mono case.

 

[dan1952]

I have the hard case that came with my 2000 Stingray 4, but the bass doesn't quite fit with the strap (with Dunlop straplocks) on the bass. I use a Levy's bag, which also has more room for cords, tuner, direct box, etc..

 

[ahbradot]

Hardshell cases only collect dust and take up much needed space in my house. HSC is useful for selling a bass for me that's about it.

 

[two fingers]

Watch the video - no backpack straps.
View attachment 4716692

Yeah these are NOT the super nice Mono bags we're all used to. I have a Mono Duo and LOVE it. But this is pretty much a cheap soft case. No backpack straps? Come on.

All they're doing here is latching onto the Mono name and reputation but giving you an inferior case. If it were a real Mono gig bag I would rather have it over a hard case. But this ain't that.

 

[jivetkr]

Anyone concerned abt this should understand that this is a huge upgrade. I became accustomed to using gig bags when I used to play in NYC and I use a mono double as my main bag. It’s 100x better than a hard case. Lighter, plusher, more space, and it wears like a backpack.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

The last time I bought a Music Man bass it was under a grand with case brand new from Bass Central. Silver finish StingRay 5. Kinda miss that bass actually, but not too much.

 

[thunesBARROW]

I don’t like semi-rigid cases, and I can’t see how this is an upgrade. I’ll take a light weight gig bag or a hard shell case over this any day.

 

[Dp1363]

I just ordered a Bongo from Sweetwater and it shows it comes with a hard case in the pics on the website . They are out of stock on the Bongo right now but are supposed to get more in a few weeks. I'm curious to see if they switch up to the softcase.

 

[InhumanResource]

That's an upgrade man.

Seriously. I would much rather have the mono than a hard case.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Mono stuff is amazing, most certainly an upgrade.

But wait, you can’t stack that Mono case nicely in a closet with all your other hard cases you don’t use.

Aw shucks, I guess you’ll just have to use it.

Bravo EB!

Upgrade? Try to put your bass in a MONO case inside the belly if a regular line flight …

 

[InhumanResource]

Upgrade? Try to put your bass in a MONO case inside the belly if a regular line flight …

True but I would wager most of us don’t have that particular issue! The only hard case I own is in my garage getting in the way of things.

 

[Lo-E]

I don’t think anyone will argue about the practicality of gig bags over hard cases at an actual gig - they’re certainly more practical for me as I get to a lot of my gigs on the subway - but I, like most of the gigging musicians I know, have one or two good gig bags and just switch out which bass we put in it for the gig. The hard cases are used for storage or for times when more protection is needed and, lastly, for resale if it comes to that.

I really don’t see how this is an upgrade. I can completely understand a company like EBMM needing to raise their prices in recent years; they’re a pretty small operation compared to a giant like Fender and they’re overhead is not insignificant (and they’re quality control is typically very good, which is expensive to maintain) but these new cases just feel like cheaping out to me and I think it’s a step down for a bass in this price bracket.

 

[bobdabilder]

Let's not kid ourselves. EB is saving money. They're not spending more out of the goodness of their hearts. It's called being cheap. Mono is probably great, but that's why hard cases are still available for more money: it's cheaper this way.

 

[bobdabilder]

And it's not an upgrade.

 

[sleddogn]

another vote here for not an upgrade. I've purchased a separate hardcase for every bass i've ever owned that didn't come with one. We throw our gear into a van or truck and travel. Hardcase gives peace of mind that it can take abuse...

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Upgrade? Try to put your bass in a MONO case inside the belly if a regular line flight …

+ 1.

While I do like certain aspects of the Mono “case” that I own, I feel my basses are far better protected in a hardshell case.


I haven’t bought a new EBMM bass in almost 20 years. The molded, hardshell “MusicMan” case that it came in is one of the best cases that I own, still to this day.

IMHO EBMM has decided to cut the costs on their end by switching from a case that offers really good protection to a Mono bag. Of course, the instrument’s price out of the door hasn’t dropped for the person who’s buying the instrument.

EBMM isn’t the first manufacturer to cut their costs in this fashion, personally I think it’s kind of lame. They did a rather hefty price increase on the basses and guitars some years back, which IMHO put their instruments at price points with some instrument brands that are better quality.

 

[Confunk]

I still have an old-school EBMM gigbag (I think they were made by Levy's.) it's shaped liked a rifle case.
I got pulled over once on the way home from a gig, late night (Bogus ticket btw, "rolling stop") the Officer got sorta jinky when he saw the bag in my back seat! I explained it was only a Sterling!
I also had the original plastic material EBMM HSC, I believe it might have been made by SKB. I left it in my car's backseat on a hot afternoon, it actually got a melt-down crease in the middle!
So even if a HSC is a G&G or equivalent, IME they still are not practical. If you are going to travel by air, an ATA is the only real answer, and if you're playing local or for most cases, a good gig bag does the trick so long as you don't bash into anything.
If MM is providing a lower grade Mono bag, so be it.. I had a Mono M80, and although it's a great bag, it's a bit overkill IMO. Padding & storage are all good, but a basic gig bag will do the job if you take care.

 

[stingray78]

I have not taken a HSC to a gig in 30 years. All of my cases are in a storage units only to be pulled out if the matching bass is sold. To each their own, but I personally could not care less.