• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan
Status
Not open for further replies.

carpedebass

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
445
Location
Texas
If I owned the company I'd offer more variety and options with cases.
Cases featuring brazilian rosewood or tiger maple, sapele or burlwood
accents and/or corinthian leather w/14k gold latches and diamond studded
handle... bargain cases featuring bright pink accent lights w/green glow in dark handles...

Hmmm...methinks you would probably go broke!;)
 

bovinehost

Administrator
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
18,200
Location
Dall-Ass, TX
I am a bit surprised to the mildly hostile reaction above to the idea -- gasp -- that there are ways the MM cases can be updated and improved.

Boris, as nearly as I can tell, you're good. You're fine. The hostility (perceived or real) is from people thinking they have some type of territory to protect.

Mostly, this is a mistaken idea (BP may be the most obvious exception). Your case improvement idea is perfectly okay, and is clearly being explored.

Don't let others make you defensive. The way I see it, you have no reason to be.

We cool?

Jack
 

Beth

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2002
Messages
2,910
Location
Indio
Boris, no hard feelings. I think Jack is right by saying that people feel they have a territory that needs protecting. I love keyboard warriors... :D

My suggestion for an upgrade: lipstick mirror!

What I think everyone is missing the point on is that we *are* always looking at ways to improve that which we already have. I have never heard the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" coming out any of our engineers' mouths and I hope I never do. The best things in the world were made because people asked questions about what could make it better. That said, the lipstick mirror should be at least 4" x 3", to allow for quick hair fixes too.
 

carpedebass

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
445
Location
Texas
All I can say is that I have owned really good, durable stuff in my life. Seems like every time a company starts jacking (no pun intended, B-host) around with it, they seem to be much fancier, but not as good in terms of quality.
 

mynan

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
2,688
Location
Spring Lake, MI
All very strange to me. I have had a number of MM cases and I don't have any very significant complaints, just suggestions for improvements. Aside from some cracking in the corners, they have all held up fine. However, I do think they can be improved and see that EB is always looking at this too. While time will tell about the new Fender cases -- and one guy's opinion from GC is not the gospel (nor is my opinion that they are really nice conclusive) -- it's certainly worth considering whether a variation of those improvements could be incorporated one day into MM cases. While the bass is the most important component of the purchase, I certainly feel even better when I walk out of the store with a case I am completely happy with. I am a bit surprised to the mildly hostile reaction above to the idea -- gasp -- that there are ways the MM cases can be updated and improved.

That's all I can say to make my case....ugh.

Please don't take any of these reactions as hostility. We have all (at least I have), in the probably far-too-many hours of consideration given to these instruments that we love, come up with a wish-list and a half. No one has said that your ideas for improvement are bad ideas, but sometimes the cost of improvement doesn't necessarily produce enough bang for the buck. It is also a bit presumptuous to assume that your perspective as a consumer is the end-all be-all. Most of us here put a lot of faith and trust in EBMM and that they are looking out for us as customers (mostly because they've proved it over and over and over), so it's not unlikely that folks here are going to get slightly annoyed when that faith is called into question...BP even said that they have looked at the new SKB cases and rejected them for QC reasons. So again, no hostility, not a bad idea, it just seems that the timing is off.
 

Big Poppa

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
18,598
Location
Coachella & SLO, California
thank you jack I guess when I am the first to stress the diference between perception and reality they sikim over that.

I only take these assemblers to task when they imply manufacting execution.

I have also said at least 100 times that Im all about choice. I guess I tip my hat to a guy who can sell a korean version of his fender clone for more than my usa made stuff.
 

oli@bass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
4,272
Location
Switzerland
I think the better partner to discuss case improvements would be SKB. They manufacture those cases, whatever guitar maker/assembler/brander logo is stamped into or onto them. SKB might be interested in incorporating your ideas into a superior aftermarket case.

However, I don't think that aforementioned guitar makers/assemblers/branders will be shipping their instruments by default much fancier and more costly cases, if the lower priced ones provide the same protection for their instruments. Because that's the main point of a case: Shipping protection.

All other things, makup mirrors included, should be transported in Beth's beauty case... ;)
 

boristhespider7

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Messages
113
Thanks for wiping the tears from my eyes guys. Excuse me while I go patent my case improvement ideas so I can get rich from all of the manufacturers who will want them one day.
 

mynan

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
2,688
Location
Spring Lake, MI
I do have to admit that I've broken just about every case lock that I've ever locked. I always forget that I locked it, force it open, and then it's broken. My guess is that they're really just made so that they don't "accidentally" come open during transport, not to keep theives from opening them.
 

RobertB

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
1,657
Location
Denver area.
All I can say is that I have owned really good, durable stuff in my life. Seems like every time a company starts jacking (no pun intended, B-host) around with it, they seem to be much fancier, but not as good in terms of quality.

Bingo. Yes, "if it ain't broke don't fix it", if taken literally, would be a short-sighted view to take on any product "roadmap". But when talking about cases ... how much of a "roadmap" - considering all the associated overhead/expense, r&d and otherwise - is really justified, when <a> it's already satisfying all the product requirements you've levied against it, and <b> it's in the "supporting" category that a guitar case is in? Let the R&D and overhead dollars go into new bass/guitar r&d, in my opinion, unless there's a glaring shortcoming with the cases. For example, I'd much rather see a Bongo6, Sterling5, and BFR SR4 unveiled at NAMM, than to have any of them replaced by a new case - again, given the fact that the cases are already great.
 

mynan

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
2,688
Location
Spring Lake, MI
Thanks for wiping the tears from my eyes guys. Excuse me while I go patent my case improvement ideas so I can get rich from all of the manufacturers who will want them one day.

Do it...then buy a small, struggling, guitar company, work your a$$ off to make it a success, then YOU can be the target for everyone hurling their brilliant ideas around, wondering why YOU weren't smart enough to think of that...
 

Baird

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
481
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The case that came with my 2007 LE SR is tres cool! Very blue interior and the blue exterior is kinda neat (although for what I paid, I was expecting fine Italian leather and velvet :p).

I have a bunch of Fender cases and they are hit and miss. The RI tweed cases are excellent and last forever. The hardshell moulded plastic cases are garbage and I would never dream of checking one as baggage.:eek:

One thing I like about the blue LE case is that it doesn't say EBMM on the exterior. I hate advertising "steal me, expensive guitar inside" as GIBSON USA is 12" gold lettering does.;)

P.S. Shouldn't this post be in the "Cases and Gig Bags" forum?:rolleyes:
 

Aussie Mark

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2003
Messages
5,646
Location
Sydney, Australia
I don't disagree with your suggestions...they are definite improvements. However, in my book these are upgrades...upgrades that I don't particularly need and definitely don't want to be forced to pay for when I buy a new EBMM.

+1

There are better cases on the market if you are so inclined to pay the extra money. I like the EBMM cases, but I have a couple of more expensive Hiscox cases for daily use because they are lighter, smaller and have internal compartments. That's my choice, and I like that I have the choice without paying more up front.
 

nashman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 30, 2005
Messages
441
Location
Toronto, Canada
I love my 2006 LE Ray case. Very plush inside, classy, slender. For me, the nice case is a bonus. Mine has a covered section (I guess not all do?). I care about the bass more than the case - the case just peforms an offline utility function. The new Fender case looks kind of cool. I have taken a good look at the new American Standard cases. It might not be better though - it's different, but not necessarily better. I don't care about the case lock - I have never not bought a piece of luggage because the lock was not robust enough. I have never not bought a laptop because of the travel bag. In fact, does a laptop travel bag even enter into the buying decision - or is the important thing the laptop itself? I have never had my EBMM latches open unexpectedly. I do find it to be a bit heavy (probably age related!). I think it could be improved with a more comfortable handle - but that's about it. Other than that, it's a nice case and does the job.
 

ekb16b

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 15, 2006
Messages
756
Location
Sydney
sorry for stirring things up about fender and thank you to whoever deleted my first post,
i did not want to affect anyone with my personal opinion and in doing sorry.
 

bovinehost

Administrator
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
18,200
Location
Dall-Ass, TX
sorry for stirring things up about fender and thank you to whoever deleted my first post,
i did not want to affect anyone with my personal opinion and in doing sorry.

Don't worry about it. We're just typing on the internet about basses.

But to everyone involved, please, let's try to keep in mind that saying something sucks or is a POS or whatever is not only unproductive but also provides no real information.

If you prefer EBMM to Fender or DiPinto or whatever, that's good! That's excellent! I like that a lot!

But "Fender makes turds" just doesn't leave room for discussion, which is what we're about here on Ye Olde Internette.

Jack
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom