New Music Man plastic case

[brokenvail]

I thought I had read here that the really snugg cases were the cause of the stress cracks and so they went to a slightly less snugg style. DOn't stone me if I am wrong and please don't start a stress crack war. I amjust saying taht I thought I red that. Also let's keep in mind that a lot of companys are not even giving a hardshell case with their guitars any more. If you don't like it you'd have no probelm selling it and buying a case you like better.

 

[John C]

A couple of months ago I purchased a new Axis and was disappointed with the new case that it came in. I noticed before leaving the store the case did not close properly and the hardware, trim etc seemed not to be as solid as my other older EB cases. They had some other EB guitars and a few that had been in the store for a while. I asked if I could look at the other cases from those models.They brought out one of the older cases which I swapped for immediately. Not trying to start anything, but the new cases don’t seem to be as solid as the old ones. Sounds like others are seeing this too.

Glad it's not just me - the case on my olive gold Silo Special has never closed properly since I got it (custom ordered guitar I received in mid-Feb of this year). It doesn't appear to be dented or damaged, the metal edges just don't properly "mesh" and the entire case kind of "snaps" or "pops" when you close the latches - but it does close. Now the bottom is bowing out so the case "rocks" when it's empty and sitting on a level surface (floor, another case, etc.) but it seems that the weight of the guitar makes it flatten back out when I put the guitar away.

It's not necessarily the cases with that red "Music Man" logo; the 2009 Axis SuperSport I had briefly had a red logo case and it was just as sturdy as the non-logo cases I had with the 2004 Silo Special and the 2006 Albert Lee.

 

[alba22]

John C Glad it's not just me - the case on my olive gold Silo Special has never closed properly since I got it (custom ordered guitar I received in mid-Feb of this year). It doesn't appear to be dented or damaged, the metal edges just don't properly "mesh" and the entire case kind of "snaps" or "pops" when you close the latches - but it does close. Now the bottom is bowing out so the case "rocks" when it's empty and sitting on a level surface (floor, another case, etc.) but it seems that the weight of the guitar makes it flatten back out when I put the guitar away.

Yep, same thing with my new 25th case that popping is so damn annoying

 

[beej]

Guys-

If you have a particular issue with your case, contact EBMM and discuss with them. Let's put those discussions into the right channel.

On the space issue- cases are made to absorb some of the energy when getting knocked around so your guitar doesn't suffer. They will get dented and banged up over time. That happens so your guitar doesn't. (I'm sure the auto guys can point out a car analogy there.) The guitars will not twist or bend with the free space in the case, nor will they land on the headstock and have the neck absorb the shock.

Dizz- your argument isn't exactly right, so I wouldn't go so far as to say "full stop". Let me just say this: EBMM has changed the cases slightly over the years for a few reasons, notably to accommodate the different body styles and, yes, to help alleviate stress cracks. IIRC, they could happen when a guitar was held snugly in a case and suffered a lot of movement. The energy needs to be dissipated so it's not absorbed by the guitar and resulting in damage to the weaker parts of the body.

Guys- they ship guitars all over the world and these things regularly get abused by a wide variety of shipping goons. If there's a way to prevent injury by changing case design, I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that they'll implement it quickly. It's their merchandise on the line when they ship to customers, dealers and artists.

 

[Trent]

I have quite a few MM cases and all the older ones seemed to not let the guitar bang around inside the case.
I don't feel that letting a guitar move around inside a hardshell case is a good idea.
Now as to the FREE case issue.
Nothing is free.
If a guitar comes with a hard case then the price(cost) of that case is included in the guitars price.
I like this as I feel that any guitar as nice as a Music Man guitar is should only be sold with a good hardshell case.
My only problem with the new cases is that they let the neck of the guitars move too much and bang around inside the case and this much movement is just not good.
I am sure that the fix could be as easy as adding a pad to the inside of the case along the fingerboard to hold the guitar in place?

 

[andynpeters]

Guys-

- cases are made to absorb some of the energy when getting knocked around so your guitar doesn't suffer. They will get dented and banged up over time. That happens so your guitar doesn't. (I'm sure the auto guys can point out a car analogy there.) .

I'll drink to that.....the Chinese baggage handlers did plenty of damage to my case ......my SS is still in fine shape.
Can't contribute anything useful to this thread as I haven't bought an EBMM lately.....but can't believe it would be in their interests to ship them in cases that would allow the instrument to be easily damaged

 

[Stratty316]

new SKB style case/ old G&G case... I've never had a MM guitar damaged in either so whatever EBMM is doing with their cases keep it up. My only thing is that I think the G&G cases look better. I know its a personal preference and it means I'll just have to purchase nothing but BFR's from here on out... I'm sure Sterling will see that as an acceptable solution for me... haha.

 

[roburado]

The free space is by design.

No offense - really.

But that sounds like something a used car salesman told me once

Just sayin'

IMO, the foam/case absorbs the energy, not the guitar banging against something inside.

That said, I have a JP6 and it fits quite nicely, fills the cutout perfectly.

We ship instruments all over the world in these cases with minimal instances of damage.

Beej's analysis is spot on, once again.

This is a pretty old topic that's been discussed here before. A.J. and beej have given EBMM's position on it.

 

[prowler]

FWIW, my HH AL fits perfectly in the new case. Nice and snug.