question for AL owners

[wingnut]

Let me begin by saying how much I absolutely love this guitar! The question/complaint I'm about to throw out there has absolutely no reflection on my feelings for the guitar however it does reflect a little on EB (provided it wasn't a mistake).

Why did my new HH arrive in an ill fitting (in my opinion) case that appears to be made for a Petrucci or similar guitar? Has everyone else experienced this as well? While I understand they probably sell far more Petrucci models than AL models, I feel like for that kind of $$ the least they can do is provide a case that fits the freaking guitar.

 

[beej]

It's intentional ... if you do a search you'll find a few threads discussing it.

In a nutshell, EB has found it's better to have a little relief in the cases so the guitars move and absorb some of the energy. This was a change from the prior approach of having the cases fight more snuggly and dealing with the occasional finish crack during shipping.

So there ya go.

 

[wingnut]

Actually, I did try a search but didn't find much (although I admit I didn't spend much time at it). I can understand a little play but it seems the formed shape is completely different. I've just never bought I higher end guitar that wasn't formed to that particular model so it took me by surprise and seemed a bit bush league. This is also my first music-man so I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm sure I'll get over it, after all I'm playing the guitar and not the case right?

 

[Danserrano]

Here's my theory I question once something happens.... For now don't worry bout it an enj ur awesome new guitar. I've owned eb's since 04' and my last few have the looser fitted cases. No worries she's in good hands play her & enj her.

 

[agt]

Many retailers display their guitars on a wall or stand in the showroom and store the cases in the back. Is it possible that the guitar was accidentally paired with an incorrect case?

Congrats on the new axe, by the way!

 

[Jack FFR1846]

All of my EBMM cases fit all my EBMM guitars. They get interchanged between cases all the time and the fact that the Al is a different size than a silo spec is a different size than an Axis says a lot that one case can do this so well. I have a mid 90's case that pre-dates the molded plastic and it fits a silo, silo spec, an axis SS poorly, an Axis not at all and an Al not at all. I think they did a great job on the case.

I have a 42 year old archtop in the original case. The guitar moves all over the place in there. But there has never been any dammage due to the case and it's been all over with me.

 

[wingnut]

Thanks agt! I actually have a call into the shop where I bought it find out if it's the right case. Do any of the other AL HH owners have cases that appear to be formed for a Petrucci or similar model?

 

[John C]

EBMM uses a universal case for the non-BFR Silos, Silo Specials, AL, Lukes, various Morse and various Axis models. The Reflex and JP have their own cases. As long as your case just says "Music Man" on that black and red logo by the handle you have the right case. You are correct that the the AL looks kind of odd inside the case since the cutout looks more similar to the "stratty" shaped guitars. The JP and Reflex (and the 2009 25th Anniversary model) have their own cases because the guitars are slighty longer; each of these have the model name in that black and red logo box by the handle instead of just saying "Music Man".

However, as beej says the EBMM case lets every one of these guitars move around a bit inside the case.