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Post subject: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2016 1:42 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Most of you won't know me, as I've been somewhat inactive on this forum for the past several years. Being a part of this virtual community is something I've valued, despite my inactivity, and I'd like to get some feedback about a certain issue plaguing the guitar industry.

We have all come across the issue of gig bags at some point in our separate quests for the perfect gear, the unholy result of GAS building up in our guts. Lately, the GAS has been centralizing deep within myself, and I feel the need to let it go.

I want to buy a new guitar.

Not just any new guitar; I want an American-made, good quality guitar that I can modify and keep for a long time. I already have a Mexican Standard Tele and a Gibson SG (with three single coils). My next guitar MUST have a humbucker, whammy bar, roller nut, and locking tuners. This leads me to an American Special HSS Strat to modify as my cheapest option. But it comes with a gig bag!

Let me digress just a little. I know I can spend more money and get the American Standard and modify it, or get the Special, modify it, and just buy a hardshell case for it.

My question is, though, why are we okay with gig bags for quality guitars?

There's just no elegance in opening a gig bag. Zilch. The worst part is that even Gibsons sub $1500 guitars ALL come with gig bags now, when just a few years ago I got my beautiful SG in a lovely white fuzzy interior, black snakeskin exterior case. It's GORGEOUS. I spent $1100 on it, and that's the minimum for even Fender's price reduced American Stratocasters/Telecasters now, in 2016. HOW SAD IS THAT?

I know that gig bags are more expensive, and the root of what I'm saying boils down to cost for Fender. But there is a giant range of Mexican guitars that all come with gig bags, and to me, that is really sub-par. To add on to that, Fender could make more guitars in California, but, I know, it costs more money. Money that I am willing to pay (though with all of the price increases, I daresay I feel like I should get a real case). Why isn't there a wider range of American guitars in the $1000-$1500 range? I'm not asking for exactly what I want by any means, because what I want is very specific. I guess I'm partly wishing out of concern for America that we would keep our economy strong and not outsource all of our skilled labor to other countries and that we would stop shipping beautiful guitars with flimsy little gig bags.

Look, I want you to laugh at this, but this isn't really a joke. I'm trying to make a point.

At this point, we've all probably learned about the law of diminishing returns and that blindfolded taste tests end up often fooling experts into thinking Squires are Fender Custom Shops, if only briefly (if you don't know what I'm talking about, look up "Blindfold Fender Strat Challenge" on youtube).

So I know that the Mexican plant is great, as well as the Chinese plant that makes the Squier Classic Vibe series. They really do make good guitars. I just wish that Americans were building my gear. It goes back into our economy that way. I have to say, though, paying $800 for a guitar that wasn't made for much more than $150 makes me cringe.

I know that there are other great companies that provide what I want; great parts, American made, cases, etc. But Fender's probably my favorite brand. And maybe this is a middle-man problem too. Maybe we need to get guitars straight from the website like Kiesel Guitars. Just kidding. It is way less expensive that way though.

Anyway, let me know what you think. Maybe you understand where I'm coming from and remember the day when you brought home your very first electric, sitting snugly in its new case; maybe you think I'm an idiot for not accepting things the way they are. Either way, let me have it.

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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2016 2:28 pm
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The case has to be part of the package.
I'm not buying a new guitar without a case.
Ever.
I'm not OK with gig bags.
Yup. That means a gig bag is a deal breaker.

No case? I'll pass. Thanks anyway.
Unless you're selling it so cheap I could buy 5 cases with my savings.
That's about the only time I'll buy a new guitar without a case.

A $200 Squier should come with a hard shell case.
Whomever invented the gig bag was an idiot.
The most useless piece of junk in the guitar universe.
Even the name is useless.
It should be called a Closet Bag.
That's the only place I would consider using one.
If I'm playing a gig and packing amps and P/A gear into the van my guitar is going to be in a hard shell case.
No exceptions.
There's no such thing as a gig bag, in reality.

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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2016 2:46 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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BMW-KTM wrote:
The case has to be part of the package.
I'm not buying a new guitar without a case.
Ever.
I'm not OK with gig bags.
Yup. That means a gig bag is a deal breaker.

No case? I'll pass. Thanks anyway.
Unless you're selling it so cheap I could buy 5 cases with my savings.
That's about the only time I'll buy a new guitar without a case.

A $200 Squier should come with a hard shell case.
Whomever invented the gig bag was an idiot.
The most useless piece of junk in the guitar universe.
Even the name is useless.
It should be called a Closet Bag.
That's the only place I would consider using one.
If I'm playing a gig and packing amps and P/A gear into the van my guitar is going to be in a hard shell case.
No exceptions.
There's no such thing as a gig bag, in reality.



:lol: I really agree with what you said in so many ways. It's a deal breaker with me too. When I bought my Mexican telecaster, a strap broke off of my gig bag while I was using it, sending my lovely new guitar crashing to the pavement. The gig bag protected minimally, and I still got a big chip in the paint. All of my guitars from then on would have real cases, I decided.

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cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2016 4:32 pm
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Even "back in the day" a case did not come standard with a Fender guitar.

In 1965 the Stratocaster in 3TSB finish retailed for $259.50 while the optional Victoria Luggage hard-shell case cost an additional $39.00.

Thus, your rant highlights nothing new.

You want premium protection for your instrument?

It's gonna cost you extra.

Get over it.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2016 5:02 pm
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I think it would be nice as an option.
Knock the price off the gig bag and apply it towards a manufacturer case for those of us who wants one. Given that the cases and gig bags are fairly standard for the manufacturers, and rarely specific to the product, it wouldn't mean a huge extra inventory.


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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2016 5:54 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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arth1 wrote:
I think it would be nice as an option.
Knock the price off the gig bag and apply it towards a manufacturer case for those of us who wants one. Given that the cases and gig bags are fairly standard for the manufacturers, and rarely specific to the product, it wouldn't mean a huge extra inventory.


I really wouldn't mind this option. Kiesel does it; you can have your guitar without a case or pay $90 for a case. Then at least I wouldn't get something that I don't really want to pay for.

Retroverbial, I'm sort of confused at your aggressiveness, but I guess I'll have to forgive you. I already agree with you, but the issue was not case or no case it was case or cheap substitute.

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cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 2:07 am
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In England 1963, my Strat, brand new didn't come with anything, I had to buy a Selmer case (a real POS), which I ended up lining with foam rubber and then covered it with cloth

We emigrated to Turkey last year and I brought my current Strat, a Japanese 1968 reissue in it's (also bought seperateley), hard case ...good job it wasn't in a gig bag, there was a 1" long chunk out of the case when I got it back from the fragile items desk

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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:47 pm
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Trust me, the majority of the cost of an instrument doesn't go back into any nations economy. It goes to shareholders.

Gigbags, nothing wrong with em. I could do with a few more and a couple less hardcases. At least for Fenders. Cases take up room, bags, not as much.
I don't take an instrument out of the house unless it's in a Hiscox case, owning Gibson guitars taught me that. Fender cases look nice, not sure about their durability or protection they give an instrument.

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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2016 9:58 pm
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Here is where they come in handy. I store my good
guitars standing upright in gig bags in a gun safe(s)
In this situation they take up less space than a hard
case and I really only use one hard case most of the
time. It is ready and waiting,open safe remove tele
from gig bag place in hard case close the door spin
the dial and we're out the door.
kuvash


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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 11:30 am
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I don't wanna come off sounding bad, but Mexicans do great upholstery work.....
They should start a Fender line of MIM cases, they could be basic entry level to spectacular custom-made level.
The only way gig bags should be used is for closet storage or to take to the luthier's.
But every guitar purchase should be w/ a hard shell case option regardless of where it's purchased or made.
just my opinion.


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Post subject: Re: A Somewhat Devolving Rant About Gig Bags and MIM Fenders
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2016 10:18 am
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I don't gig. Well not yet. When I bought my MIM in 2011, It did not come with a case. I believe, I bought a pretty good quality hard case for $125.

For me personally, it is a piece of mind because there is no cat lint or any other lint of any kind once the guitar is put away in the case. I guess it is a matter of preference or convenience for some.

Again, I do not gig but if I did own the bag, I would be paranoid of something falling on it.


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