Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: jtussing on March 02, 2007, 05:22:35 AM
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Since this is my first Alembic, I thought I'd take the liberty to ask a really stupid question: My MK-5 Deluxe order includes a case. What kind of cases do Alembics include?
Regards, Jim
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Alembic contracts out the building of the cases.
They are custom in a sense because of the fit to the Alembic bodies. Some need to be longer than others. My Exploiter case had a hard time fitting in most cars.
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My Alembic cases include a badge saying they were made by G&G Cases.
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Two of mine are labeled C&G also.
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personally i dont like the alembic cases
but whats a guy to do......
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This has been a flogged-to-death issue for quite some time here.
IMHO, and with all due respect to Alembic, the OEM Alembic (G&G-sourced) HSC case they offer is overpriced for what you get. The problem is, as stated above, most Alembics can't fit in a std. case, so the custom sizes limit suppliers and raise cost. Add to the fact that Alembic buys in small quantities which results in higher costs. Since Alembic isn't in business to give stuff away, they have to add their mark-up and have to pass the cost on to us. What I don't understand is why we can't get a higher-quality case from G&G? They do make the OEM PRS Custom Shop/Private Stock leather-clad cases, which are much better than the ones we get from Alembic. It certainly shouldn't be a cost issue...who here wouldn't pay a little more to get a better case? I know I would! Having said all that, Alembic does make it a policy to contract from US manufacturers wherever possible, so they should be commended for not going to Asia for their case purchases.
In addition, my Series I was damaged by rough DHL handling when shipped in the std. OEM case. The case had the central latch busted-off and the neck finish cracked at the headstock when the thing was apparently bounced during handling. The OEM case is far from the best protection you can get for your expensive investment, IMHO.
FWIW, I'd go to Calzone or Anvil or (fill-in-the blank) ATA Flight Case manufacturer for my next Alembic case. They'll make you a custom case to your specs for around what the OEM HSC case costs. Calzone already has templates for most Alembic body styles, but you can easily make your own to ensure a custom fit. The ATA cases sourced by Alembic are decent, but the price is high and I had problems with the padding fitting/supporting the neck on my $9k custom Orion iV. This simply should not be on a case that took over 6mos. to obtain, costs $800-plus and was custom-made-to-order, but I regress.
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Anyone tried Calton cases in Canada? I hear they are by far the best and am planning to order one when my Further is finished. They certainly ain't cheap, about $700 - 800, but they are custom fit to your instrument and are supposed to be the most protection you can get. A true flight case that isn't half the size of a football field and doesn't weigh a ton.
Bill, tgo
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Yeah I'm with you guys. The Alembic cases do seem kind of flimsy for the price. I don't know how many of you guys have seen them but my Zon cases are actually pretty tough. Maybe I'll ask him who builds them.
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What about Zero?
http://www.cases2go.com/catpages/373.asp_Q_id_E_373 (http://www.cases2go.com/catpages/373.asp_Q_id_E_373)
BTW, Halliburton is the inventor, not the manufacturer. Since I know that matters to some.
Zero is the company that makes the cases.
Bradley
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I'd worry about buying a bass case from a company that describes it as a base case. Also, I'd worry about travelling with the Halliburton. Get ready to be searched as the Zero was known as the drug dealer briefcase of choice back in the 70's. LOL
Bill, tgo
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That's what I like about all you Alembicistics (gives it that appropriate air of an obscure mental disorder). You all keep your opinions so bland and PC. :-)
Toadley!
- Jim
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Bill,
While I'll not argue that an Alembic is an intoxicating substance, I don't think that the DEA has worked their way around to banning them.
If I get one, I'm going to put a handcuff on the handle.
Bradley
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Bradley:
I love it! Brass, chrome, or black?
Bill, tgo
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I think that brass would be most appropriate, seeing it would be an Alembic in the case.
Or maybe aluminum (aluminium for our POME audience ) would be more appropriate, and fit with the drug dealer chic?
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From what I've seen, another company I recommend for custom, form-fitting quality cases is Cedar Creek. If that matters, they also have an impressive list of clients (not endorsers), Eric Clapton being the most notable among them.
http://www.cedarcreekcases.com/index.php (http://www.cedarcreekcases.com/index.php)
You can actually play with colors and materials and get an idea of what your case will look like. There's a link to build your custom case that's fun and should make the Alembic lover feel right at home; it only shows the outline of an archtop or acoustic type case but I think you can order solid body custom cases too. All you'd have to do is send them drawings (side and top) of the instruments (and make sure they're accurate).
Valentino
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I got this case with my '83 Spoiler.It's a Ken Smith case and fits the Spoiler perfectly. Very solid case, I love it.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/37028.jpg)
Underneath it, you can see my other Spoiler case. It's a Justincase (grey case), it's a little too wide for the Spoiler. Better than nothing, but will be replaced in the future...
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Thanks for the link, Val.
I wish I had known about Cedar Creek BEFORE I had custom ordered my HSC for my L-5 style Heritage jazzbox from Ameritage.
They have a custom shop like Cedar Creek that you can spec colors, trim, handle, interior type/color, hardware color, etc. A digital thermometer/hygrometer is std. equipment as well as a humidity control system, shoulder strap D-rings and a keyed closure (like a gasket). One would assume that, judging by the name, that an AMERITAGE case would be made in America, but that is not the case. They are in fact made in Costa Rica (NOT mentioned ANYWHERE on their site) and the craftmanship is NOT commensurate with the high price. I had ordered the shoulder strap and case cover options along with my custom case. It took twice as long as the quote for delivery. The cover DID NOT FIT (way too tight and of the wrong shape) despite the long lead time and DID NOT have holes for the strap D rings!!! Of course, they promised me a new cover F.O.C. After another 6weeks waiting for the new' cover to be made (they made me send them the old one first), which was 2X-3X the quote, the new one was actually the old one with holes trimmed in for the strap D-rings. Despite sending them a carefully measured and drawn DIMENSIONED drawing (in both plan and sectional views....I'm a degreed Engineer), the holes in the cover DID NOT match the location of the D rings!!! Needless to say, since I was very upset by this (the cover alone was an additional $80-$100), the dealer made Ameritage refund my money for the cover. The dealer let me keep it (cheaper than shipping it back again, I suppose). Good thing these are the most exclusive cases available and are the ultimate in instrument protection (Ameritage's quotes), besides being touted as lifetime or multi-generational cases!
Caviat Emptor!
I wanted the best HSC money could buy for my archtop. I felt that an ATA flight case was too much hassle (i.e., size and weight) for an instrument I take out weekly for my Monday night lesson. Unfortunately, I didn't get what I paid for!
BTW, here's a good resource for cases (and other things, especially if you're a jazz guitarist):
http://www.jazzguitarresources.com/cases.shtml (http://www.jazzguitarresources.com/cases.shtml)