Hiscox STD-EBP Large Bass Case

Review: Hiscox STD-EBP Large Bass Case - solid, but pretty big bass guitar case

Basic information

• Type: Hiscox STD-EBP Large Bass Case / Large Peardrop Bass Hard Case

• Manufacturer: Hiscox Cases Limited, United Kingdom

• Seller: Thomann.de, II / 2021

Brief evaluation

Pros

• high-quality materials and workmanship

• good mechanical and excellent thermal protection of the instrument

• generous interior also suitable for large instruments

• more space under the head for trouble-free placement of the instrument with tilted head

Cons

• the inner pressure pads are fixed and do not allow the choice of location according to the specific instrument

• the inner pads are not thick enough for instruments with thinner necks and bodies

• the lid of the lying suitcase cannot be opened with one hand

• for some, unnecessarily large suitcase dimensions (this is a feature, not a real negative)

• the suitcase is not suitable for tenor banjo

Introduction

The optimal protection for a bass guitar for me is a solid case with a shape tapering to one end. Surprisingly, the offer of cases with these features is not as large as I expected. If I add also a good thermal protection of the instrument to the required parameters and the most universal shape of the case for storing tools of different sizes and shapes, then the offer is further narrowed to a few pieces.

I will immediately state that I could not find any suitcase that completely met my expectations, even when I stopped considering the price. I guess I'd have to have it made. But I needed it quickly. I finally found one of the few cases approaching my ideas in the offer of the British company Hiscox, which I decided to try. I considered two types: Precision / jazz / standard bass hard case and Large Peardrop Bass Hard Case. I decided to buy Large Peardrop case.

Description, construction

The case seems to be made of high quality materials. It is available in two versions - Standard and Pro II. My Standard version has an outer layer molded from 1.5 mm thick plastic (the Pro II version has 2 mm thick plastic). This seems to me to be sufficient and the current practice confirms it to me. The lid and the bottom of the case are reinforced with recesses and the case thus holds its shape very well, which is also supported by the aluminum bar ensuring the contact of the bottom with the lid. The handle is optimally placed, but it is all-plastic and it is attached to the suitcase with two rivets, which does not seem to me to be the most durable design. So far, nothing has worn or cracked, so I hope... There are five high-quality locks for closing the suitcase, there is also a key for real locking against accidental opening of the suitcase.

The interior is luxurious. All sides of the suitcase are covered with a minimum 2 cm thick layer of PU foam covered with a quality grey crushed velvet. The entire lid and most of the bottom is covered with a layer of foam even 3 cm thick. PU foam is interestingly shaped, especially on the sides of the bottom of the case. The goal was probably to support bodies of larger bass guitars. For me, however, it is not beneficial, because my basses have significantly smaller bodies. Personally, I would welcome a rather regular shape of the inner lining, which would be better "tuned" by any additional padding. But it may come in handy for someone. The bottom under the head is 1 cm lower than under the body and this brings more space for tilted heads, so that even tuning machines are not in contact with the case bottom. Great. The foam can be reshaped locally as needed.

The inside of the lid is not further shaped, only in three fixed places there are pressure pads. One pad presses the neck of the instrument, the other the bridge, and the third holds the front upper body of the bass guitar. A solution with pads that can be placed arbitrarily on the inside of the lid (eg with Velcro) would be more practical than a fixed location, because the location given by the manufacturer may not suit all shapes of bass guitars. I would also welcome the possibility of changing the thickness of the pads, specifically increasing it, because the pads are not high enough to hold thinner instruments well. Specifically, all my basses have very thin necks as well as bodies and pads only lightly touch them. Fortunately, you can find a place on the pads where, with a little effort, you can stuff another foam and thus make them a little thicker.

Note: Additional pads suitable for eg lining a smaller body can be purchased separately for the suitcase.

Overall, I evaluate the construction as very robust, with quality workmanship and materials. The inside of the case is very spacious, for standard 4- and 5-string bass guitars perhaps too big, but thanks to that, the case is usable even for really large basses. In addition to the mechanical protection of the tool, there is also great thermal protection, thanks to a 2 to 3 cm thick layer of special PU foam on all the inner walls of the case.

An empty suitcase weighs 5 kg.

The external dimensions of the case are:

• length: 131 cm

• width: 44.5 cm at the body, 24 cm at the head

• height (thickness): 15 cm

The instrument can have the following maximum dimensions:

• total length: 125 cm

• body length: 56 cm

• body width at the grasshopper: 40 cm

• body width at the neck: 34 cm

• body thickness: 7 cm

Practical use

The case is well worn and stands firmly on its side. When laid on a flat surface, the not entirely perfect height balance of the transverse ribs of the bottom of the case is manifested, and at least my case swings a bit in this position. Generous interior space and above-standard thermal insulation bring a quite large external dimensions of the suitcase (131 x 44.5 (24) x 15 cm). The case is designed to fit oversized instruments, so for the perfect fixation of ordinary bass guitars inside the case, it will be necessary to supplement the interior with some padding around the body, or increase the thickness of the pressure pads.

The locks of the case are of high quality and it is also practical that the extended part of the case is held by two locks in the "corners", so when standing vertically, the case does not stand on the locks. However, when the locks are opened, only small counterparts remain on the lid, which cannot be used well to open the lid. Thanks to this, it is quite a problem to open a lying suitcase with only one hand and it is necessary to use both hands, which is a bit impractical. Maybe it would need some small handle for easier lid opening.

Reliability, durability

I have a case for a few weeks now and I haven't really hit it properly yet. But as I write above, the suitcase is well built and I expect a long life.

Final evaluation

The Hiscox Large Peardrop Bass Hard Case is, in my opinion, a quality case providing the instrument with very good mechanical and excellent thermal protection. The pear-shaped shape is very practical. Before purchasing it, however, it is necessary to consider whether the slightly larger external dimensions of the case will not be a problem and also whether the case is not too large for a specific instrument. I could imagine some improvements, especially in the area of internal arrangement and external ergonomics, but the positive features in my eyes and hands completely prevail. Due to its features, I rate the price of the suitcase as very favorable.

March 2021