Official Luthiers Forum!

For goodness sake Michael, open your eyes. Well I got my second batch of Access Stage 5 OM cases in a couple weeks ago. I really am impressed with these cases for the money. I was setting looking close at them last night as suddenly realized that the contoured heal pad in the Small body Stage 5 is removable!!It only took me sending out 3 guitars in these cases to catch it I have only bought Small body case so far, so I don't know that this is true of the classical and dreadnaught cases or not, but would deduce that it is.

I still wish that Access would do 3 things different.

1. make a SJ case
2. remove those bulky shoulder strap D-rings
3. offer a selection of different color velour

Still what a case for the money!. Super exterior covering. It may not be tweed but for vinyl it is the best I have seen.

I want a look at Access, where do you find them?

[QUOTE=MichaelP] I still wish that Access would do 3 things different.

1. make a SJ case
[/QUOTE]

Ameritage now has an SJ case in stock. It will fit:
OLF,
Ryan,
Olson,
yadda yadda...

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

[QUOTE=Dickey] I want a look at Access, where do you find them?
[/QUOTE]

accessbagsandcases.com

hey but not for ???? MichaelP38742.3733333333

Thanks for the tip; these look like a good alternative to TKL. I just spoke
with Kevin at Access. He says they have a 17" Jumbo case that isn't on the
website yet. I encouraged him to make a 16"; he said they probably would
do it soon. He wasn't clear about whether the "small acoustic" size fits well
on a OOO/OM body. Michael, from your post it sounds like it would. Can
you confirm that? Do you know if it would fit a 12 fret OOO (maybe by
removing that pad around the heel)?

I like that there are big D rings. The ones on TKL cases look kind of flimsy.Howard Klepper38741.5550115741

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Small body Stage 5 fits an OM-14 like a glove, better than TKL Proffesional. I donn't know for sure about a 000-12 but I would think so, however the problem may be, if you remove the heal pad to push the body forfard, the waist will move about 2" forward. I will measure tonight and post a drawing tomarrow. how about that.

I have never used a stap on a case so I guess it just seems un needed IMO and it looks bulky as compaired to the rest of the hardware.MichaelP38741.567962963

The 12-fret OOO is longer: 20-7/16 inches "officially". The upper bout is
smaller and a little longer. The problem with a 14 fret case is usually the
length; they won't fit the shoulders of the guitar. I often build 12-fretters.
My shape is not exactly Martin, but they fit a 12-fret OOO case like TKL's.

Thanks for your help, Michael.Howard Klepper38741.5988773148

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

The reason I mentioned pushing the body a bit forward is I am concerned about the 000-12 fret slotted head clearing the accessory compartment, I know that when you remove the heal pad there is room for a 000-12 body. What is the dimension from the heal to peghead on your neck (inside heal to break angle of peghead?) I will measure tonight.MichaelP38741.6079282407

[QUOTE=MichaelP]

I still wish that Access would do 3 things different.

1. make a SJ case
2. remove those bulky shoulder strap D-rings
3. offer a selection of different color velour

Still what a case for the money!. Super exterior covering. It may not be tweed but for vinyl it is the best I have seen.
[/QUOTE]

And make a lock that functions or omit it all together.

Yes, it's a non-complaint, but thought it should be noted. It's a very nice case regardless.

Hesh,
I have use the TKL SJ before. It is a good case and bought direct is a third less than volume retail, but I have to say the Access cases come closer to meeting the quaility of Cedar Creek. maybe not quite but pretty darn close and way cheaper for what you get than TKL. I hope Howard is right and Access is soon to offer an SJ Stage 5. If so they will be my stock case for all my guitars models.

They seemed a little out of it as far as knowing what cases are in demand. I
had to tell them that far more builders are making 16-inch "SJ" bodies than
are making 17" Jumbos. Kevin at Access said something like, "yeah, I've
heard that's starting to happen." Starting? They need to get a bunch of calls
telling them what they should be making.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

[QUOTE=Howard Klepper] They seemed a little out of it as far as knowing what cases are in demand. I
had to tell them that far more builders are making 16-inch "SJ" bodies than
are making 17" Jumbos. Kevin at Access said something like, "yeah, I've
heard that's starting to happen." Starting? They need to get a bunch of calls
telling them what they should be making.[/QUOTE]

Howard I wrote Kevin twice about this issue. I went back over my records the past 2 years and better than half my orders were SJ. I am guessing they figured their main market would be aftermarket retail for factory built guitars, and that is likly to still be true. However I think the independent luthier market has cought them off guard.

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Michael I am sure the Access cases are great and I would have bought one but no SJ size. I think that you have to set up a commercial relationship with them too and buy a minimum lot size right?

I'm just a hobby builder producing 4-6 guitars a year and only needing a case when I build a new size for me. If someone on the OLF (like you my friend) will sell us access cases directly you have my business in the future.[/QUOTE]

be glad to help The min order is not as bad as you my think, only 4 and you do not have to have a tax number to do buisness with them. To tell the truth a min order of 4 is less than the music store retail of 1 AmeritageMichaelP38741.6838194444

I told Keith that I would buy 30 SJ cases a year from them, but my SJ is an
Olson size SJ which is just barely larger than an Om, so I'm checking to
see if the small body cases fit, but I need something that fits really snug
and I think my SJ will be to tight in the waist...we shall see. Never the less
they make fine cases.

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I just heard from Keith at Access a few mins ago. They are looking into a couple options for SJ body shapes to be available in the very near future....Cool

Michael
How much are the access 5's

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

[QUOTE=azimmer1] Michael
How much are the access 5's
[/QUOTE]

You will have to get the confidicial price list from Access but they are a very very good value