-
To sticker or not to sticker...
I see many musicians who have their cases covered in stickers that speak to their likes and philosophies. This would certainly make my instrument case different from all the others and easy to recognize, but I wonder if it will hurt the resale value. What do others think about this?
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I have the word "Bluegrass" painted on my case and a Mandolin Cafe sticker. Don't care about the resale value.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
<Removed by Moderator, this is a family forum> If you like stickers and want to express yourself that way, go for it. The best resale value would be if you left the case in the box it came in and never used it. Not much fun or use that way though. By lowering the resale value, you might also make it less attractive to thieves.
Sorry-- didn't think it would be that offensive, but let's just say "The heck with resale value". I didn't use the F word, but an alternative...
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Paul Busman
<Removed by Moderator, this is a family forum> If you like stickers and want to express yourself that way, go for it. The best resale value would be if you left the case in the box it came in and never used it. Not much fun or use that way though. By lowering the resale value, you might also make it less attractive to thieves.
Yup. I find that people who worry about the resale values of things are those that seem to know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I never consider the resale value... it's a keeper.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
For me it's (WARNING - HORRIBLE PUN ALERT!!) on a case by case basis. I have a Martin dreadnought that came in one of those molded plastic hardshell cases. When I bought that guitar, I knew I would have it for life. I love the look of road-worn cases nearly completely obscured with stickers, so I have many stickers on that case. But I also have a custom shop Les Paul that came in a beautiful faux alligator skin case with the custom shop logo embossed on it. I will never sell that guitar either, but I also would never put a sticker on the case. My mandolin came in a gig bag, so no stickers on that one either...
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
Don't forget the Duct tape! :-)
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
Attachment 82994
Just one sticker on mine...
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
"Yup. I find that people who worry about the resale values of things are those that seem to know the cost of everything and the value of nothing"
Said by a guy who probably hasn't seen the value of his house drop by a quarter in a few months.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
Most cases aren't that expensive, so If you're concerned about taking a hit of more than $100-150 just buy a new case when you sell the instrument. I like case stickers and I have iron on patches on my cloth covered case. They speak to my rakish individuality and make my case easier to spot in pile.
Jamie
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I like stickers but I only use one hard shell case any more. The case (original) goes to a 1923 Gibson trap door tenor banjo and the main sticker is an industrial hazmat sticker that showes a skull and cross bones and says "IRRITANT".
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Charles E.
I like stickers but I only use one hard shell case any more. The case (original) goes to a 1923 Gibson trap door tenor banjo and the main sticker is an industrial hazmat sticker that showes a skull and cross bones and says "IRRITANT".
That I like.
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I not only cover my cases with stickers, I have taken writing on them with paint markers.
The device has not yet been invented that can measure how little I care about the future value of my mandolin cases.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I recently acquired a Gator case that I've been adding stickers to (came to me with a few already on it), but I also have a Pegasus and an original redline on which there are no stickers. I don't care about the resale value of these cases as I'm never going to sell the mandolin they belong to, but I really like them as they are. The redline has some great history (and "patina") and I just plain like the way the Pegasus looks. Just a matter of taste I suppose.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
Too many cases. Not enough stickers.
But seriously, folks, policy should vary from case to case. You own a 1921 Gibson F-4 with the original case; dumb move to put a "Metallica" sticker on it. Some value in keeping the case close to original -- if not for resale, then just because it's 91 years old and deserves a bit of respect.
You have a Rover RM-25 in a chipboard case; putting an "I Pick, You Grin!" sticker on it won't affect the value of anything, and it advertises you as an affable bloke who probably knows who Buck Owens and Roy Clark are/were.
I have stickers on some cases, not on others. I use gig bags a lot, notoriously sticker-unfriendly. I used to paste the little paper strips from fortune cookies all over my Strad-O-Lin hardshell, if I liked the messages. And the Strad even has a little "WBRU" cloth sticker/badge stuck to its pickguard, as a reminder of when my son Pete (Brown '04) was production manager there.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
If I'm looking to buy a mando, I look at the instrument, not the case. If I don't like the case for some reason, I can get another one.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
Resale of case never even crossed my mind. Allens point about a truly vintage case is well taken and if my case was 100 years old I'd leave it be. I don't tend to put stickers that have particularly strong political points of view or religious because I fear retaliation from people that don't feel that way. I love JeffDs Woody Guthrie paraphrase on his case, I had considered something similar for one of my instruments but didn't 'cause I couldn't bring myself to write or paint on the top even on a under $100 pawnshop refurb, But doing it on the case I'd have no problem with.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I have never put a sticker on a case, and yet have amassed a collection of stickers. I was reluctant to put stickers on my black rectangular case because that would instantly identify it as an instrument, and thus be desirable to thieves. Otherwise, at a glance it could be more easily mistaken for an innocuous piece of luggage. Also, at the time this portable piece of furniture (depending on its attitude, it could serve as a chair, stool, or table) was my constant companion as I hitchhiked around the country, and a soft piece of chalk turned this blank black surface into a reusable sign. I didn't want to use up any part of the writing surface nor distract from the readability of the message.
I think I like the simplicity and elegance of a plain black case, similar to the appeal of a tuxedo. Stickers on a case signify the owner is perhaps more casual, more fun-oriented, I suppose, but somehow I have not been able to talk myself into going there. Now I am a bit stuck, unable to decide which of my collection would be the first. I had a related problem with bumper stickers - reluctant to use them, not wanting to lose them if the vehicle went kaput. Sure enough, after talking myself into applying a Red Knuckles sticker in a truly appropriately knuckleheaded way, the van died, and the sticker went off to the junkyard, dragging my heart with it.
Bottom line is, I like stickers - on other people's cases. ;) I understand how they can be conversation starters, or instill a feeling of cameraderie in others who relate to this or that one, but I have yet to go there, and now I generally use gig bags, for easier transportation via bicycle. I understand the desire to show where the case/instrument has been, much as people festoon their suitcases with stickers from countries they have travelled to, and maybe someday when I go on a world tour I may do the same. The only identifier I have on any of mine is the Epiphone logo on my MandoBird gig bag, and the brass Fender name tag on the gig bag I carry my Gibson A in. I don't like it, but I figure it's a theft deterrent. :grin:
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
On my mandolin case there is white lettering that reads: "I'd Rather Be In Narnia"
Sums up my philosophy on things pretty well.
I would love to get some stickers from England, Scotland, Ireland, and other like places at some point. Don't know where to find them though. JeffD, love the Scottish flag sticker. Where'd you get that?
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
If keeping an original case in pristine condition is important, put the case in storage and buy a 'working case' to carry it in. Simple enough. I can beat a hard case to death in a couple of years. I think my last Ovation had three cases in its lifetime.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
Caleb, Ebay, Zazzle, and Etsy are all probably ready to assist you.
Jamie
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I can't even imagine using a vintage case to store/protect an instrument.
I have a '23 snakehead A, and the original case seems so inadequate to the task of protecting the instrument that I bought one of the Eastman fiberglass cases from the Mandolin Store when they were on sale for $99.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I think if there'sh too many shtickersh, the cashe could be a hard shell.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I think it's a lot easier to put stickers on your case than to take them off. It's just good to know this up front while you're deciding for yourself.
-
Re: To sticker or not to sticker...
I think will open up a online store where you can buy a great mandolin with all the appointments and great case . and then instead of shipping it too you, I will put it in a protected storage room too preserve its resale value . Then you can sell it to some one else who can leave it here . If it works I will move on to fractional mandolin banking .