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Topic: Red Dirt Cases are the best I've seen. |
Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 9:57 am |
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After reading another, closed, thread about Hatton cases I felt the need to put up a post about Red Dirt Cases.
First I bought a Hatton case with wheels.... if you are going to do this GET PICTURES of the design... it is completely hokey and pretty much unusable if you are a gigging musician that loads your steel in and out of tight places.
I asked for pictures and he didn't have any... I went on faith.. bad idea.
The wheels protrude from the side and make the case wobbly in every sitting position but 1. Just a horrible design. When I mentioned this to him he responded with "I make the best cases in the world" (not true)
When I got the case I was completely unhappy with it... I emailed Hatton and said that the case was unusable for me... he responded with "Its a custom case, no refunds" (eventually I tried putting my guitar in the case and it was TOO SMALL also... at this point it was moot cause I couldn't use the case either way and I had decided to just sell it and take the loss. my time and energy dealing with it was not worth the 100 bucks I was going to lose at that point... )
I found Red Dirt Cases and ordered one from them... they sent me a template sheet with about 15 measurements they wanted me to make... then got hold of me for additional info a couple of times (when I'm buying an expensive case I would much rather them have too much info and be too precise so I appreciated this)
The customer service was always timely, and even though the case was a little late and more expensive than others it is a spectacular case that fits like a glove to my steel. It is a good design too with recessed wheels (duh!) and tough as nails.
Hattons unwheeled cases may be fine but the wheeled one was aweful, JMO.
Many people on here seem to be very happy with their Hatton cases, but the quality, craftmanship, and design of the Red Dirt's are vastly superior IMO.
Spend the little extra cash and get a Red Dirt case if you want a case. |
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Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 10:02 am
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ps... didn't really know where to put this other than here... the "Sales" section thread on Hatton got closed...
sorry if this is in the wrong spot b0b!!! |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 10:12 am
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I have had great luck with Red Dirt Cases myself. I have a wheeled flight case for my D10 and it has survived years of very hard touring and some of the worst abuse that baggage handlers can dish out. Great customer service too. Genuinely nice people.
http://www.reddirtcases.com/
_________________
Bob |
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Tommy Everette
From:
Whitakers, NC
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 10:21 am
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Last edited by Tommy Everette on 19 Jun 2011 5:35 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 10:22 am
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| I agree Bob.. I think Jason was who I delt with... very nice and timely.. and even when a delay happened he CALLED and emailed to make sure I knew it was going to take a while longer.. |
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Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 10:24 am
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Tommy your last thread was my impetus to put up this one...
I was going to months ago and then just lost the passion for it as days went by.. but when I saw another person get the "It's a custom case, I make the best cases in the world" line.. I had to post..
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 11:04 am
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Two of my guitars are housed in Hatton cases. I had a road case for my Sho-Bud, but the combination was so heavy I used to near on break my back. Hatton's cases are lightweight, and so far they have lasted the course in and out of my vehicles.
My Zum lives in a case made by Fred Justice. Not quite as light as Hatton's cases, but the wheels actually slot in neatly which is great if you dont want the wheels in place when you transport your guitar in a vehicle.
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,
Last edited by Ken Byng on 20 Jun 2011 2:51 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 2:10 pm
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What does your Red Dirt case weight? I bet it's far heavier than the Hatton split case. You are comparing apples and oranges. I used to own an Anvil case for my D-10 Rusler. The steel in the case weighed 100 lbs. It survived flights just fine, but was awful in any other circumstance.
If you want an ATA level case, to survive baggage handler abuse, than you probably don't want Hatton cases. But if you want light weight cases for your steel, that only you will lift in and out of your car, the Hatton split case set-up makes a lot of sense. |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 3:04 pm
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Edited for content. I have had two complaints in the last 12 months. This is one. I am in touch with Mr. Yenne and we have worked out an agreement. I try very hard not to have this happen. I have built somewhere between 300-400 cases in the last four years.
Last edited by Kevin Hatton on 19 Jun 2011 10:22 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 4:13 pm
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| Here we go again. I thought closing the other thread took care of more posts. |
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Jamie Lennon
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 4:52 pm
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I got my new red dirt case 2 weeks ago. I love it. Recommended by Paul Franklin snr. Best case for a steel. We doing a European tour soon and needed it
_________________
Mullen Guitars, Little Walter Amps, Benado Effects, D'Addario Strings
www.georgettejones.net |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Hermitage, TN
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 5:10 pm
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Jamie,
How much does your case weigh compared to your average wood and tolex case, like a Thomas. I have to do some flying this year too. I'd like to find something small, light (as to not go too far over the weight limit) yet bulletproof. Thanks
Brett |
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Tommy Everette
From:
Whitakers, NC
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 5:13 pm
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yeah, what he said :D
Last edited by Tommy Everette on 19 Jun 2011 5:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 5:28 pm
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| Josh, are these flight style cases? If you could email, or pm me about the details when you get a sec., I'd appreciate it. Thanks JO. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 6:25 pm
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I believe the case that came with my MSA Legend D-10 is a Red Dirt case. Best case I've ever owned. It weighs 27.5 pounds. A bunch of pics here:
http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Msa/Case.html
You can see it's quite rugged and well protected. The weakest point, like many steel guitar cases, is the somewhat flimsy divider between the guitar body and the pedal rack. It could use a stiffer divider board or perhaps a few perpendicular support trusses. The divider is fine for every day use and moving it yourself. If I was going on tour or shipping it anywhere, I would beef up the divider.
Greg
Last edited by Greg Cutshaw on 19 Jun 2011 6:31 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 6:30 pm
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| Mr. Yenne, I am publicly going to make you a deal right here and now. If you EVER place a case order with me in the future I will subtract EVERYTHING that you lost in selling that first set of cases. That includes the NET loss including your postage that you paid on those cases. No hard feelings. Order ANY case that I can make you and I will do this for you. This offer is good one time. I have no hard feelings toward you and would welcome the opportunnity to make right by you. I recognize that I need to make this up to you. I'll even go one better. I'll write you a check right now, tonight, for that difference. Email me, or call me if you are interested. I am up until midnight (EST) tonight in the shop.(716) 691-7505. I am not mad at you. I want you to be satisfied. This will help defray the costs on your new ATA cases. |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 6:39 pm
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I feel compelled to reply to this post since I am a happy Hatton case customer. I bought a case from Kevin in Aug 2009 to transport my new steel to deliver from Ontario to Leicester England. This involved one airplane ride, pulling it thru Heathrow Airport to the bus terminal and a 2 hour ride on the bus. The case came thru without a loose screw.
That's one part of it, The other one is this, and it speaks of Kevin's integrity, honesty and workmanship.
For reasons unknown, the case turned out a bit too tight. I called Kevin about this. Knowing my dilemma of the departure for England shortly, he built me a new case pronto, shipped it and I had a brand new case within the week. Not only that, but he had faith in me, in that he never asked for me to send the first case back before starting the new one. When the replacement arrived, all he wanted back off the old one was the hardware and told me to keep the wood part as he figured it would be too expensive for me to ship the whole thing back to him.
As to the wheels: They are on the outside; not my preference for wheels but I was clearly told that this is what I would get for wheels, take it or leave it. They sure came in handy, wheeling the case thru two airports and bus terminals.
I just want to say this to anybody who will listen: Kevin is a top honest, straight shootin' man with integrity and has a high level of quality workmanship.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 6:43 pm
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| Great pics Greg. That appears to be a bullet proof case with nice appointments and construction. Thanks. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 7:52 pm
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Upon further inspection, with the guitar end-plates protruding beyond the plane of the guitar back panel, the guitar actually only pushes on the divider near where the divider joins the sides of the case. As such a bit of flimsiness anywhere near the center of the divider is not a big deal. The divider does not give much at the point where the guitar impinges on it. So the case is plenty sturdy where it needs to be. So far though, two of the rivets holding the case together have popped loose and have scraped my floor when the case is set down flat. Easily remedied and I'm still a happy camper.
Greg |
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Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 8:19 pm
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wow... a few hours and a lot of responses....
First of all Mr. Hatton... the reason you never heard about the mismeasurments was that I didn't even try to put my steel in it for the first couple of weeks it was here.. the design was so bad I knew that I would never want to go with the case long term... I had a gig one night and the case was sitting there so I figured.. hell I might as well use it one.. tried to put it in and just laughed...
Second.. mismeasurement... hmmm.. I had my self and my girl measure (she is an engineer that does precise measurements for a living.. and HEY my Red Dirt case fit PERFECT when I measured it)
Third... there were no pictues.. here is the exact copied text from our email exchange dated December 16th 2010... the pix up there now must have been put up since then...
On Dec 16, 2010, at 6:49 PM, Kevin Hatton wrote:
Dear Josh,
I am big on customer service. I take my customers seriously. I don't have a picture, but its just like the body case on the web site but a little wider. Thank you for your order.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hatton
----- Original Message -----
From: Josh Yenne
To: Kevin Hatton
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 6:20 PM
Subject: Re: some questions
Thanks for the quick email! I always appreciate that!
wow 18 lbs is a great weight! I have a big old flight case right now that is like moving a tank.. but a pretty light guitar.. now I'm getting a heavier guitar so a light case would be great...
Did I miss pictures of these cases? Can you point me in the right direction or just send 1-2 pics?
I will be back in town and with new guitar at the beginning of the year.. I will email you with specs and put one on order then..
Thanks again!
Josh
I will email me if you want to give the difference... it is up to you.. I appreciate the offer but don't expect it and didn't come on here to try to "get" something out of it... just wanted to give my opinion to other posters.... I never put it out on the forum.....
I will email you now and if you do refund me the difference I will be more than obliged to come back to this thread and post that it was done and that would be a very magnanimous gesture on your part....
The split cases look very nice.. just not my thing.. and, like I said, the non-wheeled cases are probably great.. but the design of the wheeled case is severely lacking... |
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Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 8:27 pm
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| Jerry Overstreet wrote: |
| Josh, are these flight style cases? If you could email, or pm me about the details when you get a sec., I'd appreciate it. Thanks JO. |
sent you a PM |
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Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 8:28 pm
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| Kevin Hatton wrote: |
| Mr. Yenne, I am publicly going to make you a deal right here and now. If you EVER place a case order with me in the future I will subtract EVERYTHING that you lost in selling that first set of cases. That includes the NET loss including your postage that you paid on those cases. No hard feelings. Order ANY case that I can make you and I will do this for you. This offer is good one time. I have no hard feelings toward you and would welcome the opportunnity to make right by you. I recognize that I need to make this up to you. I'll even go one better. I'll write you a check right now, tonight, for that difference. Email me, or call me if you are interested. I am up until midnight (EST) tonight in the shop.(716) 691-7505. I am not mad at you. I want you to be satisfied. This will help defray the costs on your new ATA cases. |
I sent you an email.. I didn't start this thread to try to "get" anything.. but there you go you have my info. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 9:18 pm
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| Got it. Thanks Josh. |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 19 Jun 2011 9:32 pm
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| I will mail a check tomorrow morning. The Forum members here have been very good to me, and I feel that this is the right thing to do on my part to make things right with a customer. I do this in honor of this Forum and to make things right with Mr. Yenne. |
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Tommy Everette
From:
Whitakers, NC
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Posted 20 Jun 2011 4:01 am
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| Kevin Hatton wrote: |
| I will mail a check tomorrow morning. The Forum members here have been very good to me, and I feel that this is the right thing to do on my part to make things right with a customer. I do this in honor of this Forum and to make things right with Mr. Yenne. |
Well, there's 1 customer taken care of.
Too bad you didn't do the job right to begin with. |
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