Hiscox Cases calling it a day

[BassApprentice]

Spotted this on a Facebook group I'm on - a letter sent to a luthier who uses Hiscox cases so take it with a pinch of salt since there isn't any other evidence yet.

 

If true, another tough loss to the British music industry.

 

(Also, apologies for the low res image)

 

It reads as follows 

 

HISCOX CASES TO CLOSE AFTER 40 YEARS

20th May 2025

 

Dear Valued Customer,

 

The landscape for manufacturing at our level here in the U.K. has become ever increasingly problematic since the Covid pandemic.

We have faced severe challenging issues with every aspect of the process from raw materials to shop floor staff availability to massively rising costs of production.

The compound issues are now so great we have regrettably reached the conclusion that it is no longer possible for us to remain a viable manufacturing business here in the U.K.

It is with huge sadness that I confirm that Hiscox cases will therefore cease production within the next 3 months

 

This tremendously difficult decision has not been made lightly and we fully intend to honour all existing orders you may have with us.

Although we will continue trading in the short term, we wish to manage the situation in a logical and controlled manner in order that all of our long standing partners are paid, as we all wish we would be under these circumstances.

IMPORTANT

70% of our business is supplying instrument makers where the case we supply is custom built maybe with an embodied logo. If you are one of those many customers, and have current orders with us, then please contact us to confirm you wish to proceed with the order.

I am extremely sorry, but, as I hope you understand, we will no longer be able to extend credit terms from today as we will require all orders to be paid in full before shipping.

We have decided to continue trading for another few months specifically to give our hundreds of loyal guitar making customers time to find an alternative case supplier.

 

As a luthier, all those years ago, I made my first guitar case specifically for my own use for my own guitars. I never planned or even imagined that demand for my design would be so great that we have made more than 700,000 cases in the last 40 years.

I suppose all good things eventually come to an end.

 

There is nothing more that I can say other than thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your business over the last 40 years.

 

This is an extremely sad day here at Hiscox Cases

 

Warmest regards to you all and best of fortune for your futures,

Brynn Hiscox

 

Edited yesterday at 13:07 by BassApprentice

[Bernmeister]

Wow !!!!!
It is indeed a very sad loss to the British Music Industry, if this is all correct. 

[warwickhunt]

My case of choice... anyone want to sell me theirs?   

[Mrbigstuff]

Won’t ever sell mine, fantastic cases.

[Bernmeister]

My case of choice too, if I’ve brought a bass, that doesn’t come with a case. 

[Lozz196]

Toured with mine, flown with it, always stood up to the task. For day to day usage I take my Mono M80 but anything more strenuous the Hiscox takes the load, sad news to see them closing down.

[BlueMoon]

Bulletproof cases. 

 

I have several, both branded and non-branded, none has ever required repair or even adjustment. The teardrop examples (with Goodfellow logo) must be really early ones.

 

A sad loss indeed.

[franzbassist]

That is very sad news.  One of those companies who absolutely nailed it (in a good way).

[Woodinblack]

Yet on their website they are announcing the new range of cases?

[prowla]

Crikey - I was chatting with the bloke on the stand at the recent Bristol Guitar Show and said I didn't understand why they were there, as they're the industry standard and everybody knows Hiscox.

He also let me stand on a case!

[bigthumb]

The teardrop case I bought for my Gibson Ripper is topnotch and well worth the money, thats such a sad thing to read 😪

[StingRayBoy42]

What rubbish news, Hiscox are the only cases I use.

On the plus side, I've got five so that's my pension sorted.

[Hellzero]

Seems like fake news to me as it's announced nowhere else...

 

Or a huge scam as full payment is asked for orders...

 

Wait and see.

[Mrbigstuff]

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Seems like fake news to me as it's announced nowhere else...

 

Or a huge scam as full payment is asked for orders...

 

Wait and see.

Hope you’re right and it’s just a scam but there’s nothing about changing bank details which you’d usually see on a scam attempt.

[tubbybloke68]

Bloody tragic, another home grown company gone FFS!! ☹️

[ossyrocks]

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Seems like fake news to me as it's announced nowhere else...

 

Or a huge scam as full payment is asked for orders...

 

Wait and see.

My local music shop have just posted on Facebook about it. Hiscox have written to them informing them of the closure. 

[BigRedX]

16 hours ago, BlueMoon said:

Bulletproof cases.

 

No always. One of the 5 I own is exceedingly battered and at least one of the catches has failed meaning that it's only really suitable for holding an instrument in storage now. It arrived in that condition when I bought the bass that came with it, so I have no idea what the previous owner did to it. Unsurprisingly the bass inside was in a similar poor condition and ended up going back to the maker for an extensive refurb and refinish.

[Hellzero]

 

It's now totally official! 😥

[Musicman666]

would have thought they might have relocated the operation outside of the uk ..the brand is strong and quality can be maintained if the will is there, the days of asia producing rubbish are behind us. 

[BassApprentice]

I reckon this is the end of Hiscox UK, but not the last you'll see of Hiscox cases.

 

Brand name will be sold and made elsewhere.

[warwickhunt]

If the brand continues never mind pre-CBS, we'll have Hiscox cases pre-TFT (TrumpF*ckinTariffs)

[Obrienp]

Like @Musicman666, I’m quite surprised that they hadn’t already moved some, or all production to a lower cost geography. “Made in UK” might have been part of their USP but surely not at any cost. Unfortunately, businesses have to move with the times.

[Dan Dare]

57 minutes ago, BassApprentice said:

I reckon this is the end of Hiscox UK, but not the last you'll see of Hiscox cases.

 

Brand name will be sold and made elsewhere.

 

Not unlikely. If he's been trading for 40 years, Brynn must be thinking of retirement. If he can sell the brand name and add something to his retirement pot, good luck to him.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I've had my Bass Centre branded hiscox Liteflite for well over twenty years and it is still in near-perfect condition. My '81 precision lives in it an says it is very comfy. Such a shame to see a universally well regarded company close its doors.

[Cato]

1 hour ago, BassApprentice said:

I reckon this is the end of Hiscox UK, but not the last you'll see of Hiscox cases.

 

Brand name will be sold and made elsewhere.

 

That was my thought, reading between the lines of the letter.

 

The Hiscox brand has too much value to just throw on the scrap heap, I'm certain it will continue, probably manufactured in the Far East although they may wait a while to see how all the Trump tariff nonsense plays out before they make the decision on exactly where, which would explain why they're not taking any more orders at the moment.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Cato