ligher bag for a heavy bass

[bribass]

would a Mooradian Deluxe or a Bobelock be protective enough for a heavier instrument?, what lighter weight, but protective bags are there?

I'm looking to get a replacement for the 7/8 Kolstein bag that I use w/ my Prescott. I guess it's a 7/8 size, but the bass is really just a 3/4 w/ wide ribs. It's been fine for heavy use for 5+1/2 years, but has issues now and is just too heavy.
THNx, BG

[toman]

I've stuffed my 7/8 bass into a well worn/stretched 3/4 Mooradian, so I'd think a 3/4 bass with deep ribs would probably be fine. I also think the Mooradian is a lot nicer bag than the Bobelock.

[MingusAmongUs]

Sorry to confuse the issue but we may be talking about different versions of these bags. I have an older STANDARD Mooradian bag, and a newer Bobelock bag, and without a doubt the Bobelock is the better, beefier, more padded bag. It's a little stiff but it has more padding and better quality hardware. And I don't think it's any heavier (in weight) than the M. My 2¢.

[bribass]

Originally Posted by toman

I've stuffed my 7/8 bass into a well worn/stretched 3/4 Mooradian, so I'd think a 3/4 bass with deep ribs would probably be fine. I also think the Mooradian is a lot nicer bag than the Bobelock.

I already have a Mooradian 3/4 (Deluxe?) for my German 3/4. The zipper just won't make it around my Prescott's lower bout.

Thnx Guys.

Mingus, How can you tell the diff btwn the Standard and Deluxe Mooradian's?

Are there diff grades to the Bobelocks?

Bri

[toman]

Ah, I should have mentioned that my Mooradian was a deluxe; I don't thing I've even seen the lower end one, so I can't comment.

[jgbass]

I've never even considered the Bobelock until reading this post, and I am currently looking for a soft, lighter bag.

Here's a link that has the weight of these bags.

http://www.bobelock.com/softInstrumentBags/bass.html

The Bobelock seems to be about the same price as the Mooradian regular. My bass teacher, who plays out all the time, has been using the same Mooradian standard bag for 10 years and the bag is still holding.

But, if the bobelock is lighter, I might consider that.

Does anyone know how much the Mooradian bags weigh?

[MingusAmongUs]

Originally Posted by bribass

I already have a Mooradian 3/4 (Deluxe?) for my German 3/4. The zipper just won't make it around my Prescott's lower bout.

Thnx Guys.

Mingus, How can you tell the diff btwn the Standard and Deluxe Mooradian's?

Are there diff grades to the Bobelocks?

Bri

I don't know if the Bobelock comes in different grades. AFAIK it doesn't... but I've been wrong before.

On the different Mooradians, the standard is what you usually see. It's what 80% of guys use, or did use up until we started having all these choices a few years ago. It's got I would guess 1/2 inch padding, and no quilts. The deluxe is thicker and quilty.

I just happen to have a pic of the standard M and the Bob from another thread here. Mooradian on the left, Bobelock on the right. The M is probably 12 yrs old now:



Mooradian's site has the pics of both models:
http://www.mooradian.com/Double_Basses.html

[jgbass]

According to the Mooradian site, the Standard bag has 3/4" foam and the Deluxe bag has 1" foam. Now, just to find out the weights.

[Ed Fuqua]

Hey Brian, have you checked out the Messina bag? I've been using it for around 7 or 8 years now.

[Alistair R]

I'm very happy with my Bobelock bag. It's very lightweight for the amount of padding you've got and offers great protection from the elements and bumps etc..Great bag, good features, although I'd size one up with your bass before you order one.

[bribass]

Hey, thanks for all the comments guys. Keep 'em coming. This is just what I need to bag shop.

Ed, is the Messina light weight?

NYC blocks aren't getting any shorter..

Bri

[MingusAmongUs]

Bribass --

From reading around I know you've been to Arnold's shop a few times. If it helps, that's a Cleveland in the picture in the Bobelock bag. It's a 3/4 bag and the bass fits *very* snugly into it. Hopefully that helps you gauge the size, if you know how your bass compares in dimensions to the Cleveland. Also, Arnold sells Bobelocks (at least he did, he sold me mine) so you can probably try one on your bass next time you're there.

PS: no, NYC blocks aren't getting any shorter. But every time I walked it, I would swear the stretch between 5th ave and 6th ave keeps getting longer.

[Ed Fuqua]

All thing sbeing relative, I'd say it was lighter than my Mooradian custom which preceded it. The foam is less thick but more dense, if that makes any sense.

The absolute lightest case I ever saw was Bookie's in about 1983 or so -it was bright blue and made out of material that looked like it was the same stuff as those puffy down jackets. All of the closures were velcro, not zippers. I have no idea where he got it or how sturdy it was (although the padding was really thick)...

[Uncletoad]

Sorry I missed this thread Brian.

I have Messina bags for my Cleveland and my Baby Bass. They fit great and so far stand up to my abuse. The Cleveland bag gets the most beat up and it's 3 years old. Not much different looking than when it was new.

I am getting one for the new old bass as well.

The weight is just about the same as the Moradian bag, it doesn't fold up as well overall and in the beginning its very stiff but is better after awhile.

Not huge dough either.

[Ike Harris]

I have the standard well-worn stretched out Mooradian 3/4 also for my 7/8 and a newer Messina for larger 3/4 and have to say the Messina is noticeably heavier in comparison. I think it's also more protective and has more pocket storage options - the sideways music pocket is nice. You can put a double bow case in it and I like the little endpin slot. But as mentioned before, it's stiffer and the blue color stands out more if you have it stashed nearby on the gig.

Ike

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Ike Harris

I have the standard well-worn stretched out Mooradian 3/4 also for my 7/8 and a newer Messina for larger 3/4 and have to say the Messina is noticeably heavier in comparison. I think it's also more protective and has more pocket storage options - the sideways music pocket is nice. You can put a double bow case in it and I like the little endpin slot. But as mentioned before, it's stiffer and the blue color stands out more if you have it stashed nearby on the gig.

Ike

It is stiffer yes and the blue looks a little weird but I think it's better in the sun.

I wonder if there are two different weights of the Moradian bag? I may have a heavier one. That bag isn't as well made as the Messina bag IMO.

[MingusAmongUs]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I wonder if there are two different weights of the Moradian bag?

That's affirmative.

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

It is stiffer yes and the blue looks a little weird but I think it's better in the sun.

I wonder if there are two different weights of the Moradian bag? I may have a heavier one. That bag isn't as well made as the Messina bag IMO.

This is the case my bass came w/ when I bought it from Kolstein;

http://kolstein.cybrhost.com/mm5/mer...egory_Code=bag

to his surprise he had to give me the 7/8 size 'cause the 3/4 just wouldn't make it around the Prescott's lower bouts w/those deep ribs.

Neither does my Mooradian 3/4 that I use for the German.

The Kolstein bag is alot heavier and is fraying now on the edges as well as having zipper issues. For a heavily padded bag it curiosly has like no padding along the upper edge of the back top bouts where the Prescott has its fuller Yankee dimensions. W/ the heavier weight of this bass I've for a long time wanted a lighter bag.

BUT, a heavier bass does have more inertia when it moves thru space and I was thankful for this bag on more than one occassion especially when the bass was knocked down to the floor from its standing perch in a corner. To my great relief it sustained 0 damage and that day I stopped complaining about the bag's weight. It has great scroll protection, but now with it fraying and all...

Phil, does the Messina only come in just blue and grey?

Bri

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by bribass

Phil, does the Messina only come in just blue and grey?

Bri

I only have the blue stuff. Looks fine really. It's dark enough in a club not to draw attention to itself stuffed under a table or in a corner. I should ask for a grey one on the new/old bass just so I grab the right one going out the door.

He uses blue/grey instead of black because it doesn't get near as hot in the sun as fast as black. Keeps your varnish intact for longer in while you run around outside in the summer.

The Moradian bag is probably lighter if you choose the standard by enough to notice but not enough to make the Messina "heavy".

The Messina folds ok, not near as well as the Moradian bag but over time gets pliable enough to tolerate. It's a trade off, it can be only so foldable before it looses it's ability to protect the bass.

From what I've seen of the two the Messina work is more durable. They fit better, the zippers work better over time, the handles don't tear or break, the fabric doesn't fall apart, and they carry well because they fit better.

One caveat would be it won't shed stupid downpour rain without soaking through. If you are carrying your bass through that you're damn miserable and soaked through too unless you have on Ed's rainsuit.

But here's the thing that sells me every time is you can have him custom tailor the bag to your bass. Both my Cleveland and the Baby Bass live in bags cut specifically from a pattern drawn to them. My new/old bass is getting the same treatment. Draw a pattern on some paper with a whole mess of detailed measures. Send it to Messina and he cuts and sews a bag exactly for that bass. Better fit makes it go on and off quicker, makes it easier to carry and makes it wear better because it doesn't have points where it stretches to much or has to much slack. It's a custom tailored suit for your bass.

Same price as the standard Moradian bags that don't quite fit right and don't quite protect it as well, wear out quicker, but are a tad lighter and better in a torrential downpour.

Maybe if you are carrying it in the City on the subway and long distances without a wheel it's a PITA and the Moradian could be worth another look, but with that wheel thing you have (I need to get one of those) it's not gonna matter much unless you got a habit of marching in the rain.

For your big bass this bag would be heavier for sure than the Kolstien or the Moradian. I'm gonna trade that for protection and durability though and deal with the schlep.

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Same price as the standard Moradian bags that don't quite fit right and don't quite protect it as well, wear out quicker, but are a tad lighter and better in a torrential downpour.

For your big bass this bag would be heavier for sure than the Kolstien or the Moradian. I'm gonna trade that for protection and durability though and deal with the schlep.

I don't know how great Mooradians are in the rain. Mine (a standard, I think) gets soaked thru fairly easily.

The Messina is HEAVIER than the Kolstein? I was hoping it was atleast somewhere in between. That Kolstein bag is heavy .