Alternative to MB F1 / F500 Padded Bag?

Quadzilla · #1 07-07-2010, 12:51 PM

I'd like to get a padded bag, but at $80 for the official MB version, I'm looking for a better priced (yet still high quality) alternative.

Strange thing is that the other MB bags are price $10 and $20 less

And the other bags have to be sized larger (thus making them more expensive to manufacture). What gives? Supply in demand I guess.

Anyway, please let me know good alternatives. And please don't post things like "I have an old no-name padded bag that works well but I have no idea who made it or where to get one". That's of no value to me as I need to know where to buy a bag. Sorry no offense.

Marginal Tom · #2 07-07-2010, 01:08 PM

I bought the MarkBass bag for my LMT, and I'm glad I did. The amp fits very nicely in the bag, and you can leave the amp in the bag while you play. The bag has a large pocket for your power cord, speaker cord(s) and instrument cord, and is well padded.

You could possibly find a quality bag for half the $80 price tag, but it wouldn't fit as well. Or you could save $80 and just use a paper or plastic bag.

Kwesi · #3 07-07-2010, 01:19 PM

Well the F1/F500 is roughly the same size as a netbook (9-13 inches) so give some of these a look:

http://www.pcmicrostore.com/Netbook-...c/c100806.html

...or if you need something with more pockets:

http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Edge-Po.../dp/B001S2PY5A

You've got the right idea man; $80 bucks for a carrying bag is ridiculous, especially since it doesn't really have many pockets or extra compartments. I love Markbass stuff but c'mon, lol.

RickC · #4 07-07-2010, 04:00 PM

I thought one of the selling points of these ultra-slims is that you can slip it into the pocket of your bass's gig bag. That's what I'd do if I had one.

/rick

Kwesi · #5 07-07-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickC

I thought one of the selling points of these ultra-slims is that you can slip it into the pocket of your bass's gig bag. That's what I'd do if I had one.

/rick

Very true but it depends on the bag of course. Quad, if you're in the market for a new, quality gigbag as well I suggest picking up an iGig. I've got a G515 and I can fit my LittleMark II with room to spare in the big pocket so I'm sure the your F1 would be right at home.

Jeff Scott · #6 07-07-2010, 04:30 PM

I use a laptop briefcase, works great with pockets/compartments for cables, tuners, etc.

KJung · #7 07-07-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickC

I thought one of the selling points of these ultra-slims is that you can slip it into the pocket of your bass's gig bag. That's what I'd do if I had one.

/rick

While the F1/F500 fits beautifully in the iGig bag, I don't dig that solution at all. By the time you cram the amp, a couple of speakon cables, the power cord, an extension cord, and then all your bass stuff and bass, combined with the relatively heavy weight of the iGig to start with, and IMO you have a heavy, cumbersome mess.

I greatly prefer a lightweight hybrid bag for my bass stuff, and then a nice, high quality bag (I use Mooradian amp bags) for the amp, with all the 'amp stuff' stored in the nice large cable pocket with the amp. Bass on my back, amp in a bag and bass stand on top of my 410 with wheels, and it is a wonderful one trip schlepp!

IMO there.. but just another point of view.

::::BASSIST:::: · #8 07-07-2010, 06:09 PM

I just bought an F1 off the TB classifieds. I am going to mount it on a piece of lexan, attach all cables to the lexan, and then mount my three pedals on top of the F1. I have a warwick 'rockbag' gig bag with a large outer pocket that the whole thing will slide right into. I think it will work out pretty well.

The iGig is a super nice bag, but I found it very heavy. I tried putting my LMII in the outer pocket but found, as Ken mentioned, that it did work out well at all. I am hoping the premounted scenario will work better.

One other thing I though of is putting an F1 into a MB LMII/III bag. I know the bag will be too big, but I wonder if it would still work. This way I could premount my pedals on top etc.

Kwesi · #9 07-07-2010, 07:15 PM

You know, this ain't a bad idea at all. I've never considered my iGig to be that heavy but lightening the load on my back can't be a bad thing

. I'd love a Mono gigbag and matching amp bag but geez are those expensive...

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

While the F1/F500 fits beautifully in the iGig bag, I don't dig that solution at all. By the time you cram the amp, a couple of speakon cables, the power cord, an extension cord, and then all your bass stuff and bass, combined with the relatively heavy weight of the iGig to start with, and IMO you have a heavy, cumbersome mess.

I greatly prefer a lightweight hybrid bag for my bass stuff, and then a nice, high quality bag (I use Mooradian amp bags) for the amp, with all the 'amp stuff' stored in the nice large cable pocket with the amp. Bass on my back, amp in a bag and bass stand on top of my 410 with wheels, and it is a wonderful one trip schlepp!

IMO there.. but just another point of view.

unlined4string · #10 07-07-2010, 08:18 PM

I like the laptop case solution, but if you want a gig bag with a side pocket large enough to carry a F1/F500 check out the RokSak Gizmo bags. They're available in a variety of sizes from most of the major online dealers.

Jefenator · #11 07-08-2010, 01:19 AM

Do you really need a specific brand/model? Any local store with a decent electronics department should have a suitable laptop bag. (Shoulder strap, built-in padding, separate pouch for cables & you're good to go!)

Boombass76 · #12 07-08-2010, 02:26 AM

I just bought the smallest (and cheapest) laptop bag for my F500. It works out beautifully!

There is a divider 'wall' which can be reloacted with velcro tags, and this way the amp takes up about 80% of the total space, and there is a rectangular 'room' for speaker cables and a jack cord. Then, I put my powercord, tuner and XLR for DI-out in the pocket on the outside. It weighs next to nothing, and so far, it has worked like a charm

bkirk · #13 10-12-2010, 06:39 AM

Bringing back this older thread.
First, I'd like to say I'm really digging my F500! Great sound, tonal flexibility, portability and works well with the rest of my gear.

Back to the original question, I recently got the bag for the Ibanez Promethean for it. The two amps are nearly identical in size so the F500 fits really well in it. The bag is well made, well padded and the outside pocket is large enough for cables and tuner. It also comes with an additional moveable pad that fits the inside width and height for extra padding where you want it most. Very concise, it is not oversized like the laptop bag I had been using. I don't really care that it says Promethean on the outside.
I got it from Zzounds for $24.99 with free shipping, so a great deal in my opinion. If I had one wish, it would be that the shoulder strap was removable. It has rings but is sewn in as part of the bag design.