Gig Bag - Mono vs. Protec Contego vs. Probag

Commreman · #1 05-16-2009, 09:28 AM

I'm looking for a high quality sturdy single bass gig bag. I already have an Incase dub, and, while it's a great bag, it's heavy and it is overkill for my current needs.

my research led me to the three in the title of the thread. Who likes what and why?

Thanks,

Ed

4Mal · #2 05-16-2009, 09:54 AM

I got a Contego from Spencer as part of a bass trade a while back. it's my go to now. EA Micro in the outside pocket, music book and cable in the inner pocket. Nice paddded strap.

The others may be every bit as good, I've never had a look - with the Contego I don't really feel the need to go looking.

KJung · #3 05-18-2009, 02:20 PM

Just got a Mono. GREAT bag... lightweight, great protection, great quality. The only downside I can see is that the pockets are relatively small, but still plenty room for your 'bass stuff', not much else.

The Contego is not even in the same universe as the Mono quality-wise.

I am not familiar with the probag.

James Hart · #4 05-18-2009, 03:15 PM

I love my probag (though it's a double). Very thick leather, solid construction... no issues at all with it.

vision · #5 05-19-2009, 10:12 AM

I know you didn't mention it, but I am VERY happy with my Sadowsky Portabag. I've had mine for around 3 years and it's been great - plenty of well organized pocket space, high level of protection, and it's lightweight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

I am not familiar with the probag.

I believe these are made by the same company as the LowEnd leather bags - the design looks identical:

http://www.probag-net.com/

KJung · #6 05-20-2009, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vision

I know you didn't mention it, but I am VERY happy with my Sadowsky Portabag. I've had mine for around 3 years and it's been great - plenty of well organized pocket space, high level of protection, and it's lightweight.

+1 That bag wasn't on his list, so I didn't bring it up, but it's a GREAT bag.

I'm actually really digging the Mono at the moment... really light, really slick design, if a little lacking in 'pocket room' compared to other bags.

Big Joe · #7 05-21-2009, 06:26 AM

Bodyglove
Probag
Mono

The body glove bag is a great bag for protection. The only bag to offer more is the incase and the BG is lighter. It has very little pocket room and the big pocket is mesh which doesn't offer a lot in terms of water-proofing. It did come with a wallet that took up most of the biggest pocekt which I thought was kind of dumb.

The Probag I had was a Low End bag and it was very nice with great padding and weight. It was a tight fit for my LEJ5 and a 35" scale 5'er was very tight. Not a lot of pocket space. Overall a very cool leather bag though. Also it was lighter than the BG bag.

I have a mono now. It's really nice with very good protection but not quite on par with the Bodyglove in terms of that but it also features a lot more storage. Similar protection as the Probag but a slightly looser fit for even 35" scale basses which can lead to some internal shifting (not that that is necessarily a problem). Lighter than the probag. More storage than the probag. Can fit a micro head and maybe up to a MB LMII but nothing bigger and not much else...

Any of the bags I mentioned are very nice bags. The mono and the bodyglove bot hung low enough for me to walk though a door with them strapped on back pack style but was room to spare but keep in mind that I'm only 5'9.

rodneyat · #8 05-21-2009, 06:58 AM

I am not familiar with the Contego or ProBag. But, I did just do a write-up on the Mono M80 and iGig 515. It may help you

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/mono-m80-igig-g515-comparison-546549/#post7425705

Commreman · #9 05-21-2009, 08:56 AM

Thanks! I had not considered the IGIG, but I'll check it out. I like what you had to say about nitro finishes. My FSR Jazz is finished in nitro, so I will keep that in mind. I checked out the Sadowsky portabag, but Roger does list a warning for nitro finished basses with that bag.

Big Joe - Which model BodyGlove did you have?

KJung · #10 05-21-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commreman

Thanks! I had not considered the IGIG, but I'll check it out. I like what you had to say about nitro finishes. My FSR Jazz is finished in nitro, so I will keep that in mind. I checked out the Sadowsky portabag, but Roger does list a warning for nitro finished basses with that bag.

Big Joe - Which model BodyGlove did you have?

Roger has a 'fix' for Nitro finishes with his bag. The issue is the extra support piece at the bottom of the bag. He will supply a cloth cover for that extra padding piece that makes the case 'Nitro safe'. However, if you have a full sized Jazz Bass, which requires taking that extra padding out (it's a velcro type thing), I'm not sure what is under it and if that part of the bag is Nitro safe. So, if you are considering that very nice Sadowsky bag, you might want to call Kevin and the shop and get the scoop.

Big Joe · #11 05-21-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commreman

Big Joe - Which model BodyGlove did you have?

This one:
http://www.bodyglove.com/products_de...roduct_id=7826

rodneyat · #12 05-22-2009, 06:18 PM

Well, I can now comment on the Pro-Tec Contego as I now own one. Well, at least the guitar one. I bought a Rob Allen Mouse bass this week and the come with the Pro-Tec guitar case. I do have to say, it is very well made and quite sturdy. The pouches are bigger than the ones in the Mono but slightly smaller than the ones in the iGig. Being the cheapest option, it may be the winner for sure if you are on a budget. Any of them will provide ample protection for your bass.

Tony G · #13 06-02-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Joe

This one:
http://www.bodyglove.com/products_de...roduct_id=7826

Would that be the same as this one?

http://www.music123.com/Body-Glove-H...91155.Music123

KJung · #14 06-03-2009, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneyat

Well, I can now comment on the Pro-Tec Contego as I now own one. Well, at least the guitar one. I bought a Rob Allen Mouse bass this week and the come with the Pro-Tec guitar case. I do have to say, it is very well made and quite sturdy. The pouches are bigger than the ones in the Mono but slightly smaller than the ones in the iGig. Being the cheapest option, it may be the winner for sure if you are on a budget. Any of them will provide ample protection for your bass.

You know, I ordered the Contego or whatever it is for my Mouse. Rob said it was just the standard Contego guitar bag, so I ordered one of those. When it arrived, I noticed that my Mouse neck did not sit on the internal neck pad, but that the headstock was sitting directly on the bottom of the case, with the neck raised above the padded neck rest. I ended up returning that bag, since I didn't think it was a very good fit with the Mouse.

Is that the way yours is with the Mouse?

As an update, I continue to be very impressed with both the Mono and the iGig bag. If the Mono had the large, well thought out pockets like the iGig, it would be perfect IMO!

rodneyat · #15 06-03-2009, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

You know, I ordered the Contego or whatever it is for my Mouse. Rob said it was just the standard Contego guitar bag, so I ordered one of those. When it arrived, I noticed that my Mouse neck did not sit on the internal neck pad, but that the headstock was sitting directly on the bottom of the case, with the neck raised above the padded neck rest. I ended up returning that bag, since I didn't think it was a very good fit with the Mouse.

Is that the way yours is with the Mouse?

As an update, I continue to be very impressed with both the Mono and the iGig bag. If the Mono had the large, well thought out pockets like the iGig, it would be perfect IMO!

It's the same with mine too...It is definitely not the best design for the mouse...The case itself needs to be slightly thicker and the neck block does too. Obviously, the guitar case was never really designed to have a short scale bass in it.

KJung · #16 06-03-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneyat

It's the same with mine too...It is definitely not the best design for the mouse...The case itself needs to be slightly thicker and the neck block does too. Obviously, the guitar case was never really designed to have a short scale bass in it.

I'm surprised Rob uses these then. I was uncomfortable doing so.

Wilbyman · #17 06-03-2009, 06:19 AM

I haven't tried a Mono, but I really like the look of it. It looks like a great bag, sort of between an incase and an undercover.

KJung · #18 06-03-2009, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

I haven't tried a Mono, but I really like the look of it. It looks like a great bag, sort of between an incase and an undercover.

There is something about the design that really speaks to me. It's VERY lightweight, but has a more solid feel than many of the hybrid bags, and it's very comfortable when strapped on. The pocket size is fine for cables, strap, tuner, but not much else. If that's all you put in your bass bag, then this would be my first recommendation for a bag. Also, it looks like the double bag is REALLY cool in that it has separate zippered compartments (a must for me with a double bag), and is still quite lightweight. It was reported above that the pocket size is a bit larger on the dual bag, which is a positive also.

If you are one who carries a micro head in a bag, or carries a lot of effect pedals, extension cords, etc., etc., etc., then it's pretty hard to beat the iGig bag.

Tony G · #19 06-03-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

I'm surprised Rob uses these then. I was uncomfortable doing so.

So what are you guys using then for your Mouse 30?

KJung · #20 06-03-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony G

So what are you guys using then for your Mouse 30?

I have the hard case that Rob sells with that bass. Very nice! Fancy!

If you want to use a bag, I would think a typical guitar soft bag would work fine, just not the hybrid Pro Tec.