What Gig Bag to Buy? Public Perception Question

jasontan10 · #1 02-18-2011, 01:48 AM

Question: Does having a nice gig bag give people the impression that you are a good bass player (whether it is true or not)?

Background: I have been using a Gator gig bag for my bass guitar for more than 3 years now, and two things have happened in the past 3 years:

1. There's a hole at the bottom (as in, you can see a good portion of the bottom of the bass guitar).

2. Once I was walking down the stairs with my gig bag, I suddenly felt like my back was lighter and there was a loud *thump*. My bass guitar now has a dent right around the strap peg.

So I am considering replacing the gig bag with another gig bag. As I was browsing through different gig bags, I found myself appealed by higher end bags like iGig, because of its functionality, protection and looks. However, the price tag and the brand name make it a premium gig bag. I am afraid that, by having a premium gig bag, people may have the wrong perception that I am a decent bass player. I am not a good bass player at all, but I do want a good gig bag.

I am asking this question now to myself: "If I were to buy one last gig bag, what would it be, and should I buy it?" Aside from money being a concern and if it is worth the money, my main concern now is "does it give a proper image of the bass player that I am?" or "do people think that a bass player with a good gig bag must be a good bass player?"

What do you guys think? Do people with iGig bags (and other same level gig bags) generally are good bass players? If not, are people's initial impression of them is that they are good bass players though? If so, when is a bass player "good enough" for a good gig bag? And other related questions.

Pr3ston · #2 02-18-2011, 02:02 AM

Have a think about getting a good hardshell/road case. I know it's heavier and more expensive but I've always found the peace of mind to be more than worth it.

Marginal Tom · #3 02-18-2011, 02:06 AM

Even if you're not a good player yet, the best gig bag you can comfortably afford, like the best bass you can comfortly afford,will encourage you to stick to it and become a good player. No casual music fan will give a rat's patootie about your gig bag, so you needn't worry about raising false expectations. A good gig bag will provide better protection for your bass, and protect your investment.

Bjornar · #4 02-18-2011, 02:09 AM

Stop worrying and get yourself a good gigbag. I have the iGiG because it protects the bass really well and has the largest pockets of all the good gig bags. Another good one is the MONO case, same level of protection but smaller pockets.

Bassmickeyd · #5 02-18-2011, 02:11 AM

Buy the best gig bag you can afford. ..... Unless you're traveling a lot forget a road case. ... Good quality lasts.

Marginal Tom · #6 02-18-2011, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pr3ston

Have a think about getting a good hardshell/road case. I know it's heavier and more expensive but I've always found the peace of mind to be more than worth it.

If you expect to have roadies in the future, or your bass is going to ride in a band trailer, you'll want a hardshell/road case. If, like me, you always carry your own bass, then a quality gig bag would be better.

Osprey · #7 02-18-2011, 02:31 AM

Anybody who judges you about the make of gig-bag you have has too small a brain to concern yourself with. But, what on earth did you do to the bag in three years to wear a hole in it? I can imagine wearing out a sports bag by flinging it down when full of wet kit, but I don't suppose you do that to a bass, do you? If your new one gets to the stage where you can see the bass through it, bin it at once and buy one made of steel plate.

Monsterbass74 · #8 02-18-2011, 03:48 AM

I prefer a gig bag if I'm going to local gigs and rehearsals. Whether the elitists have a problem with my bass or playing is not a concern to me. I suggest preventative maintenance: inspecting your bag more thoroughly to ensure that your bass won't fall out, bringing the zippers to the top of the bag, not the bottom because they might become undone, or getting a hole repaired by a shoemaker (YES this is true). Cases do protect, but for a low end gig or just going to rehearsal I don't see a reason to put my Fender in one, unless if it's a Ken Smith, Fodera or something... then you can show those elitists what for!

As for buying a gig bag, you know you get what you pay for. I would spend $40 bucks. I have a hugey thick double (2) bass gig bag which was near $90.

Joe Nerve · #9 02-18-2011, 04:24 AM

I never once gave an ounce of thought to any other musician's gigbag. And at this point in my life I'd guess I've seen close to a billion of them.

People using cases I do however sometimes form opinions of. While I realize there's the chance my opinions aren't accurate I can't help to think either inexperienced, or OCD. Can't imagine why anyone who plays on a regular basis would want the extra hassle of something they have to hold and lug around. Especially something that weights more than the bass itself. I also honestly think there's equal, probably more chance of damage happening to a bass in a case than in a gigbag. I've seen more cases get thrown around and knocked over than gigbags. I've seen people forget to latch them, and I've seen people laying their instruments in them (as opposed to putting them on stands) in between soundchecks and sets and have horrible things happen cuz they didn't close the case. Early in my musician days, when I played a skinny stringer, someone once tossed and busted a half filled beer bottle into my guitar in it's case. I think gigbags tend to get more respect. People pamper them a bit more.

reverendrally · #10 02-18-2011, 04:44 AM

I find the cheaper brands often make a deluxe bag that is half the price of poverty fender bag. I buy the cheaper brand deluxe for two reasons.
1. if some thief sees it they'll not take it coz it looks like a pov guitar
2. it's generally better value than the name brand.

btw, I much prefer a gig bag to hardcase. bass hardcases are heavy, torsionally weak and hard to fit in car. And heck, if you pack the car right, you don't need a hardcase.

Berger912 · #11 02-18-2011, 04:56 AM

i only use gig bags it is so much nicer to have everything in one case (bass, cords, strap, tuner, etc) and still have my hands free. the one i use is a incase bag it is discontinued but you can find them on ebay still once in a while. i am going to get an iGig bag because of the larger pockets. i never worry about my bass in the gig bag but i am also not one to treat my gear roughly. so if i was you i would get the best gig bag you could afford and not worry about what others think.

NortyFiner · #12 02-18-2011, 04:56 AM

If you really care about what other people think of you based on your GIG BAG, you have your priorities WAY out of order. Anyone who should actually matter to you will only be concerned with your playing ability. Protect your bass, and to blazes with what anyone thinks of appearances, let alone a blinkin' gig bag.

mcnach · #13 02-18-2011, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasontan10

Question: Does having a nice gig bag give people the impression that you are a good bass player (whether it is true or not)?

Background: I have been using a Gator gig bag for my bass guitar for more than 3 years now, and two things have happened in the past 3 years:

1. There's a hole at the bottom (as in, you can see a good portion of the bottom of the bass guitar).

2. Once I was walking down the stairs with my gig bag, I suddenly felt like my back was lighter and there was a loud *thump*. My bass guitar now has a dent right around the strap peg.

So I am considering replacing the gig bag with another gig bag. As I was browsing through different gig bags, I found myself appealed by higher end bags like iGig, because of its functionality, protection and looks. However, the price tag and the brand name make it a premium gig bag. I am afraid that, by having a premium gig bag, people may have the wrong perception that I am a decent bass player. I am not a good bass player at all, but I do want a good gig bag.

I am asking this question now to myself: "If I were to buy one last gig bag, what would it be, and should I buy it?" Aside from money being a concern and if it is worth the money, my main concern now is "does it give a proper image of the bass player that I am?" or "do people think that a bass player with a good gig bag must be a good bass player?"

What do you guys think? Do people with iGig bags (and other same level gig bags) generally are good bass players? If not, are people's initial impression of them is that they are good bass players though? If so, when is a bass player "good enough" for a good gig bag? And other related questions.

What kind of question is that?
You want to protect your bass, right? Regardless of its value.
Then buy something that does the job. Who cares what anybody might want to think? You worry too much

dalkowski · #14 02-18-2011, 05:11 AM

REALLY?

I promise you, no one but the manufacturers gives a rat's patoot what kind of gig bag you use.

arsie · #15 02-18-2011, 05:40 AM

Get one that you can secure your neck to a velcro or some strap. And get one that fits nicely. Mine is sloshing around loose because I had to get the bag before I got the bass.

Those that are stiffened around the headstock and secured neck means your tuning machines aren't getting knocked about. Mono makes one like that. I am sure others do too.

Fat.Mike · #16 02-18-2011, 07:58 AM

The only time I would ever notice someones gig bag is if it were nice and induced new product lust in my brain. I would never equate skill level with the cost of the bag. (have you not seen the crappy bassists with expensive gear megathread?) And on another note: I love my twin bass gig bag. Bring 2 basses, or just one and use the second pocket for cables, clothes, etc. Rarely use my hardcases, unless they are riding in a trailer as has been already mentioned.

MrLenny1 · #17 02-18-2011, 08:10 AM

Reunion Blues, bought mine in 1984 and still using it.
Everything still works and has 100's of gigs on it.

prd004 · #18 02-18-2011, 08:15 AM

I would NEVER trust my babies in a gig bag. Hardshell cases only for me.

dave64o · #19 02-18-2011, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasontan10

...
If so, when is a bass player "good enough" for a good gig bag? And other related questions.

Well, I'm CERTAINLY not a good enough player for a good gig bag.

However, my basses ARE more than good enough for one so I want them reasonably well protected.

I always insisted on carrying mine in hardcases only, but at least for going to my lessons I thought it would be more convenient for me to have a decent gig bag that will hold everything I needed - a bass, a cable, my books, my iPod and cables, a tuner, my phone, my keys, etc. - and that I could wear on my back.

I seriously considered one of the iGig bags, but in the end I decided I didn't need that much storage space for my purposes, plus I wanted an even lighter bag, so I didn't get one. That being said, if I also needed to carry a laptop and/or a micro head, then I'm almost certain I would have bought one at that time.

My instructor has a Reunion Blues bag (Continental?), which is also very nice. It has tons of storage sapce and is apparently VERY well padded. The ads claim they dropped a guitar 40 feet - TWICE - onto a parking lot and it wasn't damaged in any way at all. My instructor showed his faith in his bag by literally throwing his bag - with his custom built bass in it! - across the store. I would never do that MY bass, but his wasn't affected at all and if someone with his level of pro experience is confident enough to do that with a custom bass in it, he sold me. I would have picked that over the iGig.

I ended up a Mono case and love it. It's absolutely perfect for my needs and is about half the weight of the Reunion Blues bag (and a few pounds lighter than the iGig bag too). I bought it used here, it's in almost new condition, and I saved about $40-50. Even loaded with what I carry around in it, it's surprisingly lightweight.

bassbenj · #20 02-18-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat.Mike

The only time I would ever notice someones gig bag is if it were nice and induced new product lust in my brain. I would never equate skill level with the cost of the bag. (have you not seen the crappy bassists with expensive gear megathread?) And on another note: I love my twin bass gig bag. Bring 2 basses, or just one and use the second pocket for cables, clothes, etc. Rarely use my hardcases, unless they are riding in a trailer as has been already mentioned.

Well now that we've all agreed that hardcases are too heavy and stupid, let me give the opposite opinion. I could see a twin bass gig bag would be cool. And some of my gig bags such as the one that came with my G&L or the one with the Conklin (which is a stiff one that is kind of a cross between a gig bag and hardcase) are pretty nice. But I operate under a different theory. The "bass kit" theory.

What I do is have each hardcase be a self-contained bass setup. This includes the bass, it's strap, it's cord, a tool kit for ALL screws and fasteners on THAT particular bass, spare strings of the kind that I use on THAT bass and finally a stand for the bass. For the main axes it's an "ultimate" folding stand that I've cut out a cavity in the case where it fits. And for lesser basses it's one of those "V" shaped small folding floor stands. There is usually a cheap tuner and microfiber polishing rag in there too. Thus with two basses I've got a lot of backup stuff right there, including extra cord and extra strap (all my straps used Dunlops so they can be moved from bass to bass if necessary or even use a borrowed guitar strap if you have to. I've never had a strap fail but cords have and the tool kits have been life-savers (ever be playing and then noticed one (or all) of your saddles have screwed themselves down to the bottom of their range? Now WHERE is that tiny odd-ball sized saddle allen wrench?)

Sure hardcases they are heavier. But hey, I'm a big boy. And amp and speaker cab is heavy too. And I don't whine about how heavy a bass is to wear all night either. Get a rock and roller cart. My basses ride in the back of my pickup truck. It has a cap, but it's not nice back there. These cases get some abuse which is why I get these metal corner thingies and screw them on the corners of all the wood hardcases. Without them the corners DO get chewed and smashed.

I do have a couple of gig bags so I do use them on occasion but I just don't like the lack of protection they give. You can throw a hardcase in the truck and pile crap on top of it with few worries. A gig bag transmits the pressure right to the bass. So the bag always has to go on top.

Maybe if I just tossed my bass in the back seat of my car a gig bag would be more practical, but this is what I do.