A question about gig bags

[iamflea]

Just after some feedback if possible?

How many of you gigging bassist use a standard gig back to transport your pride and joy to shows?

Do you feel comfortable having an expensive instrument in a cloth bag? Are you happy with the level of support?

[J. Crawford]

Well, theres a great difference in a "cloth bag," and a bag like a Mono or iGig.

But yes, I take my main in a gig bag and backup in a hardshell, if I take a backup.

[Spinal Tapper]

Yeah, I have hard-cases at home, but the padded gig bag is good enough for me and its easier to sling it over my shoulder while I wheel my rig around than to carry a huge oversized case. Plus my hardshells don't have much room for cables, tuners, etc.

I have a couple bags I use for my Fenders...one is a Fender brand that only has one pocket and not as much padding (leave it to Fender to cut corners) but my Roadrunner Gigbag Pro is BADA$$. I got it used with a bass for very cheap.

It has lots of pockets for cables and stuff. And double straps to wear it like a backpack. I'd recommend the Roadrunner Pro

[iamflea]

thanks for the response, is the "bulk" of a more protected case a problem for you at all?

Let's consider you had limited space, and someone offered you the strength of a hardshell in a standard cloth gig bag. Would that interest you?

This isn't a sales pitch, but I had an idea earlier and wanted to sound a few of you out if possible?

[pasta4lnch]

I was nervous at first too . . . but it's just way to easy to ignore. I am VERY neurotic about the care of my instruments, but I also live and gig in and around NYC so I need to be practical too.

FWIW my wife got me a Mooridian bag for my b-day 2 Decembers ago - w/ at least 1 to 2 gigs a week (plus rehearsals) and nothing has ever happened (of course now that I've said this ). No doubt a hard case is more secure, but a good bag'll do fine.

[danomite64]

I feel much better about having my bass in a gig bag on my back when I'm taking my amp in and out than I do leaving it in a case on stage or in the car while I'm moving my amp. I did have a bent tuner on my '96 Precision once as a result of using a gig bag, but that was right after I started using bags. On the other hand, I almost had my 4001 stolen while putting my amp in my car.....

[pasta4lnch]

Originally Posted by iamflea

thanks for the response, is the "bulk" of a more protected case a problem for you at all?

Let's consider you had limited space, and someone offered you the strength of a hardshell in a standard cloth gig bag. Would that interest you?

This isn't a sales pitch, but I had an idea earlier and wanted to sound a few of you out if possible?

I think if I could strap it to my back, fold it behind my amp, fit some cables and such in it and be relatively comfy that it I brush up against a wall or the door hits it as I'm loading in there wont be any dings than I'm happy . . .

[bassteban]

I have no problem putting any of my basses($400-$2100)into a gig bag- I have a couple of nicer Ritters, a single & double. I'm very impressed w/these bags, but I believe the company went under. One important(to me)factor I haven't seen addressed here is cost- most musicians are poor, especially in the current economy. I got both my bags used, so the price(s)were right.

[iamflea]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

I think if I could strap it to my back, fold it behind my amp, fit some cables and such in it and be relatively comfy that it I brush up against a wall or the door hits it as I'm loading in there wont be any dings than I'm happy . . .

But what about the protection of it being dropped or something falling on it?

I'm saying a gig bag that is trully as protective as a hardshell but as portable and comfy as an existing bag.

[Tony G]

My Nordy sees 99.99% of its time in the Nordstrand "N" logo Gig bag. When I had my old MTD 635, that spent the majority of its time in the Incase Slim Bag. If I know that I'm going to be the only one handling my basses, as well as putting them in and out of my own car, you can't beat a gig bag for portability. If I was going to share transportation with someone else and their gear, I'd probably break out the hard cases for a little piece of mind.

[phatbass]

I usually cart/pack my own stuff in my own car so I use a gig-bag and have for the last 15 years or so. Hard cases take up a lotta room.

If anyone else is involved in the transportation at ANY stage, it goes in a hard case.

I'll add that I use at least semi-decent bags (the better Warwick Rock Bags or similar), not the $9.95 "we'll throw this in for free if you buy the Esteban Bass" type...

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by iamflea

But what about the protection of it being dropped or something falling on it?

I'm saying a gig bag that is trully as protective as a hardshell but as portable and comfy as an existing bag.

I fell down a flight of stairs with my old MTD 635 in an Incase Slim Bag. The bass was protected perfectly.

[electracoyote]

I wouldn't transport the cheapest Squire Affinity in a gig bag if I gave a damn about it. Gig bags are glorified dust covers with handles and shoulder straps. About the closest to a gig bag I would ever consider is the hard styrofoam with canvas covering. Even my cheapest basses, if they have any gig or studio value to me at all, are in hardshells.

I've been transporting gear for over 30 years. I have had around 20 students for the past 15 years. I have lost count of the terrible things that I have seen happen to guitars in bags. On the other hand, I can only remember once or twice something bad happening to a guitar in a hardshell.

You can be the most watchful and careful person on earth, and that's what a gig bag requires, but even then, it's just a matter of time before your number comes up.

My advice: If you value your axe, don't gamble with the protection a sleeping bag provides.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

I wouldn't transport the cheapest Squire Affinity in a gig bag if I gave a damn about it. Gig bags are glorified dust covers with handles and shoulder straps. About the closest to a gig bag I would ever consider is the hard styrofoam with canvas covering. Even my cheapest basses, if they have any gig or studio value to me at all, are in hardshells.

I've been transporting gear for over 30 years. I have had around 20 students for the past 15 years. I have lost count of the terrible things that I have seen happen to guitars in bags. On the other hand, I can only remember once or twice something bad happening to a guitar in a hardshell.

You can be the most watchful and careful person on earth, and that's what a gig bag requires, but even then, it's just a matter of time before your number comes up.

My advice: If you value your axe, don't gamble with the protection a sleeping bag provides.

I used to feel exactly this way, my basses were always stored and transported in hard case. However, with the relatively recent introduction of high end, heavily padded and rigid gig bags, I've come around a bit and my hard cases see a lot of closet time these days.

[pointbass]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

I wouldn't transport the cheapest Squire Affinity in a gig bag if I gave a damn about it. Gig bags are glorified dust covers with handles and shoulder straps.

A lot of players feel this way ....

My three main basses are all transported in gig bags, in fact, I don't even own a HSC except for a flight case. I have kinda expensive gear and I trust gig bags completely, but I only use heavily padded leather bags (LowEnd). All three basses are custom, one-of-a-kind instruments. I average about 150 dates a year for the past 5 years, and to date, no issues with damages.

And, to my own discredit, I'm not very careful with my basses ....

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by pointbass

And, to my own discredit, I'm not very careful with my basses ....

Point well taken. If you don't mind a little sudden unplanned relic'ing every once in a while, a gig bag is the way to go.

And as I recognized above, there are some very stiff "gig bags" out there that are almost as tough as a hardshell (and they nearly cost as much too). My rant was about the foam padded sleeping bag type.

[Spinal Tapper]

Originally Posted by Tony G

I used to feel exactly this way, my basses were always stored and transported in hard case. However, with the relatively recent introduction of high end, heavily padded and rigid gig bags, I've come around a bit and my hard cases see a lot of closet time these days.

+1 we're not talking about using the nylon, unpadded bags with handle straps. The gig bags I have are really durable, thick padding. I dont think you could jam a steak knife through my Roadrunner bag...

[electracoyote]

Just this winter, on his way to a lesson, one of my students slipped on the ice and his brand new bass (in a gig bag) hit the pavement with enough velocity to knock a big chunk of finish and wood from the butt end of the guitar.

The kid was in tears when he arrived for his lesson.

I hooked him up with one of my techs who filled it and did a pot stick to try and match the finish, but the scar was still very noticeable.

I could tell a dozen more stories like this, but you get the picture. I know hardshells are not cheap, but for the cost of that repair, this kid could have gotten a decent hardshell.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Just this winter, on his way to a lesson, one of my students slipped on the ice and his brand new bass (in a gig bag) hit the pavement with enough velocity to knock a big chunk of finish and wood from the butt end of the guitar.

The kid was in tears when he arrived for his lesson.

I hooked him up with one of my techs who filled it and did a pot stick to try and match the finish, but the scar was still very noticeable.

I could tell a dozen more stories like this, but you get the picture. I know hardshells are not cheap, but for the cost of that repair, this kid could have gotten a decent hardshell.

Yes, we understand what you are trying to say. Cheap gig bags offer little to no protection. I completely agree. High end gig bags are another story, and offer a more convenient solution to hard shell cases, while offering 80-90% of the protection.

[bassteban]

Also, though I mentioned it, price is not the main reason I go gigbag- it's the bulk & weight. I brought up cost as the OP seems to be doing early market research.