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<$150 gig bag??

Chris F

Chris F

May 8, 2022
48
86
Birmingham, AL
#1
So I have a little Christmas cash and would like to upgrade my gig bag. I really like the style similar to the Mono Vertigo where you remove the bass from the top of the bag. I only play locally, and can't justify paying $250 for a gig bag.

Anyone have any recommendations for a vertical remove style gig bag that is more reasonably priced and doesn't suck?
 
#2
Chris F said:
So I have a little Christmas cash and would like to upgrade my gig bag. I really like the style similar to the Mono Vertigo where you remove the bass from the top of the bag. I only play locally, and can't justify paying $250 for a gig bag.

Anyone have any recommendations for a vertical remove style gig bag that is more reasonably priced and doesn't suck?
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No such thing, I’m afraid. :rollno:
Mono is, AFAIK, the only company offering a gig bag with this feature. They invented this design, and probably patented it as well. Any other brand of gig bag will feature the more traditional hinged-lid design.

The cheapest top-loading gig bag would be the Mono Bass Sleeve, which retails at about $180.
 
#5
buldog5151bass said:
Gator Go Pro. FTW.
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It’s a great bag, but doesn’t have the top-loading feature the OP is looking for, nor does it usually retail for less than $150.

The long and the short of it is that if the OP wants top-loading, he’s going to have to pony up for a Mono product, but failing that, there are plenty of traditional offerings that do a decent job, and are within his price range.

I’d probably go with the advice of @Clark Westfield as it gets the OP what he’s looking for feature-wise, and probably ends up cheaper in the long run anyway.
 
#6
I use Mono sleeves. Yeah, pricey, but at least it's not like their other models, which are overpriced IMO. The sleeves are more than enough protection, and I throw these things around year in and year out. The stupid hipster flap is truly awful, but the rest of the features overshadow that.

Pretty much any other gig bag of a lower price isn't going to be worth it. They're all crap.
 
#7
Snarf said:
I use Mono sleeves. Yeah, pricey, but at least it's not like their other models, which are overpriced IMO. The sleeves are more than enough protection, and I throw these things around year in and year out. The stupid hipster flap is truly awful, but the rest of the features overshadow that.

Pretty much any other gig bag of a lower price isn't going to be worth it. They're all crap.
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To your point, a transit bag that does not protect the neck and headstock in a drop is worthless [false security]. Better off using a trash bag.
 
#8
I presently have a Fender FB620: Invalid Link Removed

Is the Mono Vertigo worth $269 (Sweetwater special) in the way of protection at home with a less than attentive wife who does not understand stringed instruments? Or should I just hide my Jazz from my wife’s loving but clumsy hands and put that money toward another amp? I lean heavily toward the amp direction unless the Vertigo is a guaranteed complete upgrade in protection for my beloved Player Jazz. Thanks for input/opinions.
 
#10
I looked at a Gator at GC. I can’t remember the model but it was $149, iirc on sale. I tried the demo unit and the zipper got stuck when I tested it. Because of that, I am going to steer clear of Gator. Thanks for your suggestion.
 
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#11
Akiyama said:
I presently have a Fender FB620: Invalid Link Removed

Is the Mono Vertigo worth $269 (Sweetwater special) in the way of protection at home with a less than attentive wife who does not understand stringed instruments? Or should I just hide my Jazz from my wife’s loving but clumsy hands and put that money toward another amp? I lean heavily toward the amp direction unless the Vertigo is a guaranteed complete upgrade in protection for my beloved Player Jazz. Thanks for input/opinions.
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Not a top loader, but its a solid option. I paid $60 @ Sweetwater
 
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#12
Akiyama said:
I presently have a Fender FB620: Invalid Link Removed

Is the Mono Vertigo worth $269 (Sweetwater special) in the way of protection at home with a less than attentive wife who does not understand stringed instruments? Or should I just hide my Jazz from my wife’s loving but clumsy hands and put that money toward another amp? I lean heavily toward the amp direction unless the Vertigo is a guaranteed complete upgrade in protection for my beloved Player Jazz. Thanks for input/opinions.
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Probably not - at home any decent gigbag will work well enough.

The protection is only part of the reason I’ve got a Vertigo. The top-loading feature makes it extremely practical on tight stages and in crowded rehearsal rooms, and the ability to strap a Tick bag onto it lets you carry a lot of stuff with your hands free. The Boot allows it to be set down on wet, snowy or dirty ground with no harm to the bag or its contents. It’s comfortable on your back and the straps don’t dig into your shoulders. And after five years of heavy use it still looks like new.

These features aren’t that important for home storage, but if you carry your bass around a lot to and from rehearsals and gigs, you’ll appreciate the protection and features.
 
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#13
buldog5151bass said:
Again, unless you desire the top loading function, the Gator Go Pro is a great option at a lower price.
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TheArchitect said:
Not a top loader, but its a solid option. I paid $60 @ Sweetwater
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JakobT said:
Probably not - at home any decent gigbag will work well enough.

The protection is only part of the reason I’ve got a Vertigo. The top-loading feature makes it extremely practical on tight stages and in crowded rehearsal rooms, and the ability to strap a Tick bag onto it lets you carry a lot of stuff with your hands free. The Boot allows it to be set down on wet, snowy or dirty ground with no harm to the bag or its contents. It’s comfortable on your back and the straps don’t dig into your shoulders. And after five years of heavy use it still looks like new.

These features aren’t that important for home storage, but if you carry your bass around a lot to and from rehearsals and gigs, you’ll appreciate the protection and features.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input. I will still mull over a Mono gig bag and maybe look again at the Gator bags. Those Mono bags are cool looking and look quite functional. But, I will put them on the back burner for now. Thanks again!
 
#16
Snarf said:
I use Mono sleeves. Yeah, pricey, but at least it's not like their other models, which are overpriced IMO. The sleeves are more than enough protection, and I throw these things around year in and year out. The stupid hipster flap is truly awful, but the rest of the features overshadow that.

Pretty much any other gig bag of a lower price isn't going to be worth it. They're all crap.
Click to expand...
I fixed the flap on mine today. All it took was my wife's sowing scissors and a out two hours with needle and thread. Now the zipper is one hand accessible and the zipper pull tucks nicely under the flap's remaining panel:
 

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#17
CTForde said:
I fixed the flap on mine today. All it took was my wife's sowing scissors and a out two hours with needle and thread. Now the zipper is one hand accessible and the zipper pull tucks nicely under the flap's remaining panel:
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Cool solution, and kudos for making such a neat job of it! 😊

That said, I’m not as negative towards the flap as many others. Given the Sleeve’s construction, the flap actually serves a practical purpose, which is making the pocket less accessible when carrying the bag on your back. Since the zipper is on the side, it’s very easy for someone standing behind you to gain access to the contents of the pocket, and the flap makes this more difficult. It also prevents stuff from falling out should the zipper inadvertently be left open.

However, this is more or less academic after the launch of the Sleeve 2.0, which has the zipper at the top and no flap.
 
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#19
CTForde said:
Thanks.
That makes sense - but since I no longer live in a big city - the access restriction is not an issue for me and was rather an irritation - I just move those gig backs in and out of the car... : )
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I see that. When I used to have one, I appreciated it though, since not only do I live in a city, but I don’t drive, so I’m on public transport a lot. Not that Oslo is a vortex of crime or anything, but better safe than sorry. 😊
 
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#20
Akiyama said:
I presently have a Fender FB620: this

Is the Mono Vertigo worth $269 (Sweetwater special) in the way of protection at home with a less than attentive wife who does not understand stringed instruments? Or should I just hide my Jazz from my wife’s loving but clumsy hands and put that money toward another amp? I lean heavily toward the amp direction unless the Vertigo is a guaranteed complete upgrade in protection for my beloved Player Jazz. Thanks for input/opinions.
Click to expand...
Definitely a solid option, and it's rigid enough to top-load with it as well.

There's also Invalid Link Removedone. Thicker padding and dual neck rests, and still much less expensive than the Mono.
 

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