A Tale of 3 Cases (soft, cheap, + Mustang content)

[othefool]

I started taking pictures on this post in the evening of Jan 18th; halfway through the power went out, and the following week featured being "snowed in," ice storms and power and data outages throughout the week! So this took a little longer than expected. These were still on sale when I started this, they have gone back to regular price since then - but if you wait you may catch a sale again!



As mentioned in another thread, I bought myself 3 new Fenders in the weeks between Black Friday and New Year; the deals were ridiculous, I lacked these basic models, and tbh I love all 3 of these.

But these instruments brought a problem - I needed a case or some way to store them!

I mounted a wall hanger in my living room for the Mustang, but as I wanted to rotate other instruments on display now that I had the hook - this was not a full time solution!

I always used to think that any instrument I loved had to have a hard case to store in the closet. I recently started gigging after a long time off and realized that there were better alternatives to hard cases - so as I didn't yet have Mono money I purchased a Protec Contego for a working case and had a couple of month's gigging under my belt.

Through the holidays a couple of other cases were available for decent savings, so I picked up two more to help me hold these bases! I was curious about a few of the styles and there was limited information, even on talk bass, so I decided to compare all 3.

All 3 are sturdy soft cases with backpack straps, in the $120-150 range MSRP. These are not flight cases, and I am certain are no comparison for a case that costs 2-4x as much, but I do feel that each of these cases have great aspects.

In my review I will indicate what I paid, and some observations about the case. If you own a Mustang or other SS bass, you may know that it is a lot harder finding a good case for your mustang than it should be - so I will also answer the question of "Does it Mustang?"

The three cases:

Protec Electric Bass Guitar Contego PRO PAC * MSRP $145.98
TKL Vectra IPX Electric Bass Impact-X Case * MSRP 150-190?
Road Runner RR5TEB-ESP Highway Premium Electric Bass Gig Bag * MSRP $119.99

All 3 were purchased from Musician's Fiend.

 

[othefool]

First up is the Protec Electric Bass Guitar Contego PRO PAC * MSRP $145.98

This one comes well recommended here @ Talkbass, and I really wanted backpack straps to help with my 1 trip load in (one does not want to leave instruments in the car in Portland, OR )

I did get a holiday 20% off coupon so I ended up spending $116.76. I think 15% off is a more regular offer; I don't know if this goes on sale.

Very cool case, I have been enjoying this as my daily driver for 2 1/2 months now. The case has some rigidity and I do not doubt that my bass is protected. As with all 3 of these cases, I am not sure I would trust my band to throw this in the back of the van, but as long as I am packing I have no worries about the capacity of this case to protect my bass.

There are plenty of pockets/storage in the front, which is nice - I like the one by the headstock for my strap.

The straps are super comfortable. I can walk through a standard door without hitting top - I am 5'6" so do with that what you will

It also has the best horizontal grab handle of the 3 (just above the backpack straps). I am a fan of this handle.

This case holds a Mustang nicely without even moving the neck pillow. You may want to put a tshirt or something under it to make up for the smaller body and keep the neck more straight in the case. I will probably use this case if I ever take the Mustang to gigs, and it would work for closet storage.

The only real issue is the piping on the front pocket seems to be deforming (see picture). This has not affected functionality, but it is a bit annoying. I will probably just live with it, and save up for a Mono or Reunion Blues double case!

The only non issue I have with this is I don't like dual handles that are meant to be closed & joined with velcro. I am too impatient, I rarely if ever close the velcro and that makes the handle more cumbersome. I also see the velcro security strap as more of a hinderance than a help, but these are just my opinion, man. Great case.

 

[othefool]

Next up us the TKL Vectra IPX Electric Bass Impact-X Case * MSRP 150-190?

This is the most mysterious of these cases - I find the least information on this one online. It doesn't appear to be in stock right now at MF, although they have a return for $75 right now. I believe that they said the MSRP was $149.99 when I purchased it, and it was on clearance sale for $79.97

I like that this one has 1 strap. As a West Coast Gen X'r, I know that the only cool way to wear a backpack is 1 strap on, 1 strap off. This strap is mounted the highest up, so door clearance is not a problem.

The main handle is thick and comfortable. I don't like the grab handle on this one. It is thin like a ribbon, in an awkward position down lower, and it is too tight to the body for easy access.

This is an interesting case as it is not rigid like the other cases, which have a bit of a hard/soft combo. This is more like a layer of foam that wraps around your instrument. At first it was disconcerting, but I have come to believe that the instrument is just as protected as in any of these more rigid cases. It's just weird when you look at the side profile - like in my closet photo above - and the headstock is not a straight line! Good case though.

This one came with 2 neck pillows, which seems strange - I don't know if I need or what else to do with the thicker one!

This case does NOT Mustang. It is the only one where the velcro that holds the neck down was attached to the case and not the neck pillow, so it doesn't adjust, and as is it just grips the Mustang too tight. I mean, maybe in a pinch, but I would not buy this case for a SS bass.

This is an interesting case and was definitely worth what I paid for it. It is my 2nd most used gig bag now.

 

[othefool]

Finally, we have the Road Runner RR5TEB-ESP Highway Premium Electric Bass Gig Bag * MSRP $119.99

This is the Espresso (Brown) color, which was on sale for $69.99. From forum discussions, it seems that this or another color does go on sale a few times per year.

This is a very unique case and I like it but am not 100% sure if I love it. I mean, for the price I love it; but they made the unique design choice to make the entire top a sort of pocket. This makes this case much thicker than you would expect. And for this, I wonder what the utility of all this space is? This is a more rigid case, but can't see stacking that much on top of my instrument (if you do, let me know! Seems like you could fit all sorts of stuff up there!) I would have preferred to have less pocket functionality, and shave an inch off the thickness, but again that's me! For closet storage, this is even thicker than most of my hard cases. This is not a svelte case!

The straps are very low on the body and I hit the door frame even at 5'6", so maybe for walking around outside but don't go through any doors

The handle is thick and nice. There is a loop instead of a proper grab handle.

I do kinda like the winter jacket aesthetic, and I love the brown color. I am a 70s kid after all!

This one is also a great choice for the Mustang! It is the only of the 3 to come with a thick removable bottom-of-the bass pad, so you can hold different sized basses (does this fit extended or longer like 35" scale basses? I think it might). The neck seems to project the least upwards in this out of the 3 - so the neck depth seems to fit the 'stang well. Might not even need a t shirt with this one!

Definitely worth the price, and a solid solution for storage, but for gigging I will use one of the other two, unless I start gigging the Mustang then maybe. I also bought one of these for guitar (doesn't fit the Mustang ) and have the same critique - but as a smaller overall package the guitar one is more manageable. (I haven't traveled or gigged with it yet tho!)

 

[FearNoEvil65]

I Bought the Roadrunner because it has the large top pocket, to put my leather straps in so I don't have to fold them over or wrap them up. I just carry it with the handle so it works good for me, I don't use the backpack style strap on the case to carry it.
I got the Black Camo color on sale a while back on Black Friday, for $60. For the price I'm happy

 

[othefool]

I hadn't considered that the road runner's extra pocket could be a strap holder! That's a great idea! With the other cases, I have to roll up my thick leather straps - like a chump!

Those are beautiful straps btw - I was noticing that all mine were boring and black. Now I have Strap GAS

 

[brian clay]

Finally, we have the Road Runner RR5TEB-ESP Highway Premium Electric Bass Gig Bag * MSRP $119.99

This is the Espresso (Brown) color, which was on sale for $69.99. From forum discussions, it seems that this or another color does go on sale a few times per year.

This is a very unique case and I like it but am not 100% sure if I love it. I mean, for the price I love it; but they made the unique design choice to make the entire top a sort of pocket. This makes this case much thicker than you would expect. And for this, I wonder what the utility of all this space is? This is a more rigid case, but can't see stacking that much on top of my instrument (if you do, let me know! Seems like you could fit all sorts of stuff up there!) I would have preferred to have less pocket functionality, and shave an inch off the thickness, but again that's me! For closet storage, this is even thicker than most of my hard cases. This is not a svelte case!

The straps are very low on the body and I hit the door frame even at 5'6", so maybe for walking around outside but don't go through any doors

The handle is thick and nice. There is a loop instead of a proper grab handle.

I do kinda like the winter jacket aesthetic, and I love the brown color. I am a 70s kid after all!

This one is also a great choice for the Mustang! It is the only of the 3 to come with a thick removable bottom-of-the bass pad, so you can hold different sized basses (does this fit extended or longer like 35" scale basses? I think it might). The neck seems to project the least upwards in this out of the 3 - so the neck depth seems to fit the 'stang well. Might not even need a t shirt with this one!

Definitely worth the price, and a solid solution for storage, but for gigging I will use one of the other two, unless I start gigging the Mustang then maybe. I also bought one of these for guitar (doesn't fit the Mustang ) and have the same critique - but as a smaller overall package the guitar one is more manageable. (I haven't traveled or gigged with it yet tho!)

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This is great info ! Thank you !

 

[ShortScale24]

First up is the Protec Electric Bass Guitar Contego PRO PAC * MSRP $145.98

This one comes well recommended here @ Talkbass, and I really wanted backpack straps to help with my 1 trip load in (one does not want to leave instruments in the car in Portland, OR )

I did get a holiday 20% off coupon so I ended up spending $116.76. I think 15% off is a more regular offer; I don't know if this goes on sale.

Very cool case, I have been enjoying this as my daily driver for 2 1/2 months now. The case has some rigidity and I do not doubt that my bass is protected. As with all 3 of these cases, I am not sure I would trust my band to throw this in the back of the van, but as long as I am packing I have no worries about the capacity of this case to protect my bass.

There are plenty of pockets/storage in the front, which is nice - I like the one by the headstock for my strap.

The straps are super comfortable. I can walk through a standard door without hitting top - I am 5'6" so do with that what you will

It also has the best horizontal grab handle of the 3 (just above the backpack straps). I am a fan of this handle.

This case holds a Mustang nicely without even moving the neck pillow. You may want to put a tshirt or something under it to make up for the smaller body and keep the neck more straight in the case. I will probably use this case if I ever take the Mustang to gigs, and it would work for closet storage.

The only real issue is the piping on the front pocket seems to be deforming (see picture). This has not affected functionality, but it is a bit annoying. I will probably just live with it, and save up for a Mono or Reunion Blues double case!

The only non issue I have with this is I don't like dual handles that are meant to be closed & joined with velcro. I am too impatient, I rarely if ever close the velcro and that makes the handle more cumbersome. I also see the velcro security strap as more of a hinderance than a help, but these are just my opinion, man. Great case.

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I like the dual strap handles for 2 reasons. First, it distributes the stress among 2 more points. Second, if your zipper ever fails, you can still carry your bass. I own or have owned all 3 and this would be my choice among them.