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Double Bass Best bass bag?
- Thread starter downunder
- Start date
My Bull in a China Shop Self is considering using a Flight Case for gigging rather than my padded soft case. Anyone care to share their thoughts on this idea?
Do you already have a flight case? If not, they can be pretty pricey.
I assume you drive to all your gigs. But it might be a little bit of a hassle to maneuver it from your vehicle into the gig. And in some space-limited settings, it might present a problem to find a place to stash it once you've taken your bass out.
Just some thoughts. I'd be curious how it works out for you if you choose to go that route.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
I’ve had a few Mooradians come with basses I bought or took in trade and they tend yo run a bit large, as do Bobelocks. Both are excellent bags though. I just bought a bass which came with a Tuff Bag. As was posted earlier, it is very similar to Mooradian Deluxe. It’s seems to be a bit better than a standard Mooradian. I just purchased a Messina for my main bass and expect it to be everything I remember from the old blue one I foolishly sold a few years ago. The Cronkhite bag I owned was excellent but very heavy. I believe Messina bags provide similar protection but are far more convenient.
What’s the deal with the cinch strap up by the neck in Mooradian bags? My Messina case don’t seem to need it.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
When I spoke with Dave this week he told me his bags FIT and didn’t need one. His take is that Mooradian bags are oversized and need the strap.
Have you seen and/or handled a flight case in person? I bought one thinking that it'd provide additional protection in the band van on tours. But I realized almost immediately that it made unwieldy instrument even harder to manage: it fit in fewer places/vehicles and the added weight sucked.
My Bobelock also has the strap, and likewise, I can't figure out what it's actually for. There is a lot of room in the case around the neck, but it doesn't seem to cause any problem.
Maybe it's for threatening to strangle my bass if it keeps playing clams.
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- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
There's that "in between" option, harder than a padded case but not really robust enough to stand up to extended treatment by baggage handlers...
Lightweight Travel Hard-side CASE for 3/4 size Upright Bass
A large, oversized case like this will certainly offer more protection than a gig bag, but it's not exactly practical for most "in-town" gigging. But if you're on a tour bus, traveling with a band -- or someone else is packing the van -- this might be a good way to protect your investment.
gollihurmusic.com
Thank you. I saw that on Mark's site and it certainly is rising to the top of my short list. As, yes, it's only for me in my car, not airlines. Thank you for your input.There's that "in between" option, harder than a padded case but not really robust enough to stand up to extended treatment by baggage handlers...
Lightweight Travel Hard-side CASE for 3/4 size Upright Bass
A large, oversized case like this will certainly offer more protection than a gig bag, but it's not exactly practical for most "in-town" gigging. But if you're on a tour bus, traveling with a band -- or someone else is packing the van -- this might be a good way to protect your investment.
As someone who used a Gage flight case to transport my bass across the US for festivals in the 1990's, I cannot imagine using a flight case for any purpose other than protection from baggage handling when out of one's own hands. They are just so big, heavy and unwieldy, plus you still need to have a padded bag on your bass when in the flight case. Even then, they are not 100% foolproof....my bass somehow got a hole in it's shoulder while in a Mooradian bag in a flight case ( think the metal shoulder strap hooks were not lying flat and the flight case was dropped on its side, but I am not sure).
I’m using one of these right now. After using a light weight bag. I’m very happy with the extra protection. Not a hard case, but provides great protection in my opinion and is built well.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Yup! There are other really good bags, but considering how well a Messina bag protects your bass, plus the awesome selection of colors, the ability to add or delete pockets, etc, it really is a simple, no-brainer one time purchase for your Work Wife! Haggling over a few hunded bucks when you're protecting something as personal as your instrument seems silly to me.
I am in the middle of shopping for a Miata and it's a cash sale. The options on the one I am purchasing total over 3k. It's ridiculous. But 600$ for a bag? Yes, please!!
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
The Messina bags FIT. When I first put in on it fit very snug and I was concerned that it might be too small. However, the next day it relaxed (or stretched) and is a perfect fit. Dave emailed that it’s normal.
One issue with other bags is they don’t seem to have enough protection over the strings and I dented several strings by hitting the neck on door jambs and cars. The steel rings of the Mooradian cinch strap land right over the strings which may be a factor. Dave uses a very dense foam so that’s not an issue. I plan to keep this bag for the duration.
One issue with other bags is they don’t seem to have enough protection over the strings and I dented several strings by hitting the neck on door jambs and cars. The steel rings of the Mooradian cinch strap land right over the strings which may be a factor. Dave uses a very dense foam so that’s not an issue. I plan to keep this bag for the duration.
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Not to be snarky, but if you're such a rough handler that you might damage a bass in a good padded case, maybe you need someone to show you how to do it.
