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The Portabag is very well built, but I've favored the Contego for day-to-day use - smaller and lighter, and adequate storage flaps. I'm now wearing out the single shoulder strap that I use the most; yet, while I have another Contego that I could use, I might just reverse the shoulder straps, 'cuz the rest of the bag is in great shape, although I suspect it someday will be be zapped by zipper failure.
I bought one of the "Portabags" from Warwick. It looked exactly the Portabag (I have 3) but it's not built the same. It didn't retain its stiffness and bent in half kind of like like a cheap gig bag would. I think it's s cheaper foam inside. Also the top pocket came unsewn after a couple weeks. Just a heads up-
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curious as to how pricing compares with what was available when NYC had these on their pricelist...
What does the 24 fret jazz weigh? Are they chambered? Regarding pickguard… I use Pickguardian in Columbus Ohio. Pricing is reasonable and they’ll replicate the current guard in most any material you’d like.
Is that the Portabag, or the Portabag Express?
Edit: both of those are available on the Warwick site, with the Express being half the price, so I wouldn't expect it to be as rugged as the non-Express. I ordered the non-Express, and will be really disappointed if quality dropped.
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The 24 fret jazz is 8.6 lbs. I believe all the metrolines made in germany are chambered.
The Warwick accessories are a different manufacturer compared to your bag. It will be different.
Thanks for the heads up. I'm ok with different*, but if @BassmusM6674 paid over $300 for the more expensive version and it warped, well... that is definitely NOT ok.
*Edit: I just now remembered that "different" happened even before Warwick entered the picture. One of my Portabags has a velcro flap at the butt end of the case that might have prevented the damage I did to my earlier model Portabag that doesn't have the flap.
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I had the same issue with a Protec bag. Take it to a luggage repair shop, they have the proper zippers, strong thread, and heavy-duty sewing machines... mine is good as new!
I think I payed 50 to 70 bucks in Nashville.
Yes I believe there are two sets of hex screws, sorry I can't remember the exact size. Just get a metric ring of Allen wrenches at Hardware store.
I did that with my portabag. Automotive upholstery shop. Unfortunately, there was not enough of the case edge to securely attach new zipper. It lasted only a month or 2. It is now in a closet holding a never used bass. I’ve since been supremely happy with my 2 mono vertigo bags.
It was the more expensive one. Visually it looks just like the portbag. It's just not a rigid. The picture I posted yesterday was with a bass inside and laying on the floor. It's even bent worse with no bass inside.
Mine has the flap at the bottom.
I think they used different material inside so it doesn't have the stiffness that the original Portabags had. I was very disappointed in the quality. Also , the smaller top pocket shouldn't have come un-sewn after I used it literally a couple times. Hopefully they fixed those issues. Good luck!
To be as brief as possible: the case is not what I was expecting, so it's going back.
I made a rush decision to purchase partly because I'll be out of town starting this Saturday, and I wanted to scratch it off my to-do list. Terrible decision for multiple reasons, one of which being that now I have to scramble to return it. Also, per the website I'll be charged for all shipping... that's to be expected... but there's also a 25% restocking fee.
