I have no idea. The Harvests I've seen are good but you want the very best handmade bag available get a Cronkhite.
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Gig Bag recommendations. (High End)
- Thread starter el murdoque
- Start date
I'd like to resurrect this thread a bit and learn from anybody who might have an update to how you are liking your higher end bag cases. I currently have a ProTec Contego, Mono M80 and Sadowsky (Access Stage 5). I am looking for one more case for a bass instead of a hardshell. I was thinking about just going with another ProTec Contego since they are priced nicely but am wondering about the Reunion Blues Voyager and give it a try. I wish the older Continental was still in production. That was a nice bag. Are the new Continental Voyagers still pretty decent?
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I agree, the original Contientals were fantastic. My old instructor convinced me to buy a Reunion Blues after I watched him put his prized custom six string into his case and throw it across the store that he taught it. It bounced a few times and hit the front door and came out of the case unscathed.
I ended up buying a Continental Voyager. It wasn't quite as "beefy" as the original, but it's still a great bag. Out the of bags I've owned (Contego, M80, Access 5, and the Continental Voyager), it's a close second to my Access 5. That's the best gig bag I've tried. But, given how close they are, I'd say the Continental Voyager is the better value given how expensive the Access 5 is.
I ended up buying a Continental Voyager. It wasn't quite as "beefy" as the original, but it's still a great bag. Out the of bags I've owned (Contego, M80, Access 5, and the Continental Voyager), it's a close second to my Access 5. That's the best gig bag I've tried. But, given how close they are, I'd say the Continental Voyager is the better value given how expensive the Access 5 is.
fwiw, I also own a ProTec Contego and a Mono M80 (along with a couple decidedly not high end gig bags), and I have told myself repeatedly that if I ever needed another gig bag I should just get another ProTec Contego or Mono M80 since they are so good
...but, y'know, variety is the spice of life, and/or I'm stupid, so I've also bookmarked a couple of other possible contenders, including
- the RoadRunner RR5EB
- the TKL Vectra IPX
- the Thomann SafeCase 80
I'll probably just stick with the ProTec/Mono since those are known. And because yeah, I really do still like them after ~20 years use.
The TKL doesn’t really look any better than the Protec Contigo does it? And the Contego is $140 on Amazon.
The Roadrunner can be had for $100 often times but pitting things in the pockets and then having to zip the full cover over the pockets is a bit strange. Especially for things that aren’t thin and flat in the pockets.
Anybody have experience with the Thomann bag?
The Roadrunner can be had for $100 often times but pitting things in the pockets and then having to zip the full cover over the pockets is a bit strange. Especially for things that aren’t thin and flat in the pockets.
Anybody have experience with the Thomann bag?
The Thomann bag is a great deal. It’s actually produced by Music Area (it’s also sold under the Music Area brand), but the Thomann bag is much cheaper, probably because it’s Thomann-badged. The added Tick-style bag sweetens the deal still further.
Carvin/Kiesel did that too, with their soft cases. I think they still sell the same ones with their instruments. I have several. They used to sell the bass cases by themselves for around $179, but I don't think you can get them separately any more. They worked fine, and I'd be OK with tossing my bass down a flight of stairs in one. One downside was that they didn't have as much storage space or as many pockets as some of the newer premium soft cases/bags from Mono, Gator, Access, and the like, but the upside was that they were slimmer and lighter while still offering good protection.
FWIW:
I've been considering replacing my Dual Bass Gator Go Pro. It offers great protection, but the compartments are kind of shallow and it can be tough to close the zippers with two basses in it. I found the Fusions and have considered trying one if I do decide to replace that Gator.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of reviews out there but, what I've seen, was quite positive.
I've had Undercover, Heritage/Access, Contego, Go Pro, Continental, Levy's Leather, Messina, Cronkhite etc. ALL great bags! I just took the Contego on a 2 month cruise ship contract. The one bag I am liking most (and using most) as a combination of protection, storage, weight, etc is the Gator Icon bag. Light, protective, lots of storage, etc. If they only used heavy YKK zippers, then it might be the only bag I'd own (except for the tan leather Levy's bag....way too nice to ever let go!) Those stiff bags like the Heritage cases and leather Levy's don't like a tilted back headstock, though.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
I love my Continental and my Glenn Cronkhite custom leather bag for my Starfire, but if your hard case doesn't protect your instrument more than a gig bag, you might have the wrong hard case. My favorite hard cases are the Hiscox cases I have for my Modulus TBX 6 and for my Fender basses. But, my favorite case is my Calton for my Starfire. Absolutely nothing will damage the instrument short of a military bomb dropping on it.
How would you compare the Contego vs the Gator Icon series? It seems like they’re fairly similar. I’ve been impressed with the Contego for the price. I have a couple I got with my Mike Lull basses.
The contego is a fine bag, and the best bag under 200 imo. The Icon is just a hair more protection, imo. Contego wins the storage argument hands down. But I am gigging with the Icon while the Contego does round town and trips to teach at the college when need be. I hit in 29 minutes at a jazz festival in Bryan TX and the Icon is what's here.
I like my Access leather and canvas. A little heavier than a Mono but is not so tight as the Mono. I really like the nearly 360 degree opening of the Access bag when the zipper is undone. the Mono is sorta "scary snug" and you have to aim carefully if you have a fragile finish or mint bass, but I've got two Mono and one Access, so go figure. Both work with "Fender shaped objects", but the Access is a little roomier and has a larger accessory pocket.
Recently I purchased an Access Stage 5 that I am going to use on international flights. While I haven't used it yet, it seems to give me all I want/need. It has a TSA lock and in all fairness is a more soft case with straps than a gig bag.
The bag/case is not perfect, though. My pbass can move a bit inside and requires some padding. Would be nice if there were some adjustable system, so I won't have to use any socks. Maybe some dirty socks would be a theft deterrent? I also feel the large compartment is not all that large. For around town, I would like to get a regular class D amp in the gig bag. Since I bought it for international travel, it doesn't bother me much.
The bag/case is not perfect, though. My pbass can move a bit inside and requires some padding. Would be nice if there were some adjustable system, so I won't have to use any socks. Maybe some dirty socks would be a theft deterrent? I also feel the large compartment is not all that large. For around town, I would like to get a regular class D amp in the gig bag. Since I bought it for international travel, it doesn't bother me much.
I had one of the Access/Heritage backs in black Buffalo and canvas. I was a great "subway" bag for a bass with a straight/non-angled/Fender headstock. Zero usable storage except for a strap, cable, tuner and tablet. Great zippers, etc. Fantastic protection from bumps and bruises, but with a lighter exoskeleton other bags, IMO.
I sold it and got an Icon. Waaaay more storage, and great protection. I think the "High Protection with Maximum Storge" might go to the Contego, but mine only lasted 3 years and 2 international/cruise ship contracts. I guess everything has a lifespan, but I'm pretty happy with the the Icon.
I sold it and got an Icon. Waaaay more storage, and great protection. I think the "High Protection with Maximum Storge" might go to the Contego, but mine only lasted 3 years and 2 international/cruise ship contracts. I guess everything has a lifespan, but I'm pretty happy with the the Icon.
Just got a Mono Dual. Seems pretty nice, will be replacing a Music Area bag from back when Amazon was just about giving them away. It has been a great bag but the zippers aren't doing great and it was always kind of heavy. I like that I can now bring two basses and wear them on my back instead of one on my back and one in my hand. The main pocket on the old bag was big but kind of hard to get into, I like that the Mono pocket opens wide so you can see everything in it. Protection seems fine, and the straps are great. Look forward to putting it to use!
Zzounds had it marked down a bit and I put it in my cart on Reverb for a day or two and got an offer for maybe 10% or so off of that so I grabbed it.
Zzounds had it marked down a bit and I put it in my cart on Reverb for a day or two and got an offer for maybe 10% or so off of that so I grabbed it.
