What's your take on Gig Bags? I hate 'em. In fact I hate 'em so much that sometimes it prevents from buying a bass I have major G.A.S. for and it really bugs me. Sometimes it is to the point where if I can't get a HSC with a matching manufacturer's name it stops me from pulling the trigger. Are you plagued with this? On a side note, I found a case for the Ibanez Mikro bass that works perfectly for the GSRM20 and GSRM20B. It is Ibanez' hard shell guitar case for the prestige deluxe guitar series...yes, guitar series..... Fits like a glove. Ibanez only sells a Gig Bag for their Mikro. Thoughts - comments - chime in
I also prefer HSCs. Coincidentally, I just purchased an Ibanez SRC6 for which the company also offers only a gig bag. I found that a Fender Mustang Bass case I had laying around is a pretty good fit. Wonder if the case you reference would also work.
Which one of these cases are you talking about? Accessories - Cases for Electric Guitars | Ibanez guitars
Comments? Okay... It’s not OCD to tolerate nothing but HSCs, but to insist on the manufacturer’s name being on the case seems... a bit much. I’m not plagued by this. I’ve got a gig bag and an HSC, one each in guitar and bass sizes, and I just throw in whichever instrument I need to transport.
Cheap gig bags - no, but a good one provides plenty of protection, as long as others are not tossing your instrument into a trailer. My Lull came with a Protec. Fourteen years of gigging later, the bag is still protecting it.
A nice HSC protects the bass much better in transit. But I prefer gigbags. I do transport mine in a nice Mono Vertigo bag. I’m not an animal
I have a Mono bag which i transport my IbanezSR505. Great bag and light. However, my new Kiesel Icon5, I purchased the HSC. Also for my RIC, Gibson andFenderJazz I use the HSC they came with. I do load my basses in the trailer for gigs and too risk back there of things getting banged around.
I know...matching tie and handkerchief crap. Probably is really bordering on OCD. Just bugs me when a manufacturer just doesn't bother when they make something new. At the very least for the first year of issue.
I don't like hard cases, unless I have to place my bass in the baggage compartment of a plane. I don't much like soft cases either. My favourite cases are semi-hard and the best I've found, protection-wise, is the Sadowsky Portabag. I'd much rather have my bass dropped while in a Portabag than while in a hard case.
None of these in this link. The case I am referring to is an older Ibanez Case for a guitar that works perfectly for the GSRM20 Mikro Bass. Electric Basses GSR - GSRM20 miKro | Ibanez guitars Electric Basses GSR - GSRM20B miKro | Ibanez guitars Ibanez only makes a Gig Bag for it and is not aware that this older case fits it perfectly. And I mean perfectly, not coffin case style. See link and pix Vintage Ibanez deluxe prestige Guitar hardshell case only good shape. {} It is a bummer this topic was moved. Although I fully understand and agree why it was moved the secondary reason for the post (besides my borderline OCD) was to help those who own an Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 find a real hard shell case for their little baby bass Here are the internal measurements: 39 inches length 12 1/2 inches lower bout and 10 inches upper bout. Neck to body 23 inches. Body to neck 16 inches. Very bottom of body to top of highest horn 19 inches Fits like it was made for it.
I have hardshell cases for all of my basses (except my upright) but I have not taken a bass to a gig in a HSC in about 30 years. Ever since I got my first gig bag, I only use the hard cases for storrage.
I got a bunch of basses and two stands. My main bass stays out on one stand. And one of the others is rotated to the second stand. I do this on a strict schedule so they all get played regularly. The ones I'm not playing I would prefer be sitting in HSCs rather than gig bags. For roading I still prefer a HSC, although for a quick local jaunt, a gig bag works for me if it's something like a Fender or similar. Those basses are pretty hard to damage and easy to fix if you do. But for set necks or necks with angled headstocks, or that are semi-hollow or ABGs, I definitely want something more substantial than a gig bag even then.
My 98 Fen AB1 is in gig bag Has nice finish and I cringe every time I put it back into its bag ( I also cringe every time I play it which is why it has spent more time in bag than hands )
Hardcase are great for storage...much harder to bring to a gig on a motorcycle or public transportation in a big city. A good gig bag is essential imho for big city gigging. When I lived in small town Ontario, I always used a hard case...but had the luxury of driving my car, parking near venue... 3 gigs, 3 neighbourhoods across the city and only Subway for transit...gig bag is a must.