Damn! The mafia doesn't even get a return like that. Are you selling plutonium to Thai sex slaves or something?
bob
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Double Bass Gollihur Bass Bag Experience
- Thread starter all_grown_up
- Start date
Damn! The mafia doesn't even get a return like that. Are you selling plutonium to Thai sex slaves or something?
bob
FWIW, I bought a gig bag for my electric bass from Glenn Cronkhite, the guy who founded reunion blues. It's a really great bag--simple, fits well, extremely good protection and really solid construction.He's fun to deal with too--he's a musician, and we had a long conversation about bass players--he hipped me to Renaud Garcia-Fons, for example. I got one in a very snazzy two tone leather.
When my current bag wears out, I may order one from Glenn. I assume it would be pretty much the same as a reunion blues bag. That or the Messina bag
My only hesitation is storing the thing when it's empty--if the bag is too stiff/dense, it's almost like having a second bass hanging around
When my current bag wears out, I may order one from Glenn. I assume it would be pretty much the same as a reunion blues bag. That or the Messina bag
My only hesitation is storing the thing when it's empty--if the bag is too stiff/dense, it's almost like having a second bass hanging around
I had the same problem ..I went on a limb and took photos and emailed them to Bob..I got a new one in a week..
I bought the Gollihur professional bag last month.
My first impression was very positive, looks good, nicely designed with lots of handles in good places, solid padding, and I use both the backpack straps and wheels, overall a very nice bag. Thick padding and extra design comes at the price of weight, so not for anybody who wants a light bag. That also makes it stiff, so you need some space for it, it doesn't roll up. But wheels, handles in good places, and backpack straps outweigh these disadvantages for me.
Unfortunately, a bag is only as good as its weakest link and the zipper is very iffy. If you close it very carefully, it may work; but if you just zip it up, changes are some teeth don't latch (around anything curved) and as you handle the bass they open up. Happened to me right from the beginning and if you can't trust that the bag is closed, it just is not a very useful bag. Pretty much every time I used the bag, some of the teeth didn't quite lock right (just 4/5 gigs and then I gave up on the bag). The zipper problem may not be unique to my bag, I just saw a recent flame that may initially have been caused because of a similar zipper problem with the professional bass bag (although that transaction may have ended badly for other reasons) http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=387334&highlight=gollihur+complaint
So if you consider the pro bag, check with Bob Gollihur if the problem with the supplier has been solved, it may save you and him some grief.
Bob Gollihur's initially seemed quite responsive and said he would have my bag picked up and fixed. Hasn't worked out yet, , for two weeks I have been putting the package out front every morning and take it in at night (and, not to mention, repackage it after heavy rain) and his later response had a more grumpy tone along the line "UPS problem, not mine". Given Bob Gollihur's overall reputation, I still have hope that this has a happy ending, even though this didn't get off to a good start. Well, I keep you updated.
My first impression was very positive, looks good, nicely designed with lots of handles in good places, solid padding, and I use both the backpack straps and wheels, overall a very nice bag. Thick padding and extra design comes at the price of weight, so not for anybody who wants a light bag. That also makes it stiff, so you need some space for it, it doesn't roll up. But wheels, handles in good places, and backpack straps outweigh these disadvantages for me.
Unfortunately, a bag is only as good as its weakest link and the zipper is very iffy. If you close it very carefully, it may work; but if you just zip it up, changes are some teeth don't latch (around anything curved) and as you handle the bass they open up. Happened to me right from the beginning and if you can't trust that the bag is closed, it just is not a very useful bag. Pretty much every time I used the bag, some of the teeth didn't quite lock right (just 4/5 gigs and then I gave up on the bag). The zipper problem may not be unique to my bag, I just saw a recent flame that may initially have been caused because of a similar zipper problem with the professional bass bag (although that transaction may have ended badly for other reasons) http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=387334&highlight=gollihur+complaint
So if you consider the pro bag, check with Bob Gollihur if the problem with the supplier has been solved, it may save you and him some grief.
Bob Gollihur's initially seemed quite responsive and said he would have my bag picked up and fixed. Hasn't worked out yet, , for two weeks I have been putting the package out front every morning and take it in at night (and, not to mention, repackage it after heavy rain) and his later response had a more grumpy tone along the line "UPS problem, not mine". Given Bob Gollihur's overall reputation, I still have hope that this has a happy ending, even though this didn't get off to a good start. Well, I keep you updated.
If it helps anybody I want to chime in and remind everybody that these are tough times in general money-wise and all other-wise... and it's a particularly tough time of year, when everybody's short on cash and patience. It should also be pointed out that it is a known fact that the shippers (UPS, Fedex, USPS, etc) are absolutely overburdened with volume during the holidays, more and more so with online shopping becoming more mainstream. I can't speak for anybody but me, but I would just expect freight problems to be the rule rather than the exception. Give it a lot of extra time and patience, or just wait a few weeks before ordering things.
I know for me personally, in addition to my unusual number of unexpected major expenses (car repairs, hospital bills, etc), it has just been a real Murphy's Law kind of coupla months for me where everything that could possibly go wrong, has gone terribly, horribly wrong. Maybe it's just in the air.... hang in there and give the reputable merchants some leeway when shippers may be exacerbating the problem. It's enough to make any merchant cranky.
...oh, and wrap the package in a plastic bag so you don't have to repack it.
A lot depends on how hard you are on your equipment in general. I sold a Mooradian bag to a colleague a few years ago. It had a rip in the bottom of the bow pocket, but was otherwise in fine condition after 5 or so years of use on subways, buses, etc.. This person turned it into rags in less than a month.
Do not forget; you can always take your worn out bag to a local upholsterer for a quick stitch or repair.
Look around for "zipper repair service" in your area too, usually they can fix or replace most problems.
Look around for "zipper repair service" in your area too, usually they can fix or replace most problems.
I think it's more than a bit of a stretch to attribute a two-week delay to shippers being overburdened. I've had UPS and FedEx packages go out and be delivered right on time through this season. If this is the fault of UPS (and I'd take Bob's word on this), then I can't see cutting them a break. As for Bob, given his reputation and business practices, I think it highly likely he'll take care of all this.
I've had the green bag for about 7 months and I think it is pretty good. I have rehearsals once a week and it has held up well.
And the package is still sitting in the driveway......
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UPDATE: On 1/3/2008 the package was picked up by UPS to be shipped to JR Music Supply in Woonsocket, RI.
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Nor have I experienced any delays with UPS either, probably that wasn't the issue to begin with.
I've had a green one for a couple of years as well, but just as a backup bag. For a cheap bag, perfectly fine, doesn't have the zipper problem either, but of course not in the same league as a more expensive bag.
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UPDATE: On 1/3/2008 the package was picked up by UPS to be shipped to JR Music Supply in Woonsocket, RI.
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- Mar 22, 2000
- 1,972
- 73
- Disclosures
- Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
The manufacturer is making the arrangements to pick up the bag by UPS, unfortunately neither they nor UPS are in my direct control. If I were allowed to handle it directly it would have been gone by now.
However, I even got and gave you a tracking number for the call tag on Friday, December 28th, when they said they "reissued it". UPS doe not execute any ground services over the weekend or on Monday, New Years Eve. I'm doing everything I can, Roland.
Just to be more clear, I wasn't saying "cut UPS some slack" -- far from it. I just know that they are especially unreliable this time of year. And my delivery guy has the gall to actually come to the door ONLY at Christmas time, expecting a tip, no doubt, for the lack of service I get the rest of the year, when he just leaves the package on the stoop with nary a knock. I guess my point was there are lots of variables beyond Bob G's control.
...and I just wanna chime in to note that the bag I wrote about a year ago -- at the top of this page -- is hanging in there just fine, thanks. I put more than 50 dates on it over the year with very little more wear than what was there a year ago. At this rate I expect lots more service out of it. The bag has been a tremendous value.
The bag was picked up, but because no replacements are available (nor repair either), Bob Gollihur refunded the purchase price and shipping. It is the "Vader" model from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and that apparently was also the company that caused the return hassle. Not UPS or Bob Gollihur, he handled it fine and his reputation is deserved. Great that the bass community has good sellers.
With a good zipper, the vader would make a nice bag, I liked it quite a bit except that it needs to stay closed when you pack up your bass!
So, any recommendations for a higher end bag? Maybe I get a Mooradian.
Can't go wrong with Mooradian. Can go even less wrong with a Bobelock. Similar to M but better -- stronger, beefier, better handles, more of em.
Here's another recommendation for Bobelock. After doing a bit of research, I bought the Bobelock bag and am very happy with it. It's a high quality, sturdy bag. I got it for around $200 - can't beat it for the value.
Agreed on the Bobelock, but be warned: a couple of my students bought 'em recently for Shen SB100's, and those suckers are tight. Hope they loosen up a bit so as not to stress the zippers. Funny enough, my LaScala ply fits in mine just fine.
