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Well I have! And then some! Look for special sidebar section "Veer Away From Vintage". Regarding the topic as a whole. I still have had more incidents where case lid open and accidentally has fallen down again, WHILE TRYING TO TAKE UP/OUT the bass, than any drunk tripping over it at gigs, or elsewhere. I've been able to stop it of course, since the arms was actually in the way, but I've heard of several acoustic guitarists that had their guitars being struck by the lid, mostly due to that the acoustic guitar has a thicker body (believe it or not). The thing is, while at home one can open the case on a completely flat surface where this will not happen. Try to open the case, when it's on any bed, or stage, or outside where the surface is not flushed level...I think it should be possible to open a case without having the lid falling upon you again, on a non-flat surface. Leaning, or something similar. Remember it's not the lid as such (well on flight case, the metal frame is) but the locking mechanisms that hits the bass.
Read about Reunion Blues "field tests"
Read about Case Extreme solutions to the whole shebang.
There are various Flight Cases, and even, erh pardon the pun, Float Cases (Pelican, Hiscox, ATA cases bu SKB), that has humidity watch. The main thing the builders discuss is that the instrument should not ever be allowed to touch any walls inside the case.
My take on it all was the "tolex" hard cases that comes with certain instruments as default. That they are sort of obsolete by now. And that they are "non essential" since alternatives are around, which the thread was about. If they're going to ship it with any hard case, skip it and make a jump up to the other ones. There are even ones made of graphite that costs more than most guitars. But most people that have bought a guitar or bass when they come with this "hard" Tolex case, are buying something else later on anyway. So it'd better come without anything at all, because the consumer chooses something else anyway.
There's a case for every case.
PERIOD. I am out of here.
Well I have! And then some! Look for special sidebar section "Veer Away From Vintage". Regarding the topic as a whole. I still have had more incidents where case lid open and accidentally has fallen down again, WHILE TRYING TO TAKE UP/OUT the bass, than any drunk tripping over it at gigs, or elsewhere. I've been able to stop it of course, since the arms was actually in the way, but I've heard of several acoustic guitarists that had their guitars being struck by the lid, mostly due to that the acoustic guitar has a thicker body (believe it or not). The thing is, while at home one can open the case on a completely flat surface where this will not happen. Try to open the case, when it's on any bed, or stage, or outside where the surface is not flushed level...I think it should be possible to open a case without having the lid falling upon you again, on a non-flat surface. Leaning, or something similar. Remember it's not the lid as such (well on flight case, the metal frame is) but the locking mechanisms that hits the bass.
Read about Reunion Blues "field tests"
Read about Case Extreme solutions to the whole shebang.
There are various Flight Cases, and even, erh pardon the pun, Float Cases (Pelican, Hiscox, ATA cases bu SKB), that has humidity watch. The main thing the builders discuss is that the instrument should not ever be allowed to touch any walls inside the case.
My take on it all was the "tolex" hard cases that comes with certain instruments as default. That they are sort of obsolete by now. And that they are "non essential" since alternatives are around, which the thread was about. If they're going to ship it with any hard case, skip it and make a jump up to the other ones. There are even ones made of graphite that costs more than most guitars. But most people that have bought a guitar or bass when they come with this "hard" Tolex case, are buying something else later on anyway. So it'd better come without anything at all, because the consumer chooses something else anyway.
There's a case for every case.
PERIOD. I am out of here.
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My hard cases have resided in the basement since I bought the basses. For all my day-to-day needs, a Mono Vertigo serves me very well. I'm sure there are situations when my Mono wouldn't be good enough, but I've yet to hear of any. I actually asked here on TB once whether anyone had actually had their bass damaged in a Mono bag, and nobody came forward. What I mostly got was a lot of comments from hard case users about possible nightmare scenarios if you used a gig bag, but only opinions. No actual breakage stories.
That said, my main beef with hard cases is the suitcase handle they come equipped with, which is usually the only way of carrying them. This makes them unnecessarily cumbersome and awkward, unless you only carry them to and from your car. Now if there was some way of carrying a hard case on your back or over your shoulder, I might actually use mine from time to time. The odd thing is that viola players or cello players, for instance, very often have hard cases for their instruments complete with backpack straps. Why bass and guitar cases do not is a mystery to me.
That said, my main beef with hard cases is the suitcase handle they come equipped with, which is usually the only way of carrying them. This makes them unnecessarily cumbersome and awkward, unless you only carry them to and from your car. Now if there was some way of carrying a hard case on your back or over your shoulder, I might actually use mine from time to time. The odd thing is that viola players or cello players, for instance, very often have hard cases for their instruments complete with backpack straps. Why bass and guitar cases do not is a mystery to me.
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Gig bags are good for locating all the pieces after it gets destroyed. Hard case for me only.
Not this:
I use these:
I know a lot of people like the convenience of a good gig bag. I just don't trust them. I'm very anal about my basses. They are always the last thing in the truck and the first thing out of the truck.
During setup, I keep them in the case until stage setup is complete. After the last set, they get wiped down and go back in the case until the truck is loaded.
But, that is just me. I've never had an instrument damaged.
Not this:
I use these:
I know a lot of people like the convenience of a good gig bag. I just don't trust them. I'm very anal about my basses. They are always the last thing in the truck and the first thing out of the truck.
During setup, I keep them in the case until stage setup is complete. After the last set, they get wiped down and go back in the case until the truck is loaded.
But, that is just me. I've never had an instrument damaged.
Really? Happens to me almost every time...not that it's actually damaged the bass by doing so, because I always catch it in time. But it makes it awkward taking the instrument out or putting it away knowing that you need to hold the lid open or it will get in your way.
A traditional hard case is ideal for someone who gigs regularly and wants the protection but doesn't want the weight and cost of a flight case and isn't likely to ship or have ham-fisted roadie handling their stuff.Got this idea from another thread called "Bass amps now non essential?" and did a search first but I've found nothing on it so I thought I start a similar thread on something that has - slightly - become obsolete.
Now, (means these days) when buying any new mid-end or high end bass it always comes with a "hard case". You know this squared vinyl/tolex things, that you have to carry with one handle and not being able to use both hands, say, like a gig bag that's formed like a huge backback. My opinion is, that if you REALLY need the protection of a hard case, you should go with a proper FLIGHT CASE in all instances. OR a properly made gigbag like MONO and the like if you want everyday soft protection agains scratches, rain, or anything else. The "in between" hard cases seems to make no sense anymore. Or at least, less and less If you have to protect it in that hard case, it is to be protected against such things that a flight case will do so much better. And to protect it enough from everyday rehearsal and transporting to a gig, a soft case performs so much better anyway. I e if you handle your bass with case/gig bag so hard that the actual bass will take some serious damage from any kind of hit or drop, chances are that it would do so just as well as with a hard case. And if you have to STOW something upon your bass residing in the case, I doubt a "regular" hard case will keep it up. Then the only thing would be flight cases.
1. Soft gig bag
2. Hard case
3. Flight case
Also, I find soft gig bags more malleable and forming after different shapes of basses and the amount of things than can be stowed into side pockets. Anything in there doesn't rattle around as much as in regular hard cases. And so on and on. Hard cases are very often just tailored to the one and only bass you've got.
By this, I mean "regular" hard case:
By this I mean a well made soft gig bag:
And, of course, by this I mean a flight case:
What's your opinion on this one?
Also, hard-cases are much better for storage for people who (like me) have too many guitars - gigbags don't stack well and I sure don't need a fliht case for all of them - I'm never taking all of them out (especially since some of them are actually GUITARS - which I'd rather not play in public - I switched to bass LONG before I got good guitar so I'm good at bass and not so much on guitar).
Yes really. Never happened to me once; didn't know it was a "thing". Are these decent cases? or junk like SKB, gator, and OEM?
If your bass is a small body, check out the Pelican 1750. If it's "normal" bodied or you need to carry two in one, check out the 1770. I carry my Fender CS Jazz and my BBN5A in a hard-foam modified Pelican 1770. Before the Pelican it was always flight cases like kbr's on the previous page.
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Hard cases for me.
My main reason, whether guitars or bass, the instrument can look like it's been through the apocalypse but my neck ABSOLUTELY cannot have any dings, dents etc on the back.
Has to be smooth.
Just funny I guess.
Presuming you have two hands, you have your own solution. I have never had this issue or heard about it.
Oh, I'm absolutely referring to SKB, Gator, or OEM...especially the traditional rectangular plywood HSC that is -- or used to be? -- included with every Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha, Gibson, etec. bass. My Anvil ATA flight case does not suffer from this problem.
Well, thanks, but as I (probably) mentioned earlier in this thread, I prefer high quality modern hybrid-style gig bags over any HSC ...other than a genuine flight case that meets ATA spec. If the bass will be out of my possession at all during the trip, it goes in the Anvil; otherwise it stays with me in a Mono M80 or a ProTec Contego. The only thing I use cheap hard cases for is storage.
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My Rickenbacker case:
My Fender Cases:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I wouldn't take my basses around in anything less. I don't fly, so I don't need flight cases.
As for all my acoustic guitars:
Nothing could be more simple.
My Fender Cases:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I wouldn't take my basses around in anything less. I don't fly, so I don't need flight cases.
As for all my acoustic guitars:
Nothing could be more simple.
One thing gig bags can't give you is that inviting click-click-snap sound a hardshell case makes when you open it.
That's a magic sound dear to the hearts of musicians of my generation. Instills an instant sense of anticipation and excitement over what's inside.
It's the audio equivalent of a lovely woman smiling at you as she unbuttons her blouse.
Probably an age thing.
I have never experienced a woman unbuttoning her blouse. I've always had to do it.
Hiscox Liteflight Pro II Case Review
"The reduces the likelihood of damage should the lid slam down on the guitar."
That guy is way more *n*l retentive than any of us around here. When opening the lid it is always at a straight angle and point right up. If you just happen to touch the rest of the case or move it the slightest WHEN taking out the guitar bass, guess what? The lid can't go the other way, it comes down on you. Verdict, Hiscox has thought about it, so I am definitely not alone in experience these things to happen, even frequently with TOLEX/VINYL hardcases, which is what is what all about.
And when they stand on the short side, I mean vinyl/tolex cases like this:
It's way more easier to just knock it over so it goes down with a slam on the floor and ends up like this:
Link Removed
Try that with any well padded gig-bag and come back to me if any loud bang was heard. You can't even place your gig bag like that, it'll tip over at once anyway, because, YOU SHOULDN'T. Same with stacking them in a van, when you remove everything else, this tolex/vinyl tips over more easily. If a gig bag should nevertheless be knocked over chances are that the bass or guitar in it would be able to survive that minor hit. They are made too thin, that's it. A more DEEP case, like those for acoustic guitars (and ANVIL flight cases) will not be knocked over as easily, they're too deep, and it's form shaped design, leaves them less prone to just be knocked over.
Ok, but here we go on others that had problems with the lid crushing the guitar, just point me to links if you've found someone whos MONO gig bag "lids" coming down on it.
french polishing | Finely Strung
"this time caused by the lid of the case falling on the guitar as it was being lifted out."
Guitar Care
"The lid dropping down on the instrument as it is being removed from the case."
You wan't more? I can carry on all day. This is hard cases only, did not find any proof even that the zippers of a gig bag ripped up the nitrocellulose finish of a vintage bass or guitar. Like some of you goes "I've never heard of this...so it's a first and must not exist" jeez. Just google it for f*x ache. You'll find numerous instances of it.
"The reduces the likelihood of damage should the lid slam down on the guitar."
That guy is way more *n*l retentive than any of us around here. When opening the lid it is always at a straight angle and point right up. If you just happen to touch the rest of the case or move it the slightest WHEN taking out the guitar bass, guess what? The lid can't go the other way, it comes down on you. Verdict, Hiscox has thought about it, so I am definitely not alone in experience these things to happen, even frequently with TOLEX/VINYL hardcases, which is what is what all about.
And when they stand on the short side, I mean vinyl/tolex cases like this:
It's way more easier to just knock it over so it goes down with a slam on the floor and ends up like this:
Link Removed
Try that with any well padded gig-bag and come back to me if any loud bang was heard. You can't even place your gig bag like that, it'll tip over at once anyway, because, YOU SHOULDN'T. Same with stacking them in a van, when you remove everything else, this tolex/vinyl tips over more easily. If a gig bag should nevertheless be knocked over chances are that the bass or guitar in it would be able to survive that minor hit. They are made too thin, that's it. A more DEEP case, like those for acoustic guitars (and ANVIL flight cases) will not be knocked over as easily, they're too deep, and it's form shaped design, leaves them less prone to just be knocked over.
Ok, but here we go on others that had problems with the lid crushing the guitar, just point me to links if you've found someone whos MONO gig bag "lids" coming down on it.
french polishing | Finely Strung
"this time caused by the lid of the case falling on the guitar as it was being lifted out."
Guitar Care
"The lid dropping down on the instrument as it is being removed from the case."
You wan't more? I can carry on all day. This is hard cases only, did not find any proof even that the zippers of a gig bag ripped up the nitrocellulose finish of a vintage bass or guitar. Like some of you goes "I've never heard of this...so it's a first and must not exist" jeez. Just google it for f*x ache. You'll find numerous instances of it.
For me the hard case has resided stored.
I found this company and my geetarist was initially sceptical being a traditional hard case man, but even he said it is built like an absolute tank, and it is pretty good.
I think we all know nothing beats a flight case, but I would put this next in line.
I have the double.
There is a US distributor even though made in UK and really good customer service.
Guitar and Bass Gig Bags
I found this company and my geetarist was initially sceptical being a traditional hard case man, but even he said it is built like an absolute tank, and it is pretty good.
I think we all know nothing beats a flight case, but I would put this next in line.
I have the double.
There is a US distributor even though made in UK and really good customer service.
Guitar and Bass Gig Bags
What my main gripe is this, when all these companys have thought of this and that, and protecting the instrument, and getting anal retentive about nit picky things, no one ever - as far as I know of - thought of securing the lid open, a dead mans grip. If you release a "CLUTCH" it should stay in that position. All other things they can spend expenses at. You can't let the lid go over at an angle at the back so it's not tipping over. That's why it stays right up in perfect 90 degree angle. If it leans towards past that, then the whole case will dislodge and tip over at the opposite side. Beacuse the sudden weight loss of the bass to the case.
