I would rather a HS case comes with the bass, but if it doesn't I'm not too worried about it, I will just get a quality aftermarket one. I find gig bags to be handy, but I don't use them unless I am going to a rehearsal.
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Hard shell cases with your guitar or bass.
- Thread starter Bassist Jay
- Start date
I'm on the "don't like cases" side, I only use gig bags and they must have back pack straps. Easiest, more convenient and safest way to transport my basses. IMHO.
In the $1000+ category, I won't take a bass out of the house without a hardshell case. I can always buy one, but in that price range it should really come with one.
To me, a bass that costs over $1K is an extraordinary investment. I have one and doubt I'll ever buy another. I wouldn't consider using a gig bag to transport such a bass. Convenience isn't even an issue - the concern is protecting the bass. I've done a lot of professional video production and convenience in transporting valuable equipment isn't a primary concern - you always use hard cases that provide more protection than you think will be needed. Same for an expensive bass.
The one bass in that price range I have (Gretsch Thunderjet) came with a hardshell case and it's a great bass. I don't see any reason to consider buying another bass in that price range, because I bought the Gretsch to be the one superior bass I wanted.
To me, a bass that costs over $1K is an extraordinary investment. I have one and doubt I'll ever buy another. I wouldn't consider using a gig bag to transport such a bass. Convenience isn't even an issue - the concern is protecting the bass. I've done a lot of professional video production and convenience in transporting valuable equipment isn't a primary concern - you always use hard cases that provide more protection than you think will be needed. Same for an expensive bass.
The one bass in that price range I have (Gretsch Thunderjet) came with a hardshell case and it's a great bass. I don't see any reason to consider buying another bass in that price range, because I bought the Gretsch to be the one superior bass I wanted.
I want a hardshell case, regardless of cost. I have no use for "gig bags." I suppose if it was a hard-to-find instrument, or if the instrument was a good enough deal that buying a separate case would still put me ahead, I'd buy the bass without a hardshell case.
Not a deal breaker. I already have a hard case if I need to use one. Which is rare enough these days. I don't really do much gigging like I used to. I'd rather the cost that went into giving out a hard case with the bass, just went into making the bass better, or going for one that costs less for the same thing sans hardcase.
I voted "somewhat important". It's very important to me to have a hard shell case to fit every different bass that I have. But I'm starting to get buried in bass cases.
If I was paying $1000 for a brand new bass (something I'm not likely to do since a grand can get you a whole lot more on the used market) I'd expect it to come with a case. I probably wouldn't use it because I prefer gig bags but as a matter of principle, it should come with one for that price.
Let me help you out. You can send those excess cases to Ebozzz's Recycling. They even pay shipping.....
How does a gig bag look "amateurish"? Just curious.
Watching a guy carry two hard guitar cases recently on the subway during rush hour looked pretty amateurish to me. I prefer 2 basses in a quality gig bag carried backpack style almost every time to bulky cases.
Chef
In Memoriam
The Portabag is my fave too. I have one for each of my main basses. They're very close to hardshell case protection, lighter, and easier to carry.
If I'm flying I have a Gator TSA case.
An interesting caveat to this poll would be to see where respondents live. . . . I imagine those who live in large cities and use public transportation would prefer gig bags to a man. But for those of us who live in smaller towns or rural areas, who will be tossing our basses into a vehicle or equipment trailer every time they leave the house, hardshell cases are pretty well mandatory.
My (over $1,000) Warwick came from Germany in a Flight Case. I sold the case soon and got a pretty decent gig bag. If the Flight Case would have fit in my car I probably would have kept it. It wouldn't go in the trunk or in the back seat - so it's gone. It also weighed about 25#.
Chef
In Memoriam
I live in a small town. I don't "toss" my bass anywhere...I set it in the back of the car nice and gentle like
I live in a small town. I don't "toss" my bass anywhere...I set it in the back of the car nice and gentle like
A very good idea, if you're going to be using those flimsy gig bags.
Well, I guess that shoots my theory down the drain anyway. For riding and a short carry to and from a vehicle/trailer, I don't understand why a gig bag would be preferable.
Chef
In Memoriam
The Sadowsky Portabag, Reunion Blues, Mono and ProTec Contego "gig bags" are hardly flimsy.
In fact, they're really more of a hybrid hard case than what you may be used to thinking of as a gig bag you'd get from Fender.
I like these because they have shoulder straps.
So; bass over one shoulder. Amp carry bag over the other. This leaves me free to wheel the speaker cab in, along with everything else, in one trip.
Interesting business model with basses vs orchestra instruments. You are hard pressed to find an orchestral instrument sold without a case--from trumpets to uprights. But, on the bass / guitar side it is uncommon to find many that naturally come with a case. Even worse are those instruments sold and the case just doesn't exist. I have a Fender Starcaster--glad it fits in an Epiphone bass case that took a few months to chase down. Fender still has no case for this instrument. Gig bags are good to get them from the store to home, maybe. From my horn side the other name for a gig bag is a dent bag.
Chef
In Memoriam
Have you used these?
Sadowsky Portabag, Reunion Blues, Mono and ProTec Contego
Again: these are not "soft."
They offer better protection than a Fender/G&G hard case, I think.
Sadowsky Portabag, Reunion Blues, Mono and ProTec Contego
Again: these are not "soft."
They offer better protection than a Fender/G&G hard case, I think.
Ajapses
Gold Supporting Member
Hard only. Always afraid that some klutz (me) is going to trip and fall on one. The extra weight us a plus. Makes it hard for my kids to achieve breakaway speed when they're running down the hall with one.
As with most things in life, the answer-for me, anyway-is "it depends". Years ago, I made a list of basses/types of basses that I wanted. I'm a lefty, and several basses I wanted are no longer made. So, I've pretty much had to take what I can get, case or not. Example: '94 Gretsch Broadkaster on eBay... expensive, and no case. But, other than a couple of '50s custom basses, it's the only lefty Gretsch bass that I (or anybody else I know) has ever seen. Do I pass it up, knowing I may never see another one, because it doesn't have a case? Uh.. no; I snatched it right up, and found a case for it later. Most of them, though, have come with the original case; only 2 have had aftermarket cases. and only 3 besides the Gretsch have had no case. New, on the other hand? I'm not really in the market for new, any more, but.. If it's inexpensive (under $1500, for me); a case is nice, but not a requirement. I have a couple of gig bags/soft cases that would probably fit it well enough. Over $1500? It damn well better have one. As I said, it depends.. 
