Recommend me a VERY good gig bag please..

[Jay Mastro]

Carvin, which is a very underrated company in my opinion, has stellar gig bags

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I'll give another vote to Mono cases. I've used an M80 for 2 years without any issues. Keep an eye out for deals and 2nd hand.

 

[John E]

Mono Vertigo user here. I didn't get the tick but I did take some velcro straps and hook my pedal train nano to it. I can fit more in the pocket than I thought I could and I no longer have to carry a cord bag. It really makes playing internationally so much easier when you can stroll through the airport with all your bass stuff on your back, a drink in one hand, and pulling your luggage with the other.

 

[SamJ]

Hi SamJ—glad to see you back on TB! About the Mono dual, I have had one for over three years. I have to say there are problems that may not be obvious to the occasional user. For air travel, it is a problem.

thanks for the welcome back Jim... yeah took a couple of years off to get settled into a new job and hadn't really played bass much until about a few months ago..

I hear you about the double bag.... I think for taking a bass on the road, I'll go for a single instrument bag... I'm leaning towards one of the smallish boutique builders now so I can try and keep it USA/Canada made, but I do like the features and size of the Vertigo.... for $250ish I want the dang thing to not only be USA made, but I'd like the zippers and over all constrution to be bullet proof.. I might order one on Amazon (they have them for $202) and if I don't like the construction, I can send it back.

 

[Neon Blues]

Reunion Blues vote here!

Honourable mentions to:

I-Gig
Sadowsky Portabag
Mono M80

 

[Berk Evren]

This actually looks pretty interesting. I like the bags that attach to it. Little costly, but when you consider what you're spending on a mono, it'd negligible.
My only worry is the weight of the bags pulling on where it attaches. I had an ibanez bag with a back pack that strapped to the bag but one of the spots tore off over time. I'm sure this is better built, but I'd still be cautious just from experience

Build quality is very good, but i don't use extra bags with it so i can't say anything...

 

[Sav'nBass]

So after reading the thread on "missing hardshell cases" and all the often wise comments from our long time professional members it occurred to me that maybe I too need a "gig bag".. As someone who's not a working musician and not having been in a regular practice schedule/band for close to a decade now I've never do too much travelling with my bass(es)... once or so a month to a Jam is the extent of it, but even then, I get get sick of hauling around the huge cases just to drive 20 min down the road and unload them out of my own car. Plus the Fender G&G's don't even fit in my sedan safely, so I have to get creative and I don't like that incase of an accident.

At the same time, I want to take maximum precautions to protect my instruments from simple cosmetic wear and digs..

I'm absolutely not familiar with gig bags, so maybe you all can give me a schooling.. what's the Rolls Royce of gig bags? Or are they all more or less the same? Is it usually 1-size fits all? or shall I get different ones? My basses are in my sig.

thanks fellow TBers

I recently got an SKB "soft case" for my acoustic guitar and will be getting more for my other instruments because I like it so much. They carry like a firmer and slightly heavier gig bag, but they're much sturdier on the inside with fitted foam.

http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=&id=527&o=&offset=&c=84&s=75

That SKB case is actually pretty nice. Great bang for the buck. I know someone who has one. I would highly recommend the Protec Conteg which can be had at E-bags on sale now for $107. For the cost you cannot beat it for protection and I like it better than the SKB because it gives you more versatility as far as the bass you put in it. Notice that SKB case is morded pretty much to a classic bass shape but the Conteo is wide open. It ia a great case at the full price of $139.. at $107 it just cannot be beat.

I also own a Mono M-80.. one of the older ones and one thing I did not like about it was that the padding at the very bottom, where the strap pin was was the only place that was lacking. That is the Achiles heel of my case. I heard they have since changed it. I still have it and still use it but my Contego is my primary bag.

 

[el murdoque]

When the case my bass was delivered in started giving me trust-issues (the handle came slightly loose and one of the locks did not fast properly) i went on the same quest. No case, no soft gigbag, but hands down the best way to transport my bass. I had it down to Reunion Blues Continental and Mono M80 quite fast, but the Mono was not availlable in Germany at the moment i made my purchase, so i went with the RB. A shop had the Fender Custom Shop version on sale which is identical, only in black and with a Fender Logo.
I was not disappointed. Not only the protection it offers is great (i would not break a sweat if i tossed my bass down a flight of stairs by accident) but the whole package. The Backpack straps have metal connectors and can be stored away in a matter of seconds. The main handle is soft, yet firm and the bass will not swing sideways when carried. Top notch all around.

And check out that vid:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Tom Bomb]

Good thread! Cheers. No one got any input regarding the GigBlade, or did I miss it. = http://www.talkbass.com/threads/gruvgear-gigblade-early-bird.1052060/ - They look good to me - I was too slow on the uptake, missed the early birdin'. Where's all the news from this camp. Who's packing a blade?
All I have is one flimsy fender bag that I can't bring myself to use - it really is nothing to write home about - and then I have one holy (read holey) bacchus bag that once must've been more than adequate but's now likely to loose its guts at the drop of a hat, if you know what I mean. I guess I'm in the market too . So, thanks again. Carry on.

 

[BassHappy]

Reunion Blues vote here!
Mono M80

I have a Reunion Blues vintage leather bass bag I bought new in the mid-seventies. I can't even begin to tell you how it has held up over the years. It is a beautiful chestnut brown leather with a huge pocket, state of the art foam and due to the way the hook and mount are constructed - it is ATA airline approved as an official "hanging bag" for airline closet purposes. I also have a post Kronkite double Reunion Blues bag which is also very good. These leather bags are not cheap. They are they best, period - bar none. Don't buy one unless you are protecting a very sentimental or expensive instrument. I guarantee you won't like the price, but if you are looking for the best, they are the best HANDS DOWN. Not even close. My antique bag has held up so well for 35 years it is hard to believe, It has scuff and wear marks here and there but they only add to the awesome vintage look.I will try to get some photos and post them here over the weekend.

Here is the deal on Reunion blues. All the patterns and bag designs were engineered and built by Glenn Cronkhite and his staff. He basically was Reunion Blues. At one point he had a disagreement with Reunion Blues and left, but he was allowed to take his designs with him and continue to build bass bags. At that point Reunion Blues altered their designs and in my opinion were still incredible, but I prefer Glenn's designs for a number of reasons, mostly aesthetic and ergonomic. I also heard that Reunion Blues farmed out a number of their designs to the Far East, but I can't verify if it is true or not. I hear all sorts of BS arguments about leather vs. nylon vs other materials and there is no comparison. These bags are very VERY protective and VERY heavy leather.

So, if you want a cookie cutter case Reunion Blues is the way to go. If you need to go custom contact Glenn. He is a busy guy from what I hear and since everything is pretty much custom, there will be a wait.

Here is what Glenn has to say about gig bags in general:

Some of his bags:

I would love to have another one exactly like my original 1975 bag. I saw one on Ebay but it bidded up to nearly a grand and I passed. I will be contacting Glenn to see if he can duplicate exactly the one I have from the mid-sevenites. I will send it to him if he needs it.

So if you have precious cargo - a bass you don't want to let out of your sight - and want the best protection money can buy, go for the best but expect to pay for it!

i have no affiliation with Glenn or Reunion Blues, I just love their products and wanted to share my experiences. The Harvest bags from Germany also look to be on the same level, but I have zero direct experience with them. Interestingly, Harvest does make a leather bass bag for 30" - 33" shorter scale basses.

 

[JxBass]

I have a Mono and Protec. While the Mono is great because of its storage capacity I find I almost always use the Protec because of its simplicity and it being less bulky.

 

[Tom Bomb]

These gators look pretty sweet for $150 - 39% off ATM

 

[MrLenny1]

Reunion Blues.
Bought mine in 1984, still use it,still
in great shape.

 

[BassHappy]

Has anyone used a Mono case for a medium scale bass? Short scale? Just wondering if they fit with the way the neck retention system is set up.

Hey Fuzz

Not a mono and pricey, but here ya go if you want REAL protection for a short or medium scaler and don't want to go custom! Harvest out of Germany. After all the OP of this thread is asking about VERY GOOD gig bags and not about price.

How smart is it to get a nylon cheapo or some space age material equivalent - and have to replace it every couple years? Makes no sense. I saw the post about what happens to a mono after HEAVY use. Much smarter to buy one NICE bag which will last a lifetime. That is what you call value and making a wise purchase!

I have a number of nylon, space age and equivalents that came with several basses I purchased along the way. They are terrible as actual protectors and there are tears in every one of them. Let's just say - I wouldn't trust my precious instruments in them!

 

[interp]

What JimmyThunder said: Mono Vertigo.

I'd also recommend getting the accessory Guitar tick bag.

 

[jhfishn]

This is what I have and it's been superb!

http://www.theperfectbass.com/Pro-Tec-Contego-Bass-Guitar-Case.htm

This place alos caryy Mono bags.

This is my 2nd Protec since the first was so good and I have this one for my Lakland USA Bon Glaub .... extemely durable and a reasonable price too

 

[BassHappy]

Surprise Surprise.....

I broke two eggs into my spinach and ham for breakfast this morning and I had to take a picture of the TWO double yokes on these jumbo eggs! Man, maybe I should buy a lottery ticket or something - must be my lucky day!

So, since I had to have a picture of this, and I had my camera out, I snapped a couple of photos of my Reunion Blues bag from 1975. 40th Anniversary this year of owning it:

Now that is a bag with legs! 40 years of heavy to moderate use and it's still going strong!

This right here is enough to convince me:

Here's why I don't like the Mono bag:

- Repeatedly taking your bass in and out of the bag makes the "protective skid pad" separate from the padding.

The longer I own my Mono the more I wish I bought the iGig bag. I play a lot of gigs and carry my bass around a lot, and the mono just doesn't hold up over time. It's a great bag for light use, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone who plays more than once a week. For comparison I had a Levy's bag that held up much better than the Mono over twice as many years. I didn't like the Levy, and the Mono is better, but there are better bags out there for the same money.

If you have a sizable investment in your instrument and gig constantly, do yourself a favor - pony up and get something super high quality that will last!

 

[Revolver]

Incase, bar none. (better than Mono,IMO). But... as someone mentioned, they are not made anymore

 

[smcbass]

I'm sort of always on the lookout for some type of case, not a gig bag, to hold;
2 micro amps,
a preamp,
two mics,
songbook,
2 speaker cables,
3 power cables,
2 10' extension cords,
2 20" mic cables,
2 tuners,
tiny tool kit,
Small bag with various adapters,
Small collapsed music stand

I change it up, laptop bags, backpacks, lockable hard cases, haven't found the right thing yet. I liked the backpack on that mono site.. Spendy though..

I just bought a Plano GunGard case for about $65.00 to serve a similar function. It's a little on the heavy side, but it's waterproof, and it protects gear. The interior is filled with thick sheets of "pluckable" foam, which allows you to pull small pieces of foam to form a space for pieces of gear. Got mine from opticsplanet.com.

 

[TonyP-]

MONO or Reunion Blues. Both are excellent.

This +1

Mono is great
Ultomate protection would be the RB