The Combo Club

[JPDsma]

These Gig bags you all refer to are more what I/we would have called soft Cases back in the day. Gig bags, to me, have always meant something like the Yamaha or Fender bags that came with my Bajo Quinto or Squire Bullet, respectively. Thin, not really any protection, just a means to carry the guitar. The bags you all have been showing look well up to the task of transporting and protecting your bass, assuming it is not going in the hold of a bus or plane. I may need to update my vocabulary......

 

[CallMeAl]

Just thought I’d share this, regarding almost going head/cab, and a wonderful feature of the Markbass CMD combos:

NAD! Little Mark III

 

[GwenOnBass]

Just thought I’d share this, regarding almost going head/cab, and a wonderful feature of the Markbass CMD combos:

NAD! Little Mark III

That's pretty cool.

These Gig bags you all refer to are more what I/we would have called soft Cases back in the day. Gig bags, to me, have always meant something like the Yamaha or Fender bags that came with my Bajo Quinto or Squire Bullet, respectively. Thin, not really any protection, just a means to carry the guitar. The bags you all have been showing look well up to the task of transporting and protecting your bass, assuming it is not going in the hold of a bus or plane. I may need to update my vocabulary......

My original Music Man gig bag — pretty certain I called it a gig bag? four decades or so will play tricks on the memory — was a brown vinyl affair. The interior was sort-of plush. Certainly there was no offer, stated or implied, of "protection". There was a single shoulder strap, also vinyl, that eventually broke off. Replaced the bag with another. IIRC replacing the bag was not a major expense.

Walked it back and forth to school every day for a year. Much better than a HSC for that kind of thing. Carriyng a HSC any distance is a pain. Post school, it went in the back of the poormobile with my Peavey TNT. Never worried for my bass. Not one bit.

The bass and that gig bag It took one final, long, journey with me five years ago in the rear of the S4. The bag's zipper was shot. Replaced the original with a Reunion Blues Continental Voyager. That is an excellent gig bag and I find it entirely trustworthy. It's flown with me, both as checked baggage and in the cabin.

***
Now wondering when I will buy a hand truck of sorts to get my combo to and from practice. It very well may be I will only need to take my bass. I expect that's true. What I am not doing is lugging the combo by hand any distance greater than a few yards.

 

[LoveJackBruce]

Tried that one with my short scale StingRay. It only fits with the padding at the bottom removed. Why buy a case that you have to take some of the protection out of to get things to fit?

Agreed.

 

[iagtrplyr]

It's Monday night and the reality of four more work days... ugh...

iagtrplyr, I agree and even though I'm new to the club, I have really enjoyed following this thread. It has a nice relaxed feel to it.

Good luck as you begin the new school year. I don't envy the challenges you face but I do want to thank you for what you do. I have known a few teachers over the years and it can be a thankless job.

On behalf of educators around the globe, I most humbly thank you for those very kind words. The job is challenging enough as it is, and then throw the past two years in for good measure and it’s a real fun fest.

Tonight was Meet the Teacher Night though and it was terrific seeing my new students. Nervous, excited, anxious, I saw all the emotions tonight. We begin on Monday.

Thanks again, RS!

 

[GonePlaid]

Tried that one with my short scale StingRay. It only fits with the padding at the bottom removed. Why buy a case that you have to take some of the protection out of to get things to fit?

'Cos it's the only thing available/affordable?

 

[GonePlaid]

That's pretty cool.



My original Music Man gig bag — pretty certain I called it a gig bag? four decades or so will play tricks on the memory — was a brown vinyl affair. The interior was sort-of plush. Certainly there was no offer, stated or implied, of "protection". There was a single shoulder strap, also vinyl, that eventually broke off. Replaced the bag with another. IIRC replacing the bag was not a major expense.

Walked it back and forth to school every day for a year. Much better than a HSC for that kind of thing. Carriyng a HSC any distance is a pain. Post school, it went in the back of the poormobile with my Peavey TNT. Never worried for my bass. Not one bit.

The bass and that gig bag It took one final, long, journey with me five years ago in the rear of the S4. The bag's zipper was shot. Replaced the original with a Reunion Blues Continental Voyager. That is an excellent gig bag and I find it entirely trustworthy. It's flown with me, both as checked baggage and in the cabin.

***
Now wondering when I will buy a hand truck of sorts to get my combo to and from practice. It very well may be I will only need to take my bass. I expect that's true. What I am not doing is lugging the combo by hand any distance greater than a few yards.

If that yard is in TX, you might have quite a schlep.

 

[Michael Favata]

The way I see it is there are 3 types of cases. The traditional hard shell case. They can be beautiful. Especially a nice Fender case. It’s like a little warm cocoon for your baby. Then you open it and there’s all that fur in there keeping her warm and comfortable. Nothing like the experience of opening a hard shell case to me. But they can be awkward. Softer cases can pack easier in to a car usually.

There are gig bags. They are like @Morrighan described. Functional. There’s no fur in there to keep her warm though. Just somewhere to put your bass to carry it from here to there and give her a little bit of safety. Keeps it from getting scratched and dinged up.

Then there is the new iteration. The gig bag/case kinda thing. It’s not a hard shell it’s not a gig bag. Usually made by Gator. They are a hybrid. They have fur. Ohhhh. They are a little sturdier than a bag but not too hard like a case and easy to pack in a car. There is more storage in a gig bag/case than either a hard shell or a gig bag. Way cheaper than a hard shell but more expensive than a gig bag. I like them.

someone asked the question why buy a bag you have to remove padding from? Because they are designed like that! That makes them more flexible to fit more sizes. They do not make many cases for short scale basses. I found the Allen Woody case works well for my Gretsch JR Jet. It’s kind of a hard shell. A violin case. There could be a machine gun or a bass in there! For the Fender American Performer short scale bass I have it was either an ugly gig bag they have or a too expensive hard shell. I found the Gator bag/case to hold her tightly and gently. She likes it in there. I hope that’s ok with you all…..

 

[GonePlaid]

The way I see it is there are 3 types of cases. The traditional hard shell case. They can be beautiful. Especially a nice Fender case. It’s like a little warm cocoon for your baby. Then you open it and there’s all that fur in there keeping her warm and comfortable. Nothing like the experience of opening a hard shell case to me. But they can be awkward. Softer cases can pack easier in to a car usually.

There are gig bags. They are like @Morrighan described. Functional. There’s no fur in there to keep her warm though. Just somewhere to put your bass to carry it from here to there and give her a little bit of safety. Keeps it from getting scratched and dinged up.

Then there is the new iteration. The gig bag/case kinda thing. It’s not a hard shell it’s not a gig bag. Usually made by Gator. They are a hybrid. They have fur. Ohhhh. They are a little sturdier than a bag but not too hard like a case and easy to pack in a car. There is more storage in a gig bag/case than either a hard shell or a gig bag. Way cheaper than a hard shell but more expensive than a gig bag. I like them.

someone asked the question why buy a bag you have to remove padding from? Because they are designed like that! That makes them more flexible to fit more sizes. They do not make many cases for short scale basses. I found the Allen Woody case works well for my Gretsch JR Jet. It’s kind of a hard shell. A violin case. There could be a machine gun or a bass in there! For the American Performer short scale bass I have. Was an ugly gig bag they have or a too expensive hard shell. I found the Gator bag/case to hold her tightly and gently. She likes it in there. I hope that’s ok with you all…..

Lotta the old "gig bags" kept rain or dust offa yer axe. Newer ones have padding to varying degrees.

 

[GwenOnBass]

The way I see it is there are 3 types of cases. The traditional hard shell case. They can be beautiful. Especially a nice Fender case. It’s like a little warm cocoon for your baby. Then you open it and there’s all that fur in there keeping her warm and comfortable. Nothing like the experience of opening a hard shell case to me. But they can be awkward. Softer cases can pack easier in to a car usually.

There are gig bags. They are like @Morrighan described. Functional. There’s no fur in there to keep her warm though. Just somewhere to put your bass to carry it from here to there and give her a little bit of safety. Keeps it from getting scratched and dinged up.

Then there is the new iteration. The gig bag/case kinda thing. It’s not a hard shell it’s not a gig bag. Usually made by Gator. They are a hybrid. They have fur. Ohhhh. They are a little sturdier than a bag but not too hard like a case and easy to pack in a car. There is more storage in a gig bag/case than either a hard shell or a gig bag. Way cheaper than a hard shell but more expensive than a gig bag. I like them.

someone asked the question why buy a bag you have to remove padding from? Because they are designed like that! That makes them more flexible to fit more sizes. They do not make many cases for short scale basses. I found the Allen Woody case works well for my Gretsch JR Jet. It’s kind of a hard shell. A violin case. There could be a machine gun or a bass in there! For the Fender American Performer short scale bass I have it was either an ugly gig bag they have or a too expensive hard shell. I found the Gator bag/case to hold her tightly and gently. She likes it in there. I hope that’s ok with you all…..

My Gator for the Chowny CHB-1 is the top end of the Gator line and it ain't no Reunion Blues. The gig bag for the cat bass is the medium-low endian Gator for a Jazzmaster, cosmetically customized for Nordstrand



and is perfectly serviceable for my Real World ™ needs. In transit, the cat bass will be either on my back or safely tucked in the back of the gigmobile. If I need to fly with it, that bass will likely travel in the gig bag inside an SBK Roto. I've zero trust the Gator Pro-Go will adequately protect the semi-hollowbody as checked baggage.
It might, Rabbit, it might. Easier not to fly with it. I don't need it anywhere I'm likely to travel.

The Stingray stays in the Reunion Blues Continental Voyager. For 'round the town, that gig bag is serious overkill. Arguably that's not a bad thing for an arguably valuable bass. Truth is, I'm very not likely to play it all that much. Short scale's won me over. I'm many things, but if I'm still 23 years old, that's a personal delusion for which there's no clear cure.

Hard shell case? So done with that. I was done with that 40 years ago. IMO the Reunion Blues beats the boogers out of a plywood HSC. Same with the high-end Mono, I expect. Sure it's a lot of space bucks for a case, but worth it to me for ultimate protection. Don't look for me throwing my bass in its gig bag off the roof. But if I must, I know the RB will keep my bass perfectly safe.

Unknown fact — many airline baggage handlers are musicians.

 

[68Tele-Bass]

This just came today- thanks @iagtrplyr! Seems like a great way to get that kickback without the space, weight of a speaker stand!

Pretty cool! Velcro, folds flat. Toss in gig bag!!

 

[GwenOnBass]

'Cos it's the only thing available/affordable?

The Gator Pro Go for Flying V / ES-335 guitars is the only gig bag I could find that fits my semi-hollowbody. The insert at the bottom is many Beatles CD cases thick. Too thick for my bass to fit. Pulled the foam insert out of its plushy sleeve. Filled the plushly sleeve with Styrofoam peanuts until I got the right depth. End of story.

Had there been a Mono or Reunion Blues made to fit that bass, I'd have skipped the Gator entirely. Not that I don't trust it. Besides the fact I don't trust it. For air travel, that is. Or having heavy things in the back of the truck fall on it. It's a decent gig bag but no more than that, IMO. The shoulder straps are pewp, as are the "carabiners". IMO.

Will it see me around town? Sure. And I trust it for that. I know as an empirical fact I can walk 15 minutes or so with it on my back. It makes my bum look big.

 

[GonePlaid]

My Gator for the Chowny CHB-1 is the top end of the Gator line and it ain't no Reunion Blues. The gig bag for the cat bass is the medium-low endian Gator for a Jazzmaster, cosmetically customized for Nordstrand

View attachment 4375820

and is perfectly serviceable for my Real World ™ needs. In transit, the cat bass will be either on my back or safely tucked in the back of the gigmobile. If I need to fly with it, that bass will likely travel in the gig bag inside an SBK Roto. I've zero trust the Gator Pro-Go will adequately protect the semi-hollowbody as checked baggage.
It might, Rabbit, it might. Easier not to fly with it. I don't need it anywhere I'm likely to travel.

The Stingray stays in the Reunion Blues Continental Voyager. For 'round the town, that gig bag is serious overkill. Arguably that's not a bad thing for an arguably valuable bass. Truth is, I'm very not likely to play it all that much. Short scale's won me over. I'm many things, but if I'm still 23 years old, that's a personal delusion for which there's no clear cure.

Hard shell case? So done with that. I was done with that 40 years ago. IMO the Reunion Blues beats the boogers out of a plywood HSC. Same with the high-end Mono, I expect. Sure it's a lot of space bucks for a case, but worth it to me for ultimate protection. Don't look for me throwing my bass in its gig bag off the roof. But if I must, I know the RB will keep my bass perfectly safe.

Unknown fact — many airline baggage handlers are musicians.

Dang! Someone got paint spots all over yer gig bag.

 

[bordinco90]

This just came today- thanks @iagtrplyr! Seems like a great way to get that kickback without the space, weight of a speaker stand!

View attachment 4375839 View attachment 4375840 View attachment 4375838

Pretty cool! Velcro, folds flat. Toss in gig bag!!

It's been awhile since I asked, but did you ever get the bugera? I know you were talking about getting the ampeg. They have a demo version of the Bugera at Sweetwater for around $330.

 

[68Tele-Bass]

It's been awhile since I asked, but did you ever get the bugera? I know you were talking about getting the ampeg. They have a demo version of the Bugera at Sweetwater for around $330.

No- I got in on the ground floor with the Ampeg RB-115. Finally got it about 8 weeks ago. Love it so far!!

 

[GwenOnBass]

No- I got in on the ground floor with the Ampeg RB-115. Finally got it about 8 weeks ago. Love it so far!!

Wise choice
I GAS for one too

This just came today- thanks @iagtrplyr! Seems like a great way to get that kickback without the space, weight of a speaker stand!

View attachment 4375839 View attachment 4375840 View attachment 4375838

Pretty cool! Velcro, folds flat. Toss in gig bag!!

Like that it points a combo toward my ears. Uncertain if it decouples the amp from the stage.

 

[Michael Favata]

thats a gorgeous bass and a too cool for school case!

 

[Michael Favata]

The insert at the bottom is many Beatles CD cases thick.

 

[iagtrplyr]

This just came today- thanks @iagtrplyr! Seems like a great way to get that kickback without the space, weight of a speaker stand!

View attachment 4375839 View attachment 4375840 View attachment 4375838

Pretty cool! Velcro, folds flat. Toss in gig bag!!

Thank ya, Matey! That pickup is a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. Everything you mentioned about the wedge is spot-on. Weighs nothing, is flexible, and regardless of the combo amp, it works effortlessly. Teamed up with my Auralex Gramma, it's an unbeatable combination, IMHO. I know there are those non-believers out there and that's fine, but it's what I don't hear while playing matters as much as what I do hear. Enjoy, Tele!

 

[LoveJackBruce]

Wise choice
I GAS for one too



Like that it points a combo toward my ears. Uncertain if it decouples the amp from the stage.

Pretty dang sure it does. Not as well as a big old isolated pad.