The definitive "Yes, another gig bag" thread

[SAlcott]

If you're going to be putting a bass guitar in a van or trailer with other equipment and others are going to be loading, a hard case is what you need. If you or someone else are putting a speaker cab on your bass, you need to rethink your packing concept. If you're carrying it around on public transportation or just putting it in your car, virtually any padded gig bag will do. I have 1 Gator, 1 Mooradian, 1 Levy's, 1 noname cheapie, and 1 Ibanez. I've never had a bass damaged in 40+ years of playing and schlepping. Bass guitars just aren't that fragile. FWIW, I carry a $50,000 string bass all over NYC in a Mooradian padded case.

 

[joe vegas]

the RB Continental. the day i got it 4 years ago, my transport worries ended.
almost as much strength & structural integrity as a molded case. pretty good pocket space.
heavy-ish, but that weight is all in the protection.

i gig around town with an old Levy's or Mooradian, fine for 5-boroughs subway/bus runs,
but for any travel or band-van stuff, it's the RB.

 

[Ewo]

@Ewo Thanks. I'm looking for maximum protection first, portability second.

YW. Then IME/IMHO the Protec Contego and Sadowsky Portabag are worth considering as long as your intended use doesn't require a flight case or involve walking long distance. I'd give the nod to the Portabag for thicker padding, bigger pockets, and a plusher interior--at a higher price, natch. But both are good, and I've used both.

I've not used a Levi's or Reunion Blues or Mono, so I can't compare.

 

[hsech]

Reunion Blues gets my vote.

 

[Jeff Sarsippius]

Mooradian is great (have single and double cases); also got a Mono Vertigo: it has that great top-loading zipper, but not enough pocket space....I've BEEN looking for a used RB...they look good.

 

[howlin]

Thanks but I'm looking for max protection.

Dude,
If you're maximum protection I can't of another gig-bag better than a Vertigo. Seriously. Do some research.

 

[Amplified]

Reunion Blues for max protection. Gruv Gear GigBlade for convenience. I mainly use he Contego as it is smaller than the RB.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

I have both RB Continental and Mono M80 bags. I owned a Vertigo for about a day, but it won't accommodate a wider neck 5-string like my Sadowksy or Kinal basses. Of all the bags, the Continental and Vertigo are more protective but the M80 is more convenient. The Vertigo has very little storage and you have to buy a Tick bag to carry cables and such. I wish it had held my bass though, it's what I really wanted. The Continental is heavy and sits very high on my back, I have to duck through doorways which is ridiculous. The M80 is my go to bag because it's lightweight and I can fit through doors, plus there is a good amount of storage room. However it's not as protective as the others. I've seen the Contego, which is nice, but won't accommodate a thicker body or tilt-back headstock. TKL just released something that might be sweet.

 

[Slevage]

I use my old gym bag. When it gets wrecked from doing gigs------ I replace my gym bag (for the gym), then I have a new gig bag to wreck.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Sturdier and way more protective.

More and better storage.

The Mono is useless for basses that don't have a fender type slim headstock.

I put a 3+2 five string in my mino and it was bulging at the top. Couldn't travel with it. One hit and it would have been curtains.

Lastly I hear the black rubber neck rest inside the mono leaves blacks streaks on neck finishes.

I picked the Vertigo over the Contego and would do so every time.

The Vertigo is immensely more protective in the place that matters most- the bottom, where you plop your bass down every time. The walls aren't as rigid as the Contego, but the bottom is so much more important to me as I no longer have any fears when putting my bass down. If I'm in a situation where I need to worry about crushing-type damage, which is what hard sidewalks protect from, I'll opt for my hard case instead. They'll always beat out a bag in that regard.

Vertigo definitely has less storage- less than almost anything on the market. It's purposeful to keep the bag slim and light.

There must be something more to your bass than the headstock alone, because your comment about them not working with non Fender-style headstocks just isn't true. It's fit my 5 and 6-string Elricks, 6-string Ibanez Prestige, and 5-string Zons with no issues. Zons have long tiltback headstocks- here's a pic showing it with all the extra room.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I use something called a Phitz. Not for maximum protection, by any means, but lots of extra pockets. And great zippers. I have a pile of gig bags with broken zippers. I used to be able to get them fixed by a shoe repair shop, but no more...

 

[jazzyvee]

If you want to go further afield. I use Harvest leather gig bags for my basses, they are made in Germany and are fantastic quality I've had mine about 5 years or so and have nothing bad to say about them at all. They are well padded and support the bass well. I do also have proper flight cases for my basses too and so I choose the right case for the right situation and so far none have been damaged or allowed any damage to happen to my basses.

Harvest Fine Leather | Harvest Fine Leather

 

[hennessybass]

I'm looking for maximum protection first, portability second.

Then it sounds like you are looking for a hard shell case... Just Kidding, but only kind of.

Lot's of really incredible gig bags out there these days. I have the Mono M80, and feel that it is nearly as good as a HSC. I use it for some things and don't worry about dings, dents, or anything like that... but I don't worry about that stuff that much anyways. Only thing I don't like the Mono for is the potential for something to fall on it, like when stuff shifts in a trailer, or gear getting stacked on it. We used to stack all the guitars (about 6) in the back of the van... but I can't imagine anything except a HSC for that kind of protection.

I must be the only one left who still uses hard cases.

That's what I use. I used various gig bags over the years, but when I started traveling and gigging with my old band, we were using a trailer, and even on local gigs, there were lots of people handling gear. I like the HSC and still use it, even though it's just me handling my bass on most of my gigs now. I use the SKB that is shaped like a bass (not the big rectangle).

 

[BassGreaser]

another vote for the Mono M80 bag! I am using with with my Stratotone Hollybody short scale and its working great.

 

[Calebmundy]

Interesting to hear all the comments about the Mono M80 not being enough protection. I haven't used a hard case in nearly ten years. My M80 has kept two basses completely safe through innumerable van, trailer, car, and flights-both in the overhead and gate checked. No issues and no critical wear.

 

[AMJBASS]

I've got a vertigo and it offers excellent protection especially the bottom. No worries setting it down on wet pavement etc as its waterproof. It does not offer a lot of pockets for carrying cables/strings/etc however.

Quick question to you guys with the Protec Contego case... any of you use it with the SKB Bass Safe? I'd love to find a really good gig bag that fits in the SKB but still offers high end durability/protectiveness.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I picked the Vertigo over the Contego and would do so every time.

The Vertigo is immensely more protective in the place that matters most- the bottom, where you plop your bass down every time. The walls aren't as rigid as the Contego, but the bottom is so much more important to me as I no longer have any fears when putting my bass down. If I'm in a situation where I need to worry about crushing-type damage, which is what hard sidewalks protect from, I'll opt for my hard case instead. They'll always beat out a bag in that regard.

Vertigo definitely has less storage- less than almost anything on the market. It's purposeful to keep the bag slim and light.

There must be something more to your bass than the headstock alone, because your comment about them not working with non Fender-style headstocks just isn't true. It's fit my 5 and 6-string Elricks, 6-string Ibanez Prestige, and 5-string Zons with no issues. Zons have long tiltback headstocks- here's a pic showing it with all the extra room.

Agreed- my Modulus Q5 (35" scale, 3x2 headstock) fits in my Vertigo bag no problem. I also think it is a very protective bag, on the bottom and the sides. It has decent padding on the front and back, but I'm careful with my stuff and wouldn't expect to need too much there.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I love my reunion blues for protection but have two issues I would have never known before buying it.

1. It's a very long bag. The top extends 6+ inches past all my head stocks. I wish it was shorter, maybe I got one for long scale basses?

2. The shoulder straps are unusable to me. The are located too low, which hikes the bass up to high on my back. The top of the bag (headstock area) rests more than a foot above my head. I can't walk through doorways with it on my back with out banging the bass on the top of the doorway, or having to crawl under to avoid it.

If you want great protection it's killer. I've even checked it on two separate international flights with no issues. If you plan on using shoulder straps regularly you might want something else.

 

[Not yet]

Continental response

Bass Protection from construction. Can get the scientific backup on rib support bladdy blah from their site. My personal opinion is nothing protects my basses better.

Just shipped the AC on the left across the country in it and wasn't too worried. Storage is better on the Mono M80 but I only use the double gig bag. Don't have quite the confidence w that one but many here do.

 

[Agosix]

Have a MonoM80 and it works for 35scale 6 string and great as a carry on to planes. Fusion is not good for a 35 because it stretches the bag and the double foam liner on the interior gets displaced and the bass is no longer seated securely in the case. Second choose After a mono I would go for an iGig except that I do not like the flap covers over the storage pouch held by a string..entrapment concerns. Otherwise the iGig seams protection worthy. The M80 is sort of like a hard shell if not better..it doesn't flop around and great padding all around.