I have the older Reunion Blues, and I must say it's a quality bag. I used it on a daily basis in all kinds of weather and abuse for years on end, and it's still solid as new. It does weigh a ton though, and one thing I never liked was how harsh the material and straps are on the skin. I'd always get rugburn from toting my bass around all day... Also, for a bass the size of mine the backpack straps are worthless. For durability and protection I'd say it can't be beat though; my bass has been in the underneath storage of any number of busses and never sustained any damage, knock wood.
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Double Bass Toughest Bass Cover
- Thread starter ackeim
- Start date
I have owned a Reunion Blues and Mooradian and both are fantastic bags in both protection and quality. My current bag is made in the Phillipines by Jacques Gagnon at Link Removed . Here are my thoughts: The Reunion Blues was the most padded- just can't be beat but it was also the heaviest(by a lot!) and the cordura fabric picked up every kind of animal hair and dirt like a magnet. The Mooradian was much lighter and has adequate padding and has a smoother nylon material that is easier to brush off and keep clean. My only complaint is that I feel it has too few handles and carry points. I think the Cremonsia a perfect compromise. Light weight, adequate protection, extremely well-designed and numerous handle, pockets, and smooth nylon finish thats easy to keep clean. Another nice thing about the Cremonasia bag is that even a custom sized bag is about half the price of a standard Reunion Blues.
My Mooradian has had some failures in the zipper department over the past few years, but to be honest, it's performed pretty well otherwise. I mean, the thing gets opened and closed virtually every day, and transported all over the frickin' place and stuffed behind (or under) stages, and it still does a decent job of protecting my bass. I don't see how I could ask for more, considering how much abuse the thing takes.
- Sep 14, 2005
- 370
- 3
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Mesa Boogie Amps, Bag end,Thomastik - Infeld Strings
Hi all-
I have owned three morridian covers. the last one I purchased was actually the "deluxe" model mooridian and I must say it's way more padded than the standard mooridian model- still light weight and tthe zippers havent failed after three years of usage and heavy touring. The reunion blues bags are awsomely padded BUT the weigh a friggin ton AND you cant - or at least i couldn't fit it into my travel flight case. I highly recomend the deluxe mooridian model.
I have owned three morridian covers. the last one I purchased was actually the "deluxe" model mooridian and I must say it's way more padded than the standard mooridian model- still light weight and tthe zippers havent failed after three years of usage and heavy touring. The reunion blues bags are awsomely padded BUT the weigh a friggin ton AND you cant - or at least i couldn't fit it into my travel flight case. I highly recomend the deluxe mooridian model.
toman said:
This reflects my own experience with a Reunion Blues Bag I picked up slightly used at a great price. One thing more, the bags (older 7/8 ones) are sized slightly large. With my bass, size was an issue, so this was about the only bag that would fit without a custom job. A "7/8" bag is large enough for a European 4/4 5-string and the pockets are very generous. I put a folding music stand, a connecting cable, tuner, notebook, and a 2- bow case in the pockets.
Sometimes I think I'd like to try another lighter bag, but there is just no way this will wear out any time soon and it is maximum protection short of a hardshell road case. If you drag a bass around like I do mine, you need something like this (and also a wheel or wheels). The padding is very dense foam and that makes it heavy. But it also has that quality that it can difuse a pretty tough punch, with thick leather over the bridge and at other key points. Given all the moving metal stuff on stage during set-up and take down and the tendency for bandmates to hurry about in limited space, I like having this bag. I've gotten in the habit of leaving the bass in there until the rest of the stage is set. And at the end of the show the bag is the first piece of equipment I pick up.
I have a Messina. Came with the bass, kind of a older bag but it's real strong. All the zip, strap and join-seams are tough and tight. Kind of like a army duffle bag. Friend of mine also mentioned he thought it is pretty lite compared to his (forgot what type).
Other bags I have used showed signs of wear after a couple of months, this bag seems pretty good.
Only problem is it got slimed with surfwax on a hot day. I tried scraping it off, got most of it off but you can still see where is soaked into the weave. Not the end of the world just looks bad.
Other bags I have used showed signs of wear after a couple of months, this bag seems pretty good.
Only problem is it got slimed with surfwax on a hot day. I tried scraping it off, got most of it off but you can still see where is soaked into the weave. Not the end of the world just looks bad.
I don't remember if they're still made, but if you can find one, the cases made for Hammond-Ashley in Seattle are teriffic. I lucked out and got a freebie with my Kay when I bought it from them. The only problem I've had with it is that the attachment for the D-ring for the shoulder strap freyed and broke, but that is partially my fault because it got caught on a nail in my house (its and old house. there are nails just sticking out of things.) and nicked it a little bit. The padding is great, especially around the bridge, and the shell of the case is made of some of the toughest cordura (or whatever it is) nylon I have ever felt. It feels the same as a few military items I own. Protection for the bow is OK, there's a pocket for it on the front with a padded sleeve that slides out. Works good for my needs. It's got pockets, enough to be functional and adequate, but not so many as to be cumbersom. I like it a lot. One of these days I'll take it down to an upholstery shop and have the d-ring sewn back on.
Have anyone used the Upton one? [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] I'm thinking to buy one, but still the Mooradian is in my mind. However the thing the worries me about the Upton cases is the side pockets they look to small compare to the Mooradian, and I do carry stuff in the pockets :scowl:
A few weeks ago something happened that raised the stock on Reunion Blues Bags (for me anyway). I had returned tired from a late running rehearsal and was unloading my bass. I've done it a million time without incident but I will never do it again. I leaned the bass on the side of the car while I went around to close the rear hatch. I saw it start to slide and even though I moved as fast as I could (everything seemed to be in slow motion) the bass tumbled off the car hitting the pavement with the loudest sustained goooooinnnnnnnnggggggg. There was that horrific moment when my heart was skipping beats wondering if there was any cracking component in the sound and I was searching that interval for some memory of that sound or the lack of it to give me some hope to open that bag with.
I rushed it all into the house and opened it up on the floor and to my utter astonishment found my bass all in one piece with a pretty nasty bruise on the edge of the top on the upper bout that must have hit the pavement first, but close inspection inside and out has shown no other damage. I don't know whether to credit the Reunion Blues Bag, the heavy but obviously durable construction of the bass or both. I'm really glad it was in the densely padded bag or I feel like it would have been much worse. These are the types of falls that usually report snapped necks and the like. Every time I look at that bruise I feel like I dodged a major bullet when I lucked into this bass bag.
I rushed it all into the house and opened it up on the floor and to my utter astonishment found my bass all in one piece with a pretty nasty bruise on the edge of the top on the upper bout that must have hit the pavement first, but close inspection inside and out has shown no other damage. I don't know whether to credit the Reunion Blues Bag, the heavy but obviously durable construction of the bass or both. I'm really glad it was in the densely padded bag or I feel like it would have been much worse. These are the types of falls that usually report snapped necks and the like. Every time I look at that bruise I feel like I dodged a major bullet when I lucked into this bass bag.
Leaning a bass on the car... bad bad bad!!! 
I've had way too many things slide off the side of my car to take that chance. I have plenty of bike handle bar scratches of my car to prove it too.
Anyways, it's been about a month or two since I've had my Soundwear Performer. I like it alot. Easy on, easy off. I never the backpack straps but I guess like the Reunion Blues, it's comforting to know that the bass is sitting in a pretty well padded bag.
I've had way too many things slide off the side of my car to take that chance. I have plenty of bike handle bar scratches of my car to prove it too.
Anyways, it's been about a month or two since I've had my Soundwear Performer. I like it alot. Easy on, easy off. I never the backpack straps but I guess like the Reunion Blues, it's comforting to know that the bass is sitting in a pretty well padded bag.
Upton Bass is showing a very nice bag in its latest offerings. Looks very well made. Any one have any experience with it?
Here is the link: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Here is the link: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The new Upton looks fantastic. Great concept and price and seems to address all the real needs. If the wheels can really go over cracks in the sidewalk like the larger wheels and the bag is as strong as it looks, I'm sold. I have had 2 Mooradians go bad (handles pulling out) the reunion blues is just too damn big for me despite the fact that it is like a hard case in terms of protection.
And the Uptons price at less then three bills, is in line with their pickup, quality without ridiculous high price. If the wheels are real rollers then it looks like one of the best offerings out there.
And the Uptons price at less then three bills, is in line with their pickup, quality without ridiculous high price. If the wheels are real rollers then it looks like one of the best offerings out there.
I feel just a little less stupid than I was lucky, believe me.hdiddy said:Leaning a bass on the car... bad bad bad!!!
I've had way too many things slide off the side of my car to take that chance. I have plenty of bike handle bar scratches of my car to prove it too.
The Soundwear Bag was all I saw when I was bag shopping that looked like the same kind of protection the Reunion Blues offers. Good investments, particularly for the more clutzy player;- like me.
I used a Mooradian Deluxe for a while because it sort of came with the bass I bought from Arnold.
The thing was durable as all hell, but it gave me terrible problems. At least the one I was using had this mechanism where there was a thick inside lining between the long side zipper and the body of the bass. It was a good idea, I think, but the thing kept getting caught in the zipper no matter how careful I was. Eventually it jammed so badly that I had to send it back to Mooradian for them to deal with it. I had them send it back to Arnold after the repair was done, and he had a Mooradian Standard case shipped to me.
I hope that they have since changed their design. Everything about the case was absolutely perfect except for that annoying lining getting in the way. If it is still the same, I advise extreme caution! I had to break the zipper off to get my instrument out.
On a positive note, Arnold Schnitzer and Mooradian: due to the fabulous service provided by both of them, everything worked out OK for me! The Mooradian Standard model is plenty durable enough... just be careful and treat your bass like it's your first-born, even when it's in the bag. Would you leave a newborn on the roof of your car while you were locking the doors? Lol Silversorcerer I'm just busting your chops.
The thing was durable as all hell, but it gave me terrible problems. At least the one I was using had this mechanism where there was a thick inside lining between the long side zipper and the body of the bass. It was a good idea, I think, but the thing kept getting caught in the zipper no matter how careful I was. Eventually it jammed so badly that I had to send it back to Mooradian for them to deal with it. I had them send it back to Arnold after the repair was done, and he had a Mooradian Standard case shipped to me.
I hope that they have since changed their design. Everything about the case was absolutely perfect except for that annoying lining getting in the way. If it is still the same, I advise extreme caution! I had to break the zipper off to get my instrument out.
On a positive note, Arnold Schnitzer and Mooradian: due to the fabulous service provided by both of them, everything worked out OK for me! The Mooradian Standard model is plenty durable enough... just be careful and treat your bass like it's your first-born, even when it's in the bag. Would you leave a newborn on the roof of your car while you were locking the doors? Lol Silversorcerer I'm just busting your chops.
Definitely. I'm a clutz as well. That padding definitely takes alot off my mind. I'm always banging up on things when I least expect it. The bass is just waaay too big not to. Same reason why I hesitate to buy old and valuable basses. I can sleep at night if I bang up my chrissy, I can't if it's a $20K bass.Silversorcerer said:Good investments, particularly for the more clutzy player;- like me.
Hey, pull a stunt like that;- somebody ought to bust my chops. I'm the first to admit that it was the dumbest thing I've ever done with any of my musical instruments.Tbeers said:
Everything else is in a hardshell.Does anyone know of a shop that still stocks the older Reunion Blues bass bags? Quinn Violins list their RB bags as made in the U.S. on their website. The photos and colour options seem different to those on the RB site. Could be the one?
Also, anybody have experience with Glenn Cronkhite making a bass bag since leaving RB?
Thanks alot,
Paul
Also, anybody have experience with Glenn Cronkhite making a bass bag since leaving RB?
Thanks alot,
Paul
I've heard the the RB bags are a shadow of their former selves. This is one that catches my eye: Link Removed
Well, I've had a few different bags in my years of playing. Currently on my Kolstein is a standard Mooradian that I need to replace one day. Protection is OK, but the side handle came loose and the zipper is broken near the bottom. Despite that, I like the fact that that it folds down small and has a slippery texture. The reason I say that is my Standard has the Messina bag that I got from Andy at ISB this summer. It has the afore mentioned tough exterior but also has kind of a rough interior as well. I bought it for the Kolstein, a small 7/8 and the bag is for a large 3/4. It's a tight fit, which I like, but the rough interior was rubbing off the Kolstein's varnish on the edges. Not too cool. But on the Am. Standard, it's filling the bill fine for the bus trips(has a bunk)and I like the extra handles in the center for loading/unloading, extra pockets, and the sideways pocket in the back for music.
For a short while I had the ProTec bag. It was very stiff and protective as it's name implies, but would not fold down at all and added a lot of weight. That went with a bass I sold when I bought the Kolstein.
Recently, I heard Mooradian will repair it's bags for no cost, so I will probably try that avenue since I have an extra bag on hand. The next bag I'll probably get would be the Deluxe model, since it has extra padding and still folds down very well.
For a short while I had the ProTec bag. It was very stiff and protective as it's name implies, but would not fold down at all and added a lot of weight. That went with a bass I sold when I bought the Kolstein.
Recently, I heard Mooradian will repair it's bags for no cost, so I will probably try that avenue since I have an extra bag on hand. The next bag I'll probably get would be the Deluxe model, since it has extra padding and still folds down very well.
What's everyone think about all these bags with the so called "backpack systems"? I'm six feet tall, and with my 7/8 bass the backpack thing on my Reunion Blues is worthless; I can't even walk with it on, let alone climb stairs or get through a doorway. I've had other basses and bags too, and none of them have worked either. Am I just missing something, or do all these companies just not test these (seemingly) gimmicky systems? :scowl:
