Utility Gig Bag - What're You Using?

[callofcthulhu]

My gig bag:

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I believe I found a factory resaled job for $80.

Might be a bit over kill depending on what you intend to bring but mine carries:

guitar cables x4
speaker cables x3
3 prong cables x3
enough spare patch cables, power cables, one spots etc. to rewire my 12 pedal board
spare set of strings
spare strap
20ft 8 input power strip
roll of industrial velcro
roll of duct tape
roll of gaffer tape
roll of electrical tape
pack of AA and pack of 9 volt batteries
DI box
field recorder
altoid box battery powered amplifier
clip on LED light
notebook with pen
2 bags of picks (one for guitar one for bass)
bag of ziplock bags and cable ties
multi screw driver w/ flashlight
several hex keys
hex socket wrench
tuner
Bassbrites
FastFret

And maybe some other stuff I'm forgetting.

The other day my singer asked me "Is there anything you don't have in that bag?"

I told him that if he thinks of anything to let me know so I can buy two and put them in there.

I have to say that while I love the portability and number of compartments, the strap attachments were garbage so I replaced them with quick links.

 

[Blueinred]

Just picked up this one on Amazon for 23 smackaroos. Good company, good dimensions, good price, and hey, I'm into GREEN!

https://www.amazon.com/CalPak-Silver-22-inch-Carry--Duffel/dp/B001JYK5DI/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1473982555&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=CalPak+Silver+Lake+Solid+22&th=1

I think you did real well. I like that one. Should get two at that price!

 

[IamJohn]

I use an old Basmati Rice canvas bag that looks like this.

I've received more compliments on the bag than on my gear and playing combined.

 

[Jim Carr]

One of these, but it is not ideal: Bean's Messenger Bag, Medium Print | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean

 

[stringthrough]

I use an old Basmati Rice canvas bag that looks like this.

I've received more compliments on the bag than on my gear and playing combined.

You must play at a lot of weddings.

 

[aetheldrea]

I use an old laptop bag I got for free from work. The problem with laptop bags is that they look like they have a computer in them and are therefore worth stealing. It would probably be better to have a bag that looked like it was filled with sweaty underwear.

 

[spaz21387]

I use a dell laptop bag. It was given to me. I removed the foam inside because my carvin bx500 fits better without it. Still has lots of room for cables and stuff.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

A camo diaper bag. Perfect size pockets, easy to get things in and out, and has bottle pouches on both ends. I use them for water bottles.

 

[The Nameless]

I use an old Samsonite suitcase. Two sided, one fer bass, one fer sound systems and power. Those who don't know, Samsonite used to be a huge luggage manufacturer who claimed to use gorillas to test their cases. Plenty of room for any accessory, including yer head, or clothes. Plus, they're a dollar or two at any pawn shop or Good Will. And my first one lasted 25 years.

 

[RickyWoo]

Laptop bag. Holds Sharpies, paper, tape, cables, tools, strings, mic, etc., like a champion.

 

[ONYX]

I use a leather duffle, almost identical to this one:

It's big enough to hold extra cables, pedals, tools, bottled water, snacks, and an emergency change of clothes ( in case, you know, a pie fight breaks out at a gig).

 

[Ewo]

I keep meaning to go to Harbor Freight where, I am told by some construction guys, one can get some sweet, sturdy, affordable bags for miscellaneous stuff.

Their tool bags work well as run bags. (That's the term I remember from working in TV production for a while.)

I bought their largest zip-top tool bag for stuff life a cube tap, outlet tester, flashlight, gaffer tape, spare cables of various sorts, my mic and a spare, backup tuner, spare set of earplugs, small screwdriver--and like that. Cheap and durable, IME. No shoulder strap (it's grab and go), no padding, but a nice patch pocket for the little items. Works fine for my application: keep the small necessities together (zip closure) driving to the gig, and stash it onstage behind a cab.

 

[LanEvo]

Just go to any Army-Navy store and find something that's the right size for your needs. Tons of options. Look at medic or mechanic bags/cases.

 

[socialleper]

Looking for ideas on which utility gig bag to get, or one that can be re-purposed that's otherwise meant for another use. (Not looking for a bass bag that has many/ large extra pockets.)

By a utility gig bag, I mean one that would be used to carry, cables, tuner, extra strings and string changing tools, a micro pedal board (mine just has space for 2 pedals), an iPad to display charts, etc.

Thanks in advance for your input.

My class D heads have their own little bags that I throw over my shoulder. Everything else goes in a pretty sturdy backpack that was designed for laptops.

 

[9mmMike]

I used to use one of those red Husky tool bags until I added a small clip-on fan to my "every gig" gear and it would not fit. The tool bag was full but carried a lot of stuff. My new bag, which is a black, is a Gator G Club DJ bag that we still call the "red" bag. As in, "Honey don't forget to pack the red bag" or "Can you grab the extension from the red bag?". Confuses the casual bystander.
I am still looking for something a little easier to organize though.

 

[Lava]

One of these that attaches to the front of my handcart.
Holds:
Pedal train Nano w/effects (top compartment, perfect fit)
Small gtr stand
Extra strings
Small gtr set up kit
Guitar cables
Mic Cable
Extra Mic
Extension power cords
Gaffers tape
Tarp (just in case)
Tons of other small things. business cards, stickers, batteries...

 

[Guinness20]

Really like the Mono Producer bag, I hadn't previously looked at utility bags. Trouble is I don't think they'd be big enough for me.

Currently I carry my Markbass LM Tube, leads and a little aluminium stand in a backpack, then carry a pedaltrain mini in its own bag separate. Do I need to be looking at duffel bags if I want to get both my amp and pedalboard in the same bag?

 

[Green1]

I use a police patrol bag. more durable than the music bags I have used in the past and less expensive as well

 

[BassIsFun17]

I use a Mono Producer bag. Got a super good deal on one about a year and a half ago. Room for cables, straps, batteries, amp, Hercules stand, tool kit etc.......

View attachment 950611

do you think you could fit a pedaltrain nano and a GK MB500 head safely?

 

[Spearsy]

I've been using one of these for several years ...
Pretty bullet-proof. But, the price has gone up.