What Gig Bag to Buy? Public Perception Question

[Nev375]

Musician overhears some people talking about his gear:

Person A: Oh he's a crappy musician, look his gig bag is all torn to shreds. He can't afford a good one.
Person B: No, that's years of wear and tear from gigging, He's obviously quite accomplished.

Next day he comes in with a new bag and a newly dyed haircut and evesdrops the same two people.

Person A: Pfft, who does he think he is walking around with a fancy-ass bag like that. How pretentious!
Person B: Wow, It's made from alligator skin, the guy must really sell a lot of records.

 

[bassbrad]

Really, it such a fashion/status issue? I have 3 bags that are in regular use a Tweed CTM bag, a Black Peavey Double bass bag with sewn on extra padded double straps and a MF bag that has a large cargo capacity for those one bagger shows. Dunno if that makes me cool, average or just a schlub.

 

[bassbluestew]

I have just started using the Protec Contego. It's a semi solid gig bag, looks very pro, has great pockets, great neck protection, and is a very reasonable price.

I believe some top end luthiers incl Avella Copollo ( spelling ?? ) are providing them with new basses.

Best case I have used in years. I'll be putting my new Smith in one.
S

 

[Munjibunga]

The function of a gig bag is to protect your bass. Buy the very best gig bag you can afford. Forget all that other stuff. Just forget it.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Hard Shell Case.

End thread.

 

[Freddels]

I haven't used a hard case in 30 yrs. Gig bags are the way to go. Cases go into storage. Just don't get one of those bags with no padding. Get a decently padded bag. Some are better than others and it's not always the most expensive ones either.

I have an iGig bag that is great for protection but it is heavy. I have a few others and one that I've have since ~'84 and I still use it the most.

 

[spaz21387]

I would get hard shell case if i were you. its more protection for your bass... during load ins my guitarist will some times grab my bass for me and usually something is set on top of it maybe an amp head or his guitar case.. so your bass is much safer in a hard case.

 

[nutdog]

Duct tape your old bag. You will be immediately recognized by all as a serious musician

 

[singlemalt]

I've got some very nice SKB freedom hard cases and I prefer them over the very nice Dingwall gig bag. The gig bag won't stand up on its own, its awkward to handle in tight spaces and I don't have much faith in zippers.

When everything has to get stacked in the van I don't want to be counting on a gig bag to protect the bass.

I seriously doubt anybody scopes my gig bag or cases, but the fanned fret Dingwalls get a lot of looks.

 

[BassyBill]

I always used to use a hard case, but once I got a quality gigbag the convenience won me over and I'd really hate to switch back now.

Anyway, for those who believe their instruments are safer in a hard case, I'd be interested to hear what sort of tests have been done to measure how much diifference it actually makes. In a lot of scenarios, the degree of protection offered to your bass is much more about padding than the rigidity of its case. This would apply to most bumps and bangs that your bass gets in being carried about (but maybe not when someone stacks a heavy cab on top of it). A good bag will generally do the job just fine, unless you have roadies who are really banging your stuff around, and in those circumstances a bass can get easily damaged even in a hard case. F= (mv-mu)/t and all that, for those of us into physics.

 

[onosson]

Ive always had hard cases for fly-in gigs, but I recently picked up an awesome used SKB flight case which takes a bass *in* a gig bag inside it! Best of both worlds ..,

 

[Pilgrim]

Question: Does having a nice gig bag give people the impression that you are a good bass player (whether it is true or not)?

Background: I have been using a Gator gig bag for my bass guitar for more than 3 years now, and two things have happened in the past 3 years:

1. There's a hole at the bottom (as in, you can see a good portion of the bottom of the bass guitar).

2. Once I was walking down the stairs with my gig bag, I suddenly felt like my back was lighter and there was a loud *thump*. My bass guitar now has a dent right around the strap peg.

So I am considering replacing the gig bag with another gig bag.

The only relevant question is why you don't ALREADY have a replacement bag. To neglect and abuse your instrument in this way reflects poorly on you.

Get the best bag you can afford. Screw what anyone thinks about the brand. It's your instrument - protect it. If you move it around a lot, consider a hard shell case.

My esteemed bass cyber-colleague JTE said:

If you want to use a gig bag, get one that's solid, protects your instruments well, and will last (i.e. the straps won't come loose). Spend some time periodically examining the seams and attachments so you can catch problems BEFORE the thing falls off your back and down the stairs. And don't discount hard-shell cases. They're still the best way to get a bass or guitar to and from gigs without damage. I only use the gig bag if I'm carrying the instrument on the car seat next to me. If I gotta put it in with anything that might move around it's in the case.

I echo every word. To me, hard cases are the ideal, with gig bags being an occasional and lesser substitute.

 

[Lady Kayri]

I bought a Roadrunner gig bag - the one with the backpack that zippers on / off the back side - on sale 'as is' because one of the seams was splitting. I'm something of a seamstress (among other things) so simply sewed the seam back together - got an $80 gig bag for $30 plus small change for upholstry thread & needle I already had in hand, plus time to sew it together. Very well padded, canvas cover is fairly stiff, lots of room in backpack and other pockets for accessories... Only time I use a hard case is when I take my bass along on a trip via airliner, etc. If it's going in my van or someone else's car, I just make sure it's packed so there's nothing heavy put on top of it, and so it doesn't rattle around too much... For those few cases when I need two basses, I bought an Ibby bag that has compartments for two basses, shoulder straps, carry strap, and wheels on the bottom; something for every option of dragging it around...

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I bought an $80 Body Glove gig bag to haul my $350 bass around in. The bass has been well protected, though the ears of my listeners have not been.

 

[trkelley]

With so many black gig bags around, i went after mine with some odd cans of spray paint to make them a little more recognizeable at jams and such. The first thing to go under the onslaught was the big white ZON logo. Great gig bag that came with that bass, but why advertise what's inside? Same with putting band names on vans and trailers "Look I'm full of gear, steal me!".