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Most Comfortable Gig Bag?


BigRedX
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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1330445316' post='1557594']
Many thanks to everyone who took the time to reply.

In the end I decided to go with the Mono bag. I've seen one in person and it appeared to be the lightest of all the semi-rigid bags.

Turned up today and from a weight PoV I'm glad I didn't go with one of the others because even this one is already noticeably heavier than my Ritter and this is supposed to be the lightest of this type of gig bag. It doesn't feel quit as comfortable on my back as the Ritter either, but then again it's all brand new and still very stiff. I'll reserve judgement on that until I've used it for a couple of weeks. In every other respect though it seems excellent and there's a lot more storage space than the photos on the Mono web site had me believe.

I'll write a more detailed report in a month or so time when I've had a chance to wear it in and found all the things I really like and those that I think aren't so goo.
[/quote]

Great choice mate.

They really are top quality bags. Weights always going to be a compromise for protection but i find once it's on your back you don't really notice it when compared to other bags because of the wide padded straps & chest clip.

In terms of it loosening up from new, there isn't much give on it, its made to be a pretty solid case!

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[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1330596558' post='1559863']
I liked the Mono bag but never really though the protection was that good. The Contego wins on that score but is a lot heavier. The Protection Racket is also a nice bag, but it bugs me that they're so deep, you could almost fit two basses in there!
[/quote]

I think I bought the Levy's bag from you a couple of years ago? What was it you didn't like about them - its my regular gigging bag these days, and apart from limited storage, I find it hard to fault. I even bought a double version (and I don't like double bags!).

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[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1330601484' post='1560010']
I think I bought the Levy's bag from you a couple of years ago? What was it you didn't like about them - its my regular gigging bag these days, and apart from limited storage, I find it hard to fault. I even bought a double version (and I don't like double bags!).
[/quote]

Indeed you did! The only thing I don't like about Levy's bags is when you use them for basses with angled headstocks: I wanted something that cushioned the neck to prevent any damage should the bag take a tumble!

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I'm a great believer in using the right case for the job. I already have Hiscox cases and a couple of standard flight cases for transporting my instruments in the van with the rest of the band's gear. What I wanted was something light and comfortable to wear on my back when walking to rehearsals and for getting to gigs when we need to travel light. Hence the title of this thread.

Some of the gig bags being suggested here weighed only marginally less than a Hiscox Liteflight bass case - not what you want on a half-hour walk. The Ritter gig bag I had been using was doing a fine job of protecting the bass when it was in the case, however the straps had started to wear out and looked as though they were likely to give way at any moment now. I could have bought another similar cheap(ish) case used it for a year or so until it was too worn to be secure anymore, but I thought I'd go for something a bit more robust this time. Time will tell if I've made the right choice.

The Mono case gets it's first proper work out this weekend. I'll report back on how we cope.

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  • 1 month later...

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1330605943' post='1560161']
I'm a great believer in using the right case for the job. I already have Hiscox cases and a couple of standard flight cases for transporting my instruments in the van with the rest of the band's gear. What I wanted was something light and comfortable to wear on my back when walking to rehearsals and for getting to gigs when we need to travel light. Hence the title of this thread.

Some of the gig bags being suggested here weighed only marginally less than a Hiscox Liteflight bass case - not what you want on a half-hour walk. The Ritter gig bag I had been using was doing a fine job of protecting the bass when it was in the case, however the straps had started to wear out and looked as though they were likely to give way at any moment now. I could have bought another similar cheap(ish) case used it for a year or so until it was too worn to be secure anymore, but I thought I'd go for something a bit more robust this time. Time will tell if I've made the right choice.

The Mono case gets it's first proper work out this weekend. I'll report back on how we cope.
[/quote]

I'm currently weighing up between the Mono M80 and the Protec Contego. The Mono seems to be winning at the mo. How have you been getting on with it?

Again, this will be for walks about town and the odd bus journey (so compact and comfy) - It'll be a hard case if it's in a van etc...

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[quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1334329380' post='1614714']
I'm currently weighing up between the Mono M80 and the Protec Contego. The Mono seems to be winning at the mo. How have you been getting on with it?

Again, this will be for walks about town and the odd bus journey (so compact and comfy) - It'll be a hard case if it's in a van etc...
[/quote]

Personally I think for just carrying your bass on your back it's overkill. Looking at the specs, the Mono appears to be the lightest and most compact of the semi-rigid cases, but even then it's only marginally smaller than a Hiscox Lite Flight. For carrying a bass on my back I don't like the look of the size and weight of the competition (but I haven't actually tried them).

If it's going to be your only case, or your hard case is a massive (and weighty) full flight case, then the Mono is probably worth considering. However if you just need something to carry your bass on your back while walking I'd look at the higher spec padded gig bags like the Ritter.

For me the Mono case is good looking and I'm starting to get used to how it feels on my back, but I'm hoping that its ultimate worth will be in its durability. The Ritter case it has replaced lasted less than 3 years of light use before the straps started to give way. However I'd need to see at least 10 years use out of the Mono to make it VFM.

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Cool. The hard case is a BEAST and not something I'd want to carry around. Purely for touring etc... so I want a case of going form A-B but also for local gigs etc where we'd just get a taxi to and fro. I do catch the bus most days though so thick cases can be an arse to slip it between the seats (oooo errr)...

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[quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1334331086' post='1614749']
Cool. The hard case is a BEAST and not something I'd want to carry around. Purely for touring etc... so I want a case of going form A-B but also for local gigs etc where we'd just get a taxi to and fro. I do catch the bus most days though so thick cases can be an arse to slip it between the seats (oooo errr)...
[/quote]

The Mono case is probably the right one for you then. Certainly a good choice for car travel. However it is almost as thick as a Hiscox so not as good as a normal padded gig bag for bus journeys. I certainly wouldn't want to try any of the other semi-rigid cases in this situation. Check the weight and dimensions.

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[b]Seriously[/b] check out the Fusion Bags.
They're semi-rigid and very lightweight, Sugden and Dave Perry both have them.
I've got a custom leather Pro-bag ( [url="http://www.probag-net.com/"]http://www.probag-net.com/[/url] ) which I'm very happy with, it's not the lightest, bit it fits VERY snugly and provide great protection without being enormously thick.
No bother at all getting it on/off buses, trains etc...

Eude

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[quote name='eude' timestamp='1334331751' post='1614764']
[b]Seriously[/b] check out the Fusion Bags.
They're semi-rigid and very lightweight, Sugden and Dave Perry both have them.
[/quote]

According to the specs on their respective web sites the Mono case is lighter (although deeper in size).

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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334337651' post='1614903']
I've never understood the attraction of leather gig bags. Modern synthetic materials are just as durable and a fraction of the weight. For me the whole point of a gig bag is to get the best weight to protection ratio as possible.
[/quote]

Fair enough, I just think it looks great, and it does provide fantastic hard wearing protection, but I hear ya about the weight, if I was lugging around really heavy basses, or was a big wimp, I guess it might be an issue ;)

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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334337985' post='1614907']
According to the specs on their respective web sites the Mono case is lighter (although deeper in size).
[/quote]

Fair enough, I was just mighty impressed with them when I saw them, but if I had my leather bag in one hand and anything else in the other it would seem light...
Very nicely made too though, and with it being slimmer, it might be better for on and off the bus etc...

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