Gig bag for 3/4 DB - advice needed

[ikay]

I'm looking for a decent DB gig bag in the £100-150 price range. Something which unzips completely and opens flat (like a kipper), with well positioned carrying handles, sturdily built and won't fall apart after a few gigs etc.

Are any of these any good (or to be avoided)?

Roth & Junius BSB (£130) - [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/rothjunius_bsb_3_4_bk_bass_soft_bag.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ss_soft_bag.htm[/url]

Gedo luxury (£135)- [url="http://www.gedo-musik.de/shop/product.php?id_product=168"]http://www.gedo-musi...?id_product=168[/url]

Tom & Will superior (£140) - [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/tom_and_will_superior_double_bass_gig_bag_3.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...s_gig_bag_3.htm[/url]

Ritter RCDB700 bass bag (£155)- [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ritter_rcdb7009tbst_34_bass_bag.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...34_bass_bag.htm[/url]

Christopher PV502 (£160) - [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/christopher_pv502_ol_3_4_double_bass_bag.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...le_bass_bag.htm[/url]

Recommendations from more experienced DBers than me (ie. anyone) would be much appreciated.

Thanks for any advice or guidance

Edited May 6, 2015 by ikay

[henrywillard]

Personally, I've found wheels to be a god-send since upgrading my soft-case. I have no experience of the Gedo Luxury, but it looks like a great bag, and the only bag from your list with wheels, which would be the decision-maker for me.

I use a Westbury BC003 which is a 22mm padded bag with wheels, which is slightly cheaper than the Gedo. [url="http://www.djmmusic.com/p-5989-westbury-22mm-padded-bass-bag-w-wheels.aspx"]http://www.djmmusic.com/p-5989-westbury-22mm-padded-bass-bag-w-wheels.aspx[/url]. Very good padding, great zips, storage compartments, plenty of really strong handles in all sorts of places, and of-course wheels on the bottom.

Hopefully others on here will have first-hand experience of some of the bags you listed though.

Good luck

[ikay]

Thanks Henry. What material is the Westbury made of? In the DJM pic it looks like some sort of shiny nylon but in the specs it says cordura which is more like heavy duty denim. Also does it unzip fully and open out flat? My current cheapo cover doesn't and it's a pain to get on and off.

[Happy Jack]

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/260333-lightweight-34-double-bass-hard-case/

[ikay]

Thanks Happy Jack, unfortunately I don't have a lot of room and ideally need something I can fold up and stuff under the bed when not in use!

[Happy Jack]

Yes, but this is big enough that you can sleep in it, so you don't need the bed ...

[ikay]

Haha! Let me sleep on it (I mean in it)

[Owen]

The Roth and Junius one looks to be a direct knock off of my Reunion Blues one which I bought 20 years ago and is still in A1 nick. Obv I cannot vouch for the build quality now, but having studied the pics it seems to be a direct copy.

[Owen]

It is a very long time since I dealt with a Ritter DB bag, but the proportions were way out of whack back then. I cannot speak for them now.

[Owen]

The Christopher one is made from the same pattern as the Roth one.

I tried wheels once and they are great if you are in a building with a nice flat floor, but otherwise it scared me rigid bouncing my bass along pavements etc.

[Owen]

I should really consider all I want to say and post it all at once.

[Happy Jack]

It's

[Happy Jack]

really

[Happy Jack]

not

[Happy Jack]

a

[Happy Jack]

problem.

[henrywillard]

The Westbury bag has zips approximately 3/4 of the way round the bag, so down the whole left side (E-string side) from the top of the scroll and all underneath and around the lower-bout up to the ribs (G-string side). So it does open out almost fully flat.

I can confirm the material on mine is cordura. The bag is also reinforced underneath the lower-bout where the wheels are, to prevent damage to the underneath of the bass.

It's a simply bag, but strong, durable, and well padded. Ticks all the boxes and does a sterling job

[ikay]

Thanks Owen. Mmm, wheels or no wheels ...

[TheRev]

I have the Christopher one- 3 years and 250 gigs later it's still going strong and all the dangly bits in one piece. Lots of useful grab handles and pockets. Can't fault it.

[ikay]

Thanks Rev, does the Christopher bag unzip like in the pic below of the Roth & Junius one (with the zip sort of going half way up behind the headstock rather than completely opening out)?

[TheRev]

Yep. Exactly like that.

[ikay]

Thanks. The Roth and Chrisopher seem to be pretty much the same bag as Owen spotted.

[neilp]

I have the Roth and Junius bag, and I think it's great value. Sturdy, well made and well padded. Not too heavy either. Thomann's service is first class too.

Not at all convinced I'd want to subject my bass to all the vibratons etc from wheels

Neil

[Legion]

I've got the Ritter bag and it's been really good. It's a perfect fit for my bass (3/4 Shen SB200), very snug and secure.

[Maude]

I use a Hidersine one, when I was looking the features and padding thickness were comparable to bags three times the price.
I've had it a couple of years now using it weekly and it has no wear on it, handles are strong and the stitching solid.
Opens like most, from about four o'clock round to about eleven, if you see what I mean.
Available for about 50-60 quid.