Which gig bag for best protection?

[ReeV0]

Hi there,

 

I've been using my cheap Ibanez SR500 for the past ten years, and bought a basic Stagg soft gig bag with it at the same time. It's been carried around in it ever since. I like the gig bag because it is very light and comfortable to wear on my back. However, it offers little protection.

 

Now that I have joined a band, I bought a new and significantly more expensive bass - an Ibanez ATK810! I definitely don't want to be carrying it around in the Stagg gig bag. The bass came with it's own hard case, which fits the bass perfectly, but... it's very heavy and unwieldy, and has no shoulder straps...

 

So on recommendation I purchased this, however, I am returning it as the bass does not fit very well inside it and it is extremely uncomfortable to wear on my back!

 

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Bass-Guitar-Foam-Case-by-Gear4music/C87

 

 

After having a little search online, I have yet to find a soft gig bag for my new bass that looks to offer similar protection to a hard case. I have a soft gig bag for my acoustic guitar, it is somewhat formed, with thick fur on the inside and shoulder straps. It is very light and comfy to carry. Is there a similar gig bag like that for bass?

 

Any suggestions welcome!

Edited September 11, 2022 by ReeV0

[Len_derby]

I’m sure others will be along soon to give their suggestions, but my favourite, which has served me well for years is the Mono Classic gig bag for bass guitar. Not cheap, but ticks the boxes.

[ReeV0]

9 minutes ago, Len_derby said:

I’m sure others will be along soon to give their suggestions, but my favourite, which has served me well for years is the Mono Classic gig bag for bass guitar. Not cheap, but ticks the boxes.

 

Thanks, just googled it. Definitely not cheap!! 😁

[Eric.C.Lapton]

Mono vertigo or m80 definitely 

Edited September 11, 2022 by Eric.C.Lapton

[Mudpup]

Try a Gator ProGo maybe?

 

https://www.thomann.de/gb/gator_g_pg_bass_guitar_bag.htm

Edited September 11, 2022 by Mudpup

[casapete]

12 minutes ago, ReeV0 said:

Hi there,

 

I've been using my cheap Ibanez SR500 for the past ten years, and bought a basic Stagg soft gig bag with it at the same time. It's been carried around in it ever since. I like the gig bag because it is very light and comfortable to wear on my back. However, it offers little protection.

 

Now that I have joined a band, I bought a new and significantly more expensive bass! I definitely don't want to be carrying it around in the Stagg gig bag. The bass came with it's own hard case, which fits the bass perfectly, but... it's very heavy and unwieldy, and has no shoulder straps...

 

So on recommendation I purchased this, however, I am returning it as the bass does not fit very well inside it and it is extremely uncomfortable to wear on my back!

 

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Bass-Guitar-Foam-Case-by-Gear4music/C87

 

 

After having a little search online, I have yet to find a soft gig bag for my new bass that looks to offer similar protection to a hard case. I have a soft gig bag for my acoustic guitar, it is somewhat formed, with thick fur on the inside and shoulder straps. It is very light and comfy to carry. Is there a similar gig bag like that for bass?

 

Any suggestions welcome!

Sorry you don’t get on with the gear4music foam case, especially as it may have been me who

recommended it! Must admit I never use the back straps on mine, and still reckon it’s the best

protection before the hard case route. Hope you get sorted.

[ReeV0]

23 minutes ago, Len_derby said:

I’m sure others will be along soon to give their suggestions, but my favourite, which has served me well for years is the Mono Classic gig bag for bass guitar. Not cheap, but ticks the boxes.

 

Were you referring to the M80?

[bassbiscuits]

Loving my Protection Racket case. It’s halfway between a rigid case and a gig bag. Really light but solid and tough. I think there’s even a secondhand one for sale on the forum somewhere. 

[Ed_S]

Mono Vertigo and Gator Pro-Go are my personal favourites for conventionally shaped basses at the moment - Mono for the Ibanez SR, and the slightly roomier Gator for the Spector (because it's 35" so a bit longer) and Fender (because it's got 4+1 big tuners sticking out). If you've gone with a more expensive Ibanez SR, then the Mono is a really nice fit. I'd advise against the 'sleeve' version as it doesn't do very much to protect an angled-back headstock.

[Dad3353]

33 minutes ago, ReeV0 said:

... the bass does not fit very well inside it...

 

Maybe say which bass this gig bag is for..? Just a thought. 

[pineweasel]

I like my Mono Bass Sleeve, which offers very good protection and is comfortable to carry. It also has a cavernous pocket for all your bits and pieces. No good if you have an angled headstock though. 

[BillyBass]

Never mind about the gig bag, tell us about the..

45 minutes ago, ReeV0 said:

I bought a new and significantly more expensive bass! I definitely don't want to be carrying it around in the Stagg gig bag.

And congrats on joining a new band🤘

Edited September 11, 2022 by BillyBass

[ReeV0]

Thanks for all the great replies!

 

The case is for an Ibanez ATK810. The case that came with it was specifically made for this bass, and naturally it fits like a glove.

 

 

 

 

 

The problem with the other case I purchased (aside from the uncomfortable shoulder straps) was that there was so much movement in the case. The bass would shake about and the headstock tuner keys hit the bottom. I tried padding it out by using felt pieces cut to size, but it felt like a half-measure. 

 

 

 

Looking at some of the pictures of the gig bags, could I possibly face similar issues?

 

 

Is there another key indicator of protection other than padding thickness?

 

For example, the case above is £126 and has 25mm of padding (https://www.thomann.de/gb/gator_g_pg_bass_guitar_bag.htm)

But this case is £30 and has 20mm of padding... (https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/RedSub-Bass-Guitar-Gig-Bag/2RUJ)

 

Are there many other factors?

[Dad3353]

Here's the range of Ibanez gig bags. Is there not one suitable there..?

 

Ibanez Gig Bags ...

[ped]

I think the Fusion Urban is the best for protection, mostly because the internal 'noodle' can be stuck into position in such a way that it completely fits the contour of your bass, just like your hard case. Oh I'm selling one, fancy that! Seriously though it's so satisfying putting a bass into the case when it fits perfectly!

 

Here's an example to show what I mean:

 

 

That means you can stuff a few pedals in there between the edge of the bag and the noodle... 

 

Here's the one I'm selling if you're interested

 

https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/468025-fusion-urban-bass-gig-bag-will-post/#comment-4793901

 

[ReeV0]

18 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

Here's the range of Ibanez gig bags. Is there not one suitable there..?

 

Ibanez Gig Bags ...

 

I'm not sure as I don't have experience with any of them

[ReeV0]

12 minutes ago, ped said:

I think the Fusion Urban is the best for protection, mostly because the internal 'noodle' can be stuck into position in such a way that it completely fits the contour of your bass, just like your hard case. Oh I'm selling one, fancy that! Seriously though it's so satisfying putting a bass into the case when it fits perfectly!

 

Here's an example to show what I mean:

 

 

That means you can stuff a few pedals in there between the edge of the bag and the noodle... 

 

Here's the one I'm selling if you're interested

 

https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/468025-fusion-urban-bass-gig-bag-will-post/#comment-4793901

 

 

That looks pretty cool! I like that you can adjust the inside to fit and that it looks like the bass is suspended? Do you know if the ATK810 would fit? It's pretty long, I believe 35" scale. Cheers

[Lozz196]

My fave is the Mono M80, though their Vertigo is also very good. As are Protection Racket & Fusion. But my first call is always the M80, not cheap but worth it for an expensive instrument.

[lemmywinks]

I've got a couple of the Gator Pro Go semi rigid ones, great gigbags especially if you need lots of storage.

[ped]

3 minutes ago, ReeV0 said:

 

That looks pretty cool! I like that you can adjust the inside to fit and that it looks like the bass is suspended? Do you know if the ATK810 would fit? It's pretty long, I believe 35" scale. Cheers

 

Internal dimensions are here

https://www.fusion-bags.com/collections/urban/products/urban-bass-guitar-gig-bag

 

It would probably fit, the ATK has a 2+2 headstock and not much body behind the bridge

[ped]

Love the ATK by the way, and the case it comes with looks amazing. Nice that Ibanez go to those lengths, you get a lot for your money.

[itu]

I have mono for one and two basses. I especially like the details, like good pockets, and the velcro that anchors the bass to the case. It has already saved my bass, because I was not so sharp with the zipper.

[mrtcat]

I use fusion urban (both single and double) gig bags. Used to use Mono M80 but the fusion just feels like a step up in terms of protection. 35 inch scale is no problem at all and fusion customer service is top notch.

[Len_derby]

10 hours ago, ReeV0 said:

 

Were you referring to the M80?

Yes, the M80. I’ve had it more than 10 years. It doesn’t show any significant signs of wear.

[naxos10]

I use standard Fusion gig bags which are really good so would assume that the Urban is a fair step up.

I have also been impressed with the TGI Extreme for the money but you would need to check sizing.