Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

[Rich_S]

I'm short a case for my Teles. One of them had to ride to the reunion gig in a cheapo gig bag that somebody gave me for free.

Traditional hard cases are more than I want to spend, and besides, I already have one. I'm thinking #2 ought to be something different, for times when the hard case is too much. I started looking at gig bags, figuring Fender's best not-custom-shop offering will probably be pretty good:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/099-1612-106

But then I noticed these from SKB:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1SKBSC66
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SKBSCFS6

Anybody have any experience with these semi-rigid cases? They are in my price range, and seem to split the difference between gig bags and hard cases. OTOH, I wonder if after a while, would I end up with a nylon bag full of broken pieces of styrofoam?

I'd probably go with the guitar-shaped one rather than the rectangular, again because it's different than my hardshell.

What say you, brothers?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

I'm short a case for my Tele's. One of them had to ride to the reunion gig in a cheapo gig bag that somebody gave me for free.

Traditional hard cases are more than I want to spend, and besides, I already have one. I'm thinking #2 ought to be something different, for times when the hard case is too much. I started looking at gig bags, figuring Fender's best not-custom-shop offering will probably be pretty good:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/099-1612-106

But then I noticed these from SKB:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1SKBSC66
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SKBSCFS6

Anybody have any experience with these semi-rigid cases? They are in my price range, and seem to split the difference between gig bags and hard cases. OTOH, I wonder if after a while, would I end up with a nylon bag full of broken pieces of styrofoam?

I'd probably go with the guitar-shaped one rather than the rectangular, again because it's different than my hardshell.

What say you, brothers?

I've used several versions of the semi-rigid cases. I found them to be a huge upgrade over the traditional gig bag. I would give a vote to one of the semi-rigid cases.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

I've never encountered an SKB product that wasn't good. Those things look sweet.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

While I prefer my hardshell cases, I do have a semi-rigid case that's similar to the rectangular one you're looking at and, aside from the fact that it's obviously nylon on the outside and zippered (as opposed to latches), I like it a lot. It's lighter weight and it sure seems to do a good job in protecting the guitar I keep in it from bumps and dings. I would say the only downside, at least in comparison to the hardshell, is the lack of security because of the zippers... with latches you can lock it if needed. That being said, I have yet to have an occasion where I felt the need to lock the case... maybe if I was flying with it or something. Also, the hardshell cases are, IMO, a little fancier... if that matters to you (it does to me, at least a little bit!)

I have a decent padded gigbag for my bass and it does fine for making sure it doesn't get scratched in transit but if my cabinet fell over onto my guitars because I was driving like a madman :drive: :burnout: :bigeyes: mg: :banghead: trying not to be late to the gig, I'd be VERY CONCERNED about my bass, but no real worries about the other guitars (if you know what I mean!)

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

I have the the Roadrunner version of the rectangular SKB polyfoam case

I like it
it holds the guitar well
I have both the guitar and bass sizes
I actually have two of the guitar size

Carvin makes a semi rigid they advertise with an amp sitting on top

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

I would never, ever, ever use a cheap non-rigid gig bag for any guitar!!!

Most of those semi-rigid bags are way, way better than a gig bag and I have a few. But I much prefer a a hard shell case...more protection from heavy objects (amp, spkr cab) that may fall on it.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

Depends on how much you like the Tele...

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

I should mention that most of my travel is in my personal car, taking the guitar on business trips. On the rare occasions I fly, I carry the guitar on if possible, which usually means it ends up gate-checked. Every once in a while, I can put a gig bag in the overhead.

I don't gig regularly, so there's no band van to worry about.

I saw Jim Campilongo eight times in New York last summer & fall. He carries his 1959 toploader everywhere in a gig bag.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

Get this one. I have one for my Esquire. Very well made and keeps the guitar secure.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...e=&network=g&gclid=CL7jrJH9o8cCFQ-maQod9AYPJg

 

[Woundtight]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

^^ That looks pretty good. Ample protection if the guitar is in the backseat and not just thrown in the trunk.

The downside to the rigid case is that they take up as much space as a hardshell case. My MONO case takes up a lot more space than my soft, padded case. The padded gig bag is thin enough to sit on the backseat floor, wedged between the front and back seats. If need be, it can sit on top of gear in the trunk, too, while taking up minimal space.

In either 'case' don't take it out til it gets up to room temp, or you will have an instant relic that you will want to surrender to me.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

Erik, how thick would you say the padding is in that SKB gig bag? Sweetwater lists the thickness of the padding in the Fender bags on their site, so it's easy to see the difference between the cheap one (11 mm) and the nicer $60 one (25mm). No thickness specs shown for the SKB, though, so I wonder how it compares to the pricier Fender.

Woundtight knows my needs, since half the time I'm traveling, I'm going to his house. However, he is overlooking a couple facts:

1. My guitars are already reliced (i.e "look like crap").
2. If I gave him one of my guitars, all his nice guitars would rise up and revolt over having such a POS in the house.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

At my age, I'm pretty much a semi- rigid case.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

Get this one. I have one for my Esquire. Very well made and keeps the guitar secure.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...e=&network=g&gclid=CL7jrJH9o8cCFQ-maQod9AYPJg

Well, that's a bass case, but I get what you mean. Any trouble with the zippers? Sweetwater has mostly great reviews, but a few complain about broken zippers. This is the leading contender right now, partly because the $60 Fender is out of stock (which they euphemistically call "Arriving Soon") and partly because the $60 Fender is $60.

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

I have kept my self-built Teles & Strats in gig bags exclusively in gig bags (nice ones, not cheapies...I have a couple of pretty well-padded leather-trimmed Levy's bags) for about 10+ years. In trunks, airplanes, all types of weather, etc. Never had a single problem. Not one. Caveat - I've never checked them on flights, only put them in overheads. Also, they are much easier to carry around than hardshell cases...you can easily carry two at a time, plus other gear (shoulder straps!).

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

Hey Jerry, did you say semi(?)-rigid?!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

Erik, how thick would you say the padding is in that SKB gig bag? Sweetwater lists the thickness of the padding in the Fender bags on their site, so it's easy to see the difference between the cheap one (11 mm) and the nicer $60 one (25mm). No thickness specs shown for the SKB, though, so I wonder how it compares to the pricier Fender.

Woundtight knows my needs, since half the time I'm traveling, I'm going to his house. However, he is overlooking a couple facts:

1. My guitars are already reliced (i.e "look like crap").
2. If I gave him one of my guitars, all his nice guitars would rise up and revolt over having such a POS in the house.

I'm not sure of the thickness but it is thick enough to keep it protected. I like the front pockets too; plenty of room for cables, strap, tuner.

Well, that's a bass case, but I get what you mean. Any trouble with the zippers? Sweetwater has mostly great reviews, but a few complain about broken zippers. This is the leading contender right now, partly because the $60 Fender is out of stock (which they euphemistically call "Arriving Soon") and partly because the $60 Fender is $60.

No issue with the zippers for me. I don't tear the thing open either.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Gig bag vs. Semi-rigid case for Tele?

Doesn't matter. It's a TELE. The thing's pretty much indestructible. It's the guitar the cockroaches will play after nuclear war.