Gig bags?

skyydogg01

Active member
I'm contemplating selling off my guitar cases and just buying gigbags. My guitars are always out on a stand and rarely goes in cases. And when they do, its for the rare jam session with buddies. The cases just take up too much room in my closet.

So, can I get a yay or nay and why?
 
Re: Gig bags?

i have hard cases for everything but also have a bunch of good levy's gigbags
 
Re: Gig bags?

Some of the new "hard" gig bags offer really nice protection! I for one love the hardshell cases, especially tweed, but would not be against one of the gig bags that pretty hard.
 
Re: Gig bags?

For solid body electrics . . . gig bag. For acoustics or semi-hollows, I like having a hard case.
 
Re: Gig bags?

If you do not have to fly and if you are extremely careful when handling your equipment to and from gigs/jams/practice then a gig bag is just fine. I have all hardshell cases for my gear myself, but I used to use a lot of gig bags when I was younger without any issues.
 
Re: Gig bags?

All the guitars I own are in hardshell cases, I'm either too paranoid or too clumsy to have anything else...
 
Re: Gig bags?

I have hard cases for all my guitars and a single soft case, as well as a double soft case for local gigs.
 
Re: Gig bags?

Hard cases only for me. I gig, and I trust my hard cases more when loading so much gear in the van. Gigs sometimes will require 4-7 guitars, amp, and the complete PA, along with all the accessories and stands to make it all work.

But I could see that living in the city, using a lot of public transportation with just one guitar--using a gig bag would be a must.

Bill
 
Re: Gig bags?

Pretty much all my guitars have hard cases but they're generally only used for shipping. When I'm taking a guitar someplace (rehearsal, gig, flight), it's in a gig bag (Incase or Mono). I haven't taken a guitar anywhere in a HSC in over a decade. That said, I wouldn't do much with a guitar in a budget gig bag. My investment in gig bags was significant but IMO justified by the value of the instruments they carry.
 
Last edited:
Re: Gig bags?

I'm contemplating selling off my guitar cases and just buying gigbags. My guitars are always out on a stand and rarely goes in cases. And when they do, its for the rare jam session with buddies. The cases just take up too much room in my closet.

So, can I get a yay or nay and why?

Gig bags sound like a better option for you, if only to save space. I can fit two or three gig bags in the space of a single card case.

Some guitarists like to have a few "premium" guitars and others like to have a larger collection of middle-of-the-road guitars. Gig bags allow me to do the latter for a reasonable price and amount of space.
 
Re: Gig bags?

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm going the gig bag route.

Don't cheap out, you want to get ones with reasonably thick patting. You can buy the bottom of line for $20, but the ones with decent padding, sturdy stiching and zippers start at around $30.
 
Re: Gig bags?

IME, hard cases don't take up much more space than gig bags, and they are significantly easier to stack in an orderly manner. Gig bags, OTOH, are a bit awkward to store neatly.

I do like gig bags if the backpack straps on them make loading and unloading a one-trip affair. If I'm gonna have to make multiple trips anyhow, though, I just use the hard case.

There are also gig bags that have a coathanger hook on them, which I like quite a lot.
 
Re: Gig bags?

IME, hard cases don't take up much more space than gig bags

I put this to the test, both sets are between the wall and the "x"

4 cases (3 335 style guitar cases, 1 Strat case)

NVkUiz2.jpg


7 gig bags with Teles and other HH's

lMvgaLJ.jpg
 
Gig bags?

I get five gig bags of mixed sizes (two fat, two medium, and one slim) in the same space as six Fender hard cases of mixed sizes (four slim and two fat). Averaging out fat versus slim, that ends up being basically equal real estate. You got seven slim gig bags into the same space as three fat hard cases (fatter than my own fat ones) and one slim one. So together, we get 12 gig bags (8 slim, two fat, and two medium). And we get 10 hard cases (five fat and five slim). Adjusting for the fact that the results lean toward bags (due to 3/4 of the samples being slim, 1/8 being fat, and 1/8 being medium), I'd say my statement stands true: hard cases don't take up significantly more space than bags.

And regardless, a bunch of bags leaning together like that is sloppy and unstable when compared to hard cases. The space savings are nowhere near worth the loss of protection IMO. It just doesn't add up to me.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1420876580.163735.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Gig bags?

Yeah all sorts of hazards can befall a gig bag in a closet, like falling hat boxes and board game pieces.
 
Back
Top