Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

[Rockstar216]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-alert-you-can-carry-your-guitar-it-s-law

 

[jeremy]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

gig bags are just sooo much easier. my whole rig is a one trip carry. combo amp, bag of stuff, gig bag and pedal board if needed.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

Gig bags.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

For the people that walk with gigbags, I'd say get one of those semi-hard cases and glue some backpack straps onto it.

Looks like Gator makes one with a strap:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/gator-gl-elec-lightweight-fit-all-electric-guitar-case

Oooh, SKB makes one with backpack straps already:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/skb-rectangular-electric-guitar-soft-case?pfm=sp

This
Mine are Roadrunner semi hards, they were the same price as decent gig bags

I have one in guitar size and one in bass size

I also have one bag in each size, guitar and bass

If I am running over to my buddies to play for a bit
its the bag

if its over to my cousins house ( he's rougher one stuff ) its the case

the Martin gets the hard case it came in
always

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

Neither one of those came w/a case or bag?

Damn...

Yeah, they're very long guitars, and GC had nothing that would hold either one. I've seen HSC for them on fleabay, but they are a bit pricey.

I prefer cases, but I need to find something, anything, that my destroyer will fit in.

My MIJ Destroyer came in a modified Explorer case. It isn't pretty, but it gets the job done.

Ibanez does make a gig bag for the Destroyer. I'd take one if I could find it...

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

gig bags are just sooo much easier. my whole rig is a one trip carry. combo amp, bag of stuff, gig bag and pedal board if needed.

You guys must be shorter than me. If I have it strapped to my back, the headstock always hits the top of the doorframe when I walk in. I end up having to either lean forward or walk with my knees bent to get in doorways. I feel like a duck with a guitar strapped to his back. :dunce:

 

[jeremy]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

some bags are build different than others. im 6'2"

 

[mrpinter]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

Most of my guitars just have hard cases. I used to have a couple of Reunion Blues bags (a leather one for my OM bodied acoustic and a nylon cloth two guitar bag for electrics). I've sold those along with some guitars, and I've missed having a good gig bag. They're great for throwing over a shoulder or on your back - freeing up your hands. So I'm thrilled with my recent purchase of a Mono Vertigo bag. This will probably read like (and look like) an ad for Mono Cases, but so be it... they're really fantastic pieces of gear.

First of all, they have zippers down both sides of the bag so they're designed to easily put the guitar in and out with the bag standing vertically (hence the name). This is amazingly handy, especially in tight spots where there's no room to lay the kit down on the floor. They have very good padding but don't weigh a ton. They have little genius touches like a thick rubber boot on the bottom of the bag to protect the guitar's strap button; and like a sturdy 2 piece protector for the headstock. They have an ample storage compartment. A little pricey? Maybe, but you definitely get what you pay for. Here are some pics of the features I've described:

 

[J E C]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

That Mono bag looks cool! I like the boot and how the neck is supported.
The SKB looks very nice also.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

I only use hard cases. I travel with a lot of heavy gear - pedalboard w/ hard case, amp head, heavy cab - and if one of those were to knock a gig bag the wrong way in the car... well, that's not something I want to think about.

I can't give up the peace of mind cases give me. My friend has the Mono case though and it's REALLY nice. I might have to get one some day.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

You guys must be shorter than me. If I have it strapped to my back, the headstock always hits the top of the doorframe when I walk in. I end up having to either lean forward or walk with my knees bent to get in doorways. I feel like a duck with a guitar strapped to his back. :dunce:

on my bags, I rearranged the strap to make it hang lower

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

You guys must be shorter than me. If I have it strapped to my back, the headstock always hits the top of the doorframe when I walk in. I end up having to either lean forward or walk with my knees bent to get in doorways. I feel like a duck with a guitar strapped to his back. :dunce:

Yes, I have to duck going through doorways too, but it's still easier than making multiple trips to the car.

I only use hard cases. I travel with a lot of heavy gear - pedalboard w/ hard case, amp head, heavy cab - and if one of those were to knock a gig bag the wrong way in the car... well, that's not something I want to think about.

I put the heavy stuff (amps, pedal case, anvils) in the back of the car, and guitars ride in style in the back seat. Even a hard case doesn't provide enough protection IMO to throw in the back with the rest of the gear. I also drive like a granny, so things don't get thrown around in transit.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

I put the heavy stuff (amps, pedal case, anvils) in the back of the car, and guitars ride in style in the back seat. Even a hard case doesn't provide enough protection IMO to throw in the back with the rest of the gear. I also drive like a granny, so things don't get thrown around in transit.

I drive a Chevy Aveo. The trunk isn't big enough to hold my amp and cab, so I have to put the back seats down to get it to fit. That means the guitars and amp/pedalboard/cab are all in the same part of my car. Maybe someday when I have a bigger car again I can get gig bags but I just feel safer with cases. It's not that big a deal to me either, I've got it down so that even with my two guitars, amp head, heavy as hell cab, pedalboard, stands, and bag of stuff I only have to make three trips.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

My MIJ Destroyer came in a modified Explorer case.

I've got an Explorer case, mine don't fit. I'm still looking.

I need a case for my Xiphos too, but I'm not paying $150 for that half-assed Ibanez case. I can't believe they don't make a good case for it.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

I've got an Explorer case, mine don't fit. I'm still looking.

The previous owner cut away some of the padding at the heel end of the Explorer case to fit the Destroyer. As a result, the lining is all messed up. I guess the important thing is that the guitar fits inside, doesn't knock around, and has some basic protection.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

With Fenders, yeah. With Gibsons or acoustics, heck no.

Anything with an angled headstock and my acoustic gets a hard case.
Strats or anything with a straight headstock can go in a gig bag. Although, my 20+ year-old Frankenstrat has had a hard case its whole life.

+1 again to both these. That's another reason why I ordered the hard shell case. It just arrived about 30 mins back. I ordered it at my work place have to take it home to see how the guitar fits into it.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

I like/use/have both...

Truck=HSC,Car=Gigbag,generally...

 

[LReese]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

I like to match my bag to my clothes...

Really no reason for me to have a gig bag - the TSA Fender cases are light enough. The rectangular cases I have make for easy stacking.

 

[Jethro_Dull]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

I've never flown with a guitar but if I did, I'd want a hardshell. If just driving around town or wrestling my guitars (after all, they're just stuffed animals for grown ups, right?), gig bags are fine.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Who here has given up on hardcases and mostly relies on gig bags?

I've used mostly hard cases but there are some really good gig bags out there. Lugging 4 guitars to a gig is kind of irritating (I have to) so sometimes I'll throw one into this gig bag. I've owned it for like 17 years. It's a Levy's and it's awesome. I've also got a heavy padded bass gig bag. I transported my bass with it for years - no damage. My ex-bassist who was a 30+ year pro player used to use a semi-hard gig bag too. He'd carry his American Standard Jazz Bass around like that all the time.

The cheapo Fender gig bags I'd stay away from. However a padded bag I'd have no qualms about over hard cases for local gigging. The only reason I continue to use hard cases is because I don't have a compelling reason to bother spending a bunch of money for new bags.

For the guys that are super paranoid and insist on a hard case for local use, how exactly are you handling your cases such that you'd be worried? Are you stacking your amp on top of your guitars when you load them in the car? Are you chucking them down flights of stairs instead of carrying them?