Hard Case, Gig bag, Molded Case

[Dani_D]

So which one you all prefer?

I for one jsut got a gig bag and although it is pretty strong...I am having second thoughts and think I will get a Molded hard case

[uriahsmusic]

...molded case takes up less room...gig bags are a joke unless only you will be handling your stuff

[DWBass]

Now I agree that some gig bags are not very practical but there are some that protect just as well as a hard shell or molded case! I have one that came with my Tobias and it's pretty thick in the padding department! So much so that my bass took a direct hit from a slip on ice once. I fell directly on my back (was wearing my bass on my back backpack style) and my bass didn't have a scratch on it nor did it suffer damage of any type! Even stayed in tune! Gig bags are lighter but I have to have a HSC for my better basses! They also make soft molded cases which I really like!

[malthumb]

So which one you all prefer?

I for one jsut got a gig bag and although it is pretty strong...I am having second thoughts and think I will get a Molded hard case

Depends on the situation.  I have 4 basses and 4 hard cases.  The hard cases are gathering dust in the corner of my music room.  I have a Ritter twin bass gig bag that I can fit two basses in at a time.  I do have one bass (my main axe) that is too long to fit in my Ritter bag, so I have a custom made bag for that one.  For gigs that I can drive to, the gig bag is the way to go.  I prefer backpack style bags so that I can have my hands free to carry my amp or anything else I may need for the gig.

If I'm getting on a plane or shipping a bass somewhere, I'd prefer a hard case.  That doesn't happen often, so my cases sit in the corner, awaiting their turn.

Just for grins, here's what happens when you try to fit a 52" long bass in a standard sized gig bag....(most basses are 47 - 49" tip to tip)

 

The guy I bought it from accepted it back and custom made me this bag

 

The bass and a whole bunch of other stuff are in the bag.

Peace,

James

[B3Wannabe]

When I get my Conklin, I'm going to get a hard case. Right now, I have a gigbag, and it's ok for me. I'm the only one that handles my basses. I don't let anybody just up and grab my basses. When people see my 8-string, they want to touch it.

[DWBass]

I keep my Yamaha in a SKB Freedom HSC. My Tobias in a Tobias heavily padded gig bag and my Fender Jazz in a TKL lightly padded gig bag

[MikeGee]

I have a leather gig bag by KACES. I like it a lot the bakc pack feathure is sooo comfy it's balance well when carring it as a suite case. The padding is think. I may never own a hard case after using this.

[Torch7]

I keep my Yamaha in a SKB Freedom HSC. My Tobias in a Tobias heavily padded gig bag and my Fender Jazz in a TKL lightly padded gig bag

I have the exact same hard case for my YAMAHA.  When I saw the picture I did a double take.

[anointed_strings]

I just recently got a Gigskinz bag and I love it.  It protects my bass very well and I can carry lots of things in it.  It's nice to be able to carry my bass and have both hands free to carry my amp head and my bible.

[MikeGee]

I just recently got a Gigskinz bag and I love it.  It protects my bass very well and I can carry lots of things in it.  It's nice to be able to carry my bass and have both hands free to carry my amp head and my bible.

i really like the back pack style stripes.  my hands are free to do whatever.

[play4zero]

i have hardshells for all my basses, but I also have some gig bags that I can throw over my shoulder and keep my hands free.  Obviously I wouldn't try to fly with a gig bag on a bet.

[Groovesmith]

When I bought my original bass a four string Ibenez I bought a cheap gig bag and said never again it got chipped and knocked out of tune and I mean way out.  But when I got my Cort B5 I found the most beautiful gig bag and had to do it.  Its a Ritter bag that can be in a car going off a cliff, with the patent movie explosion and not be out if tune.

[jeremyr]

i have the SKB hard case as well as a gig bag. 

If i'm going out of town or driving for a long time i use the hard case.  I say if I'm driving for a long time because that usually ends up being a trip where there's alot of luggage being totted around and I don't want any damage done.

Short trips (like to church, or to a practice session with some of the fellas) and i use the gig bag.

[Dani_D]

I think that one of the nice things about the non molded cases is that it could be use for more than one bass,

I got a road runner gig bag which I like but  I see the need for hard case too.

[play4zero]

I have heard of folks using the hardshell golf shipping bags to transport their basses on the airlines.  They put the bass in a good gig bag and then put it inside the golf bag.  The other good point is that there are fewer stolen golf clubs than basses.