Loving the Bongo - can still be a beast of burden though ...

**dinosaur** · 04-16-2006, 04:24 PM

Hey there,

Just been playing at a special Easter service at my church with a really great band - very proud to be playing my new Bongo, and the sound is great. Lots of nice comments about it too.

Anyway, there's a tiny something that I'm aware of which can be a pain, and I wonder if anyone else has the same problem. I live in Central London and don't have a car, so I travel pretty much everywhere by public transport (bus/tube/train), and do a fair amount of walking inbetween.

I'm probably a wuss, but it doesn't take much time of walking along carrying my Music Man in its case before my arm gets knackered! Just the 10 mins to get to the bus stop seems to take its toll on the old shoulder. In the past I've been very used to the luxury of only carrying my bass out to the car and then the short walk from car park to venue.

Does anyone else have to transport their bass a lot on foot? When I've been travelling with it anywhere during busy rush-hour times it can be a nightmare trying to get on the tube with it, especially when there's a billion other people trying to cram on at the same time.

Obviously, this isn't really a major problem, but I was wondering how many other people out there get a bit tired lugging heavy basses around on foot.

That said, it's all totally worth it once the case is open and I get plugged in!

james.

**Figjam** · 04-16-2006, 04:31 PM

Maybe get a nice gig bag with backpack straps.

**dinosaur** · 04-16-2006, 04:35 PM

I had wondered about a gig bag, as that's what I have my existing Ibanez bass in since its hardcase broke, but I think the Bongo is still new enough that I feel like I want to protect it as much as possible! It's my new baby after all ...

With anything like this, I'm always dreading the day it gets it's first ding, but I realise that it's not really possible to keep these things in perfect condition once you start using them properly.

Oh well, in the meantime I guess it'll be good for giving the shoulder muscles a good workout!

james.

**Figjam** · 04-16-2006, 04:46 PM

Well not al gig bags are those crummy fabric things you see. Several boutique bass builders put their $3000 basses in gig bags. There are gig bags that are extremely well padded that cost as much as hard cases, sometimes more.

**Penguin** · 04-16-2006, 05:29 PM

My Warwick Hot Rod came with a padded gig bag, and I must admit, I would feel safe taking it on the road with me in that bag. However I bought a hard case for it anyway, just for piece of mind. Also I feel that a high priced instrument deserves the best protection.

But yea, if you want to move to a gig bag, Warwick makes some good ones.

**Figjam** · 04-16-2006, 05:53 PM

Ive heard bad stories of the warwick bags' straps suddenly ripping off and the basses crashing to the floor...

**Psycho Ward** · 04-16-2006, 05:59 PM

I bought one these a while back, sort of a cross between a gig bag and a hard case.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

**Aussie Mark** · 04-16-2006, 06:30 PM

Gig bags are a compromise. If you want to ensure your Bongo doesn't get damaged, keep doing what you're doing. Your shoulder will get used to it.

**Dr Stankface** · 04-16-2006, 06:46 PM

I had a superb Peavey gig bag for my Fernandes. My SR5 actually went to a few gigs in that bag. So I don't completely rule them out. Just more comfortable with hardshells.

**Figjam** · 04-16-2006, 06:48 PM

All of my basses currently dwell in hard cases. One of them is a POS that doesnt even really close though.

**shamus63** · 04-16-2006, 09:04 PM

I use gig bags for when I go to jam nights, and want to travel as light as possible.

Otherwise, it's HSC's for my basses.

**oldbluebassman** · 04-17-2006, 06:01 AM

When I bought my Bongo 5 it came in a ProTec PBG0401 case.

I never use it so it's effectively as new. Are you are interested?

**boyet** · 04-18-2006, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by dinosaur

Does anyone else have to transport their bass a lot on foot? When I've been travelling with it anywhere during busy rush-hour times it can be a nightmare trying to get on the tube with it, especially when there's a billion other people trying to cram on at the same time.

Obviously, this isn't really a major problem, but I was wondering how many other people out there get a bit tired lugging heavy basses around on foot.

That said, it's all totally worth it once the case is open and I get plugged in!

james.

I got my Bongo last January, bought it from Japan and travelled back home with my Bongo on a gig bag. It came with a hard case when it was delivered but since I have to travel by plane, I decided to put it in a gig bag and have it hand carried instead of having it checked in together with the other baggages. It's quite protected in a gig bag in my experience.

Now about your transport problems, well guess what, I live in a third world country and I don't have a car which means that I have to go through all the hassles of the public transport. I have no choice but I don't get tired carrying my basses on foot just like what you've just said "it's all worth it once the case is open and 'you' get plugged in"

**kakobass** · 04-18-2006, 05:47 AM

I have been gigging for 10 years and I often travel by plane, and I have been using nothing but gig bags (a bass gig bag even fits in most commercial flight overhead luggage compartments) and I haven't had one single damage from doing this. And I'm carrying $3000 + basses.

Carrying a hardcase around in these situations is. . . well, nonsense to me.

I have been using these bags - http://www.kaces.com/ - and they are light and really durable.

If you don't find those, just find yourself a nice, expensive ($80 +/-), well-padded, with padded shoulder straps, gig bag.

Stay away from the cheaper kind, that have thin padding and skinny straps - the straps must be wide and padded to be comfortable.