Gig bag

[Lazybite]

Hey guys.....

I have to travel this weekend with my baby and it will barely fit in the vehicle (if at all) because of the hard case

Does anyone have any advice or horror stories about using the gig bags?

Sorry if I sound dumb in asking this but its my first band trip away and I am nervous about using a soft/insecure case.

Thanks

Chris

 

[RockinRayDuke]

Get a Dudepit gig bag.

 

[GassieBall]

I just remember once when I only had a gig bag and it was in my car stuffed with other junk and when I went around a fast corner I heard things in the back banging and dropping. All I could think of was, oh crap, I hope my bass didn't get hurt.

I'm sure if you pack carefully, it'll be fine, but for piece of mind... go hard case.

Ed

PS: Read your first sentence again, LOL! Your baby ("it") will barely fit in the vehicle... What are you feeding him/her?

 

[sir funkytown]

here is what I have learned about traveling with a bass guitar.
-spend money on a good gig bag, one with extra padding for the headstock.(Levys makes an excelent one)
-if you are loading gear into the back of a van, make sure your bass is on the top so it dosn't get crushed when the gear shifts(and the gear WILL shift) ,and,so you can get it out first when the time comes to load in to the gig.
-never leave your bass :
a: in a car or van overnight after the gig, always take it to the hotel room
b: onstage after soundcheck while you all go eat, put it in your new gig bag and take it to the restaurant (don't let anyone make fun of you for being too carefull)
c: anywere that isn't in your line of vision or protected by an armed guard ,preferably with a badly treated dog.
-learn how to set up and intonate your bass...your neck WILL move around on the road(eg . hot car...cool hall....hot stage lights....cool hotel room....hot car...ect)
-my personal feeling is that guitar stands are death traps....so , carry your (tuned) axe on stage and plug in when it is time to play....better still , get a wireless!

 

[mrpackerguy]

It's all where you put it. In the front on the floor, or in the back wedged between the seats. Protect that baby!

 

[Lazybite]

PS: Read your first sentence again, LOL! Your baby ("it") will barely fit in the vehicle... What are you feeding him/her?

a whole lotta phatty finger food!!!

Thanks for the advice guys.. is helping me with my paranoia.... the gig bag I have is pretty average... so I might make some mods and pad it up a bit... wrap some towels around that precious precious neck... and not let the thing out of my sight

or I could just take my y#m#h#!!! NOT

 

[Samco]

here is what I have learned about traveling with a bass guitar.
-spend money on a good gig bag, one with extra padding for the headstock.(Levys makes an excelent one)
-if you are loading gear into the back of a van, make sure your bass is on the top so it dosn't get crushed when the gear shifts(and the gear WILL shift) ,and,so you can get it out first when the time comes to load in to the gig.
-never leave your bass :
a: in a car or van overnight after the gig, always take it to the hotel room
b: onstage after soundcheck while you all go eat, put it in your new gig bag and take it to the restaurant (don't let anyone make fun of you for being too carefull)
c: anywere that isn't in your line of vision or protected by an armed guard ,preferably with a badly treated dog.
-learn how to set up and intonate your bass...your neck WILL move around on the road(eg . hot car...cool hall....hot stage lights....cool hotel room....hot car...ect)
-my personal feeling is that guitar stands are death traps....so , carry your (tuned) axe on stage and plug in when it is time to play....better still , get a wireless!

This ist damn right!!!

Treat your bass like a baby. I've saw so many things... Point b: One day, we played in a club with another band, i leave the bass (my old Ibanez) after the soundcheck on stage. The band and i went out to take a snack... After this we went back to the club and I saw the bassplayer of the other band playing my bass!! What would happen if it was my musicman an not the ibanez? no court would convict me

you play, you learn

 

[MingusBASS]

I thought the moral of the story was: If you leave an Ibanez on stage, no one will steal it.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Make room in the van for a hard case.

 

[soniq]

I don't really like using a gig bag because of the 3+1 or 4+1 tuner configuration. When carrying it puts some stress on the G tuner, granted it's pretty strong but don't accidentally drop it . I like the fact that good HSCs like the OEM one supports the bass along the length of the neck and the body and it's 100% protection. My .02.

 

[armybass]

10 years in the US Army and many years as a Traveling Wilbury (civilian bassist) with just gig bags.....never a bit o trouble. I use Undercover and Reunion Blues gig bags and my basses ALWAYS travel with me. In the front of whatever vehicle I ride/fly in. I love hard cases, they fit nicley under my bed.

 

[DKWilkins]

My rule of thumb has always been if I'm placing it in an equipment trailer or back of a van etc. I make room for the hardcase. If it's where it can ride up front with me or I'm going on a short hop by myself (no other equipment to shift) I use the gigbag.

+1 for not leaving it unattended on stage Bad things can happen there....

David

 

[Freddels]

I have a custom bass that I had made about 20 yrs ago. Never had a case for it. Only a gig bag. It has survived many trips and moves around the country. Just have to be careful where to put it.

 

[nicolasd]

clearly this man's priorities are out of whack and he needs a larger vehicle!

-n.



seriously though, if you leave an EBMM on stage, expect to return to some envious bassist playing it. nuff said there. i've taken a lot of heat from bandmates not wanting me to carry a bass up front with me in an overcrowded van, but it's simply not their property. gig bag up front with me, flight case for the spare in the trailer.

 

[Bill]

I almost always use the hard case with my Stingray, and I have a Honda Civic. I just put the case on the floor behind the front seats. It takes up the whole width of the inside, but it fits perfectly.