Use Protection! Gig Bags & Soft Cases

A lot of people believe quality gig bags and soft cases offer better all-around protection than traditional tolex-covered wooden hard cases can provide.  Me? I agree that some of the newer soft cases are better performers in 98% of situations. I'm actually leaving that 2% for situations I have yet to encounter where a wooden case is better.

What exactly is the difference between a gig bag, a quality gig bag, and a soft case? Here is a quick general rundown:

Gig bags. Most often found with entry level instruments. These floppy, unstructured bags are little more than fancy dust covers-- with handles. These entry level bags are sometimes included with mid-range import instruments such as Squire and Mexican made Fender's. The bags can be found sold separately for around $40, and are better than having nothing at all.

Quality gig bags. This is by no means an all-inclusive definition, but there are a few generally accepted criteria for a "quality" bag. First it should offer padding that surrounds all sides of the instrument, and have some sort of neck support. Bags in this category when not housing an instrument should have very little "floppiness" about them and have at least 1/2 inch padding. 

Quality gig bags are a great choice for those who don't travel a lot with their instrument and want a reasonable level of protection should the propped up instrument be knocked over accidentally. These are great for people who use public transportation as the bags are much easier than traditional cases to carry in crowed areas and still offer protection from bumps and bangs.

Some of the more popular offerings are the Mono Vertigo (shown), Mono M80, and gator's ProGo series. These typically cost between $150 - $200.

Carvin's soft case supporting a 30-lb bass amplifier
 without a bass inside

Soft Cases. An equally appropriate description would be 'hybrid cases' as these tend to offer case-like protection with the light, slim, easy to carry/maneuverability of quality gig bags. With various methods of side/top reinforcement, these are somewhat stiff and hold their shape with, or without a bass inside. The majority of these offer some sort of neck bracing, and have thick shock absorbent padding all around. Two of the best examples of the breed are the Reunion Blues Continental, and the Carvin (Kiesel) Ultimate Soft Case. 

Jeff Kiesel drop testing his soft case

Prices for popular soft cases often range between $125 - $225, and tend to weigh slightly more than quality gig bags. Google the two cases mentioned above, and you will find "drop test" footage of these cases being tossed about with an instrument safely cradled inside-- before and after the rough handling.

Now that I've got the definitions out of the way, why do I like quality gig bags, and soft cases better than traditional wooden cases? Simple-- they work best for me. Subjectivity is necessary when searching for your own bag/case solution-- only you know what will work best for you-- though there remains room for objective reasoning. 

Take shock forces for instance. The typical wooden case utilizes very little interior padding, with the neck being supported just below the headstock. So dropping a hard case on concrete several feet from the ground will likely jar the locks open (depending on design) and transmit the force of the shock directly to the instrument. 

Many soft cases have thick padding that can absorb and displace the shock from a drop. Granted, soft cases are not fool-proof solutions, but they do improve the odds of your instrument surviving the shock of a drop. 

So exactly what did I select to replace the generic G&G case that came with my new Plum Crazy G&L? I'll cover that in my next post, so 'till then...

Stay tuned & in tune!~