Monday, February 1, 2016

Instrumental Protection for the Minimalist

When looking for a bare-bones, no frills, uber-protective solution for my bass, I was surprised by the lack of information available beyond that of the manufacturers websites.  So I decided to take matters into my own hands.


Sooo many choices...
Like most do, I spent countless hours surfing the net exploring what is out there.  In this case, the choices were pretty limited.  What I found is that gig bags/soft cases come in three basic configurations: those with huge pockets, medium-sized pockets, *no pockets.  I was looking for the later; a gig bag/soft case that is slim, protective and lightweight. 

The main contenders via internet searches, started out as follows:

MONO Bass Sleeve:  
Pros: Very slim, light weight, neck support, a version of their protective "boot."
Cons: Very little protection for the rest of the instrument

MONO Vertigo:
Pros: Slim, neck protection, protective "boot," good overall protection
Cons: Price! Around $250

Protec Contego:
Pros: Neck support, decent end-bin protection 
Cons: Construction looks questionable (though it gets glowing reviews on the TalkBass forum), more pockets than I want (keeping it slim, remember?)

iGIG G315:
Pros: Neck support, great end-bin protection, very slim, price $125
Cons: Backpack straps are not secure.

Reunion Blues Aero:
Pros: Neck support, end-bin protection, very slim, similar construction as their tank-like Continental 
Cons: Price! Around $200

Queries on various internet forums returned extremely little feedback on most of the contenders, so I ended up ordering my top two choices.

As any web-savvy shopper, I searched for the lowest prices of the group, which influenced my decision to a large extent; I also wanted to avoid additional costs such as shipping and tax.  Prices for the bunch:
- Mono Bass Sleve: $150
- Mono Vertigo: $250
- Protec Contego: $149
- iGIG G315: $125 (+20 shipping)
- Reunion Blues Aero $178 (on sale)

I decided to splurge a bit and go with the two I liked the most: 
- iGIG G315
- Reunion Blues Aero

My choice was based on the info above, lack of existing reviews, and my prior experience with both companies.  The lack of existing reviews was a major factor in my decision, as I am sure there are others out there searching and equally frustrated.  It is those kindred spirits, for whom I ventured forth!

What did I think of the two? 
Which of the two did I choose to keep?  

Check out the video, and see for yourself!  Yep-- I finally filmed a "gear review," which is my first attempt at such a thing, so please go easy on me.  




There are two more videos in this series on the way, both focusing on gig bags & soft cases.  So...

...Stay tuned & in tune!