Author Topic: Gig Bag That'll Protect My MK Sig Deluxe's Omega Tips? (Read 206 times)

oddmetersam · « **on:** October 12, 2009, 01:38:59 AM »

Hi, Gang!

I'm totally loving my MK Signature Deluxe except for one thing: I was cautioned not to put any weight on the tips of the omega cut out at the bottom of the body, so I've always carried her around in the factory hardshell case.

But not only does it weigh a ton this way (and I'm getting old!), but the huge slab sided case becomes a giant weather vane when I'm outdoors; spinning me around like a top! Plus, the case is so long I'm constantly banging it on stuff around the house and at gigs. It's a royal pain.

I'm accustomed to using gig bags and want to continue to do so. A friend (who's a real life MacGyver) thinks he can modify the bottom of a suitable gig bag so that it's sufficiently padded to offer total protection for those omega tips. I've been thinking of a Mono bag, for this purpose:

http://www.monocase.com/mono-bass-guitar.asp

Anybody have experience with these? Or does anyone have advice for protecting omega tips when using gig bags in general (besides the obvious about not setting it down in a way that puts weight on them)? Thanks!

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2009, 03:49:23 AM »

omega tips & headstocks are the two most vulnerable points on an alembic so to be honest there's ONLY one thing that will protect those areas & that's a hard shell case alembic designed their basses so that we dont get careless with them......trust me i've been decapitated 3 times!

bigredbass · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2009, 08:17:23 AM »

Spend your 'bag money' on something else. I have an Omega cut body, went thru the same 'geez this big-ass case is killing me' phase, could NOT find any kind of bag that would protect that tender part of its anatomy, and . . . . . have gotten used to 'this big ass case is killing me' !

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2009, 08:22:33 AM »

My opinion is that you should always use a hard shell case.

briant · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2009, 09:59:58 AM »

I have one of THESE that I use for my Rogue and Essence. Your Signature Deluxe might fit in there though the body may be a bit too long with the omega points. My JPJ Custom doesn't fit in that gig bag but that's due to the body being too wide - not too long.

I really like that Incase bag. Not only does it offer a lot of protection for the instrument but it also has a lot of little places to put stuff (tools, sheet music, tuner, strings, etc...) but it also has that backpack option for carrying it. Which is wonderful.

bassilisk · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2009, 10:03:26 AM »

I have an MK Std and quite simply, I cannot deal with the HSC (good as it is). I'm a gig bagger for all my basses, have been gigging for 20+ years and have never had an instrument suffer any damage because it was in a bag (my current single and double bags are Undercover which I feel are excellent). If your bass is in a bag you have to use some modicum of common sense. The bag is either on my shoulder, in the back seat of the car or carried by me to a safe location onstage. That's it. It's not meant to take the abuse a HSC can take and it shouldn't be subjected to it. Be a little careful and there won't be any issues ever.

The MK is currently in the only thing I found that would fit it - a double acoustic guitar bag with extra towels/padding added by me. Being the most precarious of all my bags protection-wise it gets extra care when handled (I'm still batting 1000 over 10 years of having it). I have been looking a long time for a bag specifically for this bass (primarily because of its width) and I think I may have found it - an iGig G515 bass bag. It is currently on backorder and I'm told it should be shipping in a week or two max (they're clearing Customs). If it doesn't fit I'll use it for my Rogue.

I looked at the Mono bags and they are quite excellent - if I thought it would suit the MK I would've grabbed it. If you want comparable protection but need pockets the iGig bags are tough to beat. The press sounds like you practically live out of them.

As good as I felt the Undercover bags are, and I've used them for years, both of these new brands are the best non-hardshell protection available at the moment IMO. Serious attention to detail with stiffener reinforcing in the protection. I'll post a review when I get the iGig.

P.S. I forgot about Incase - also top shelf. My Sadowsky had one and they're very nice indeed.

(Message edited by bassilisk on October 12, 2009)

lbpesq · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2009, 11:18:49 AM »

Body Glove makes (or used to make?) the most protective gig bag I've ever encountered. Well made with hard sides.

Bill, tgo

wayne · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2009, 12:25:40 PM »

The Unicorn travels regularly in one of the leather bags that Alembic had designed specifically.

Care and common sense --- In the bag, it's either in my hand or laying on a bench/chair. Never on the floor. Never standing. Never far away.

C-Ya...........wayne

terryc · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2009, 01:35:03 AM »

Hardcase only oddmetersam, I know they are a pain the ass but it does it's job and can you imagine the absolute distress if it got broke like serialnumber12's bass.
I have noticed that my case is for the full scale bass and my MK is medium so there is a few inches length there.
My original case is looking battered, hence it has done it's job but when it finally is unusable I am getting one made to fit the bass.
Soft cases..nice and easy but not for a upper range instrument like an Alembic.

briant · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2009, 12:40:47 PM »

You guys who are anti-gig bag need to stop being so paranoid. A good gig bag is PLENTY of protection for ANY instrument as long as you use a bit of common sense. It also dawns on me that some people may have never seen a real gig bag before and are just thinking of the cheap things you find at Guitard Center for $25.

Breaks like the headless #12 above tend to happen when things are knocked off a stand. Which is also just carelessness on the part of the owner.

I brought my Rogue home in the hardcase. I am fairly sure it hasn't been back inside it since. Same with my Essence. The supplied hardcase is fine at protecting the instrument. But it isn't the end all be all for doing so.

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2009, 01:57:55 PM »

When I carry my instrument to practice, I often use a gig bag. When I load it in the back of the SUV along with my amp and P.A. gear for a gig (where it's more likely to get bounced around and smack up against another heavy item), I always use a hard case. If I'm flying with it, I use a flight case. I've got nothing against gig bags, so long as they are used in the appropriate circumstances.

Bill, tgo

pas · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2009, 03:30:55 PM »

A hard shell case will protect one's bass better than a gig bag EVERY time - always err on the side of caution. It may not be as convenient, but it's much better than heading home muttering to yourself If only I'd put it in it's case...

jet_powers · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2009, 04:39:11 PM »

When I first acquired my Exploiter it came with a cheesey gig bag. I moved it once or twice and didn't move it again until I got a hardshell case. That case is the size of a ping pong table and a pain in the ass but I haven't put any dings in the Exploiter since...

JP

pauldo · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2009, 04:55:40 PM »

I've always said:
The safest place for a bass is in it's case. (hard or soft).

Keavin everytime I see the picture of the decapitated #12 it hurts. . .

oddmetersam · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2009, 06:44:19 PM »

I appreciate all the feedback guys. Just to further clarify some points: I have basses as varied as a $250 Rogue 6-string (I know, I know -- what can I say?!); '72 Fender Jazz; Line 6 Variax 4-string; Spector 5-string; and now my MK Sig Dlx. I have always treated those first four equally carefully -- regardless of worth, so I haven't had to learn to be more careful with my Alembic. Obviously, if I were traveling on a plane and/or over long distances in a gear-laden car I'd use the HSC.

But I've used gig bags for years without problem and not only is the HSC too heavy, but the hard, unpadded plastic handle also chafes my hand when I have to carry it any appreciable distance and I'm not tall enough to easily keep the case from banging on every single step on typical stairways (I live up 4 flights of stairs). Yeah, such a sad story all around...!

In the original thread I forgot to mention my Alembic is a 5-string with a 35 scale.

How about an adjustable shoulder harness that holds a HSC vertically on your back like a heavy duty gig bag? I'd buy one!

I should also add that I've seen Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller and several other prominent players at gigs and the NAMM show with their basses in gig bags.