Gig Bags

[mpisanek]

There seems to be a debate about whether or not to use a gig bag or a case.  In Europe in general things are a lot smaller than they are in the US.  Cars, vans, venues etc.  
 
I have always found it difficult to transport my full sized Alembic hard case for my Spoiler.  It did  not fit across the back seat of my last car, and up until I got the new one, it did not lay flat in the trunk of the car either.  It was a real pain to transport.
 
Just for your information I have run across a bass gig bag by a company called Body Glove.  It is a rigid gig bag.  This might sound silly but the bag is sort of like a clam shell covered with a bit of fabric and very well padded.  
 
The quality of the bag is great as well.  It comes with backpack straps and an over the shoulder strap as well.
 
For those of you in Europe the bag sells at most shops in the US for $129.95 and will therefore be able to be shipped into Europe without paying any import duty! In the UK that will add at lease 28.5% to the cost of the item plus paying the company importing the item for you.
 
The case is very roomy and will easily hold my 34 Spoiler standard point body with a crown headstock.
 
I believe the web site is http://www.eblitzaudiolabs.com/.

[bracheen]

Thanks Michael, I have a similar problem with cases.  I drive a Toyota MR2 Spyder.  There is no backseat or trunk.  Good job using the word trunk BTW, nice touch.  Anyway I have to stand mine up between the passenger seat and dash board.  I use a pretty good Warwick gig bag but it still makes me a little nervous.  I hate to think what would happen should the airbag deploy.
 
Sam

[keith_h]

Michael,
Wow a new car just so the Alembic would fit in the boot. That's dedication. :-)
 
Keith

[David Houck]

I must admit that the primary consideration in choosing my vehicle was whether it would hold my bass rig, which usually includes two cabs, two racks, equipment bag, stands, two Alembics, etc.

[jalevinemd]

Our last SUV was bought specifically because of the headroom in the back, for our Great Dane. But for a guitar...that is dedication.

[george_wright]

Last time I was shopping for a car, I took along a baritone sax case.  If it didn't fit into the trunk/boot, I lost interest.  One salesman said, But a full golf bag will fit.  His logic escaped me.

[kmh364]

I've got room for the Harley out back in the bed, and my full 2-2X10 cab Eden bass rig with the Alembic in it's rolling flight case all safely inside inside the cab. It is doubtful, however, that a 16ft long, 4-ton Dodge Ram Cummins HD pick-up would be practical in the EU, LOL! At $3/gal for Diesel, it's getting hard to imagine it being practical here in the States as well.  
 
Seriously though, as a single (4-wheel) vehicle owner, my ride had to be able to carry and/or tow all my toys should it become necessary. This is what I told myself when I dumped nearly $50k on the thing, and Diesel was $1.41/gal for 6mos. running at the time of order. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, LOL!  
 
Hmmmmmm, that Diesel Jetta @ 40MPG is looking mighty tempting now, LOL! I wonder if the Alembic and Eden stuff will fit inside it? LOL!
 
(Message edited by kmh364 on September 15, 2005)

[811952]

I share Kevin's situation.  Everything has to at some point fit in the back, with the family in the seats.  Hence a big pickup truck.  We drive my wife's Toyota as much as possible, and I've been riding a motorcycle to work and back every day (which is remarkably relaxing).  I couldn't find the link to the Body Glove gig bag, which I (my back) would be very interested in.  I pondered the Jetta diesel, but that much weight navigating my long driveway through the woods would destroy the suspension.  
John

[lbpesq]

Michael:
 
Thanks for the head's up about the Body Glove gig bags.  I couldn't find it using your link.  But a quick google and there it was.  I currently use a Levys Hemp Elecric gig bag - a very sturdy and relatively protective bag.  But the hard/soft description of the Body Glove sounded pretty interesting.  I ordered one from samash.com - still family-owned, I'm told.  $129, no tax, free shipping, and easy return policy.  Such a deal!!
The funny thing is the one place I NEVER use a gig bag is a gig!  It's great for to and from rehearsal, but if my guitar is going to be lugged around with a bunch of other gear, it's in a case!
I used to be prejudice against gig bags for 30+ years - they were for people who couldn't afford a case or didn't respect their instruments.  Then I got the hemp bag and fell in love.  Never too old to learn.
 
Bill, tgo

[mpisanek]

Sorry about the web link.  It appears that it is only for registering a product.  I found this on Ebay!
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/BODY-GLOVE-BGBA01-BASS-GUITAR-HARD-SOFT-CASE-NEW_W0QQitemZ7350425133QQcategoryZ20830QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
I wish I had seen this before I bought mine!

[karl]

Thanks for that link, Mike! I have exactly the problem you described - the hard case for my MK won't fit in my boot (sorry, trunk!) and only just fits (at a rakish angle!) across the two back seats. So it just doesn't get out as often as it should, especially given that I often end up ferrying a keyboard or two, and the guitarist and his amp, to and from gigs.
 
One of these Body Glove things would also have enabled me to bring my MK up to Edinburgh on the plane the other weekend :-)
 
Just a quick question - will an MK standard point fit into one of these? How does your Spoiler compare in size to a MK standard point? I was under the impression that the Spoiler was a bit smaller (and is it a shorter scale, too?), so I'm a bit worried that the MK might not fit!
 
Cheers,
 
K.

[mpisanek]

Karl:
 
Measured up the Spoiler.  It is 50.6 inches from point to crown!  15.5 across the widest point of the body.
 
It is amonsterously long thing!!!  There is about an inch or so to spare in the Body Glove!

[gare]

I just saw that everyones favorite Sam Ash has the Body Glove listed on their web site for 129.99
 
G

[adriaan]

Mike,
 
Your Spoiler is just a bit bigger than usual ...

[jacko]

Having seen Mikes spoiler, I think it's a standard point body with spoiler electronics. One of these days he'll get round to posting it in the showcase so everyone can form their own opinions ;-)
 
Graeme