Gig bag for most uses?

[Jerryleejr]

Not debating brand or preferences just curious if most people find a gig bag is sufficient for normal everyday uses, to and from rehearsal/concert, car transport and home storage etc...remember I have 6 kids don't want any oops...I don't foresee using public transportation, just my jeep. And I did use the search function came up with a lot of for sale, WTB or will this fit threads but nothing specific.

JJ

[ursatz]

I've got both a hard case and a leather gig bag for my Alex.

The bag is fine if you treat the horn like it's naked. Just much easier to carry this way. And still easy to damage. When I was playing a ton back in college (and at times I didn't know if I was coming or going to a rehearsal/performance), it was easy to get careless and I've crushed the bell twice moving in and out of the back seat of the car. Jeep wrangler? Tight. Be careful. Jeep SUV? Better odds I think.

These days when going to rehearsal I lay the bag down in the back seat and buckle it in to the straps. I store my Alex upright in the bag and keep it in a spot where there is no way it will fall over or get bumped. Pretty sure one more bump and I'll need a new bell.

I also don't have kids.

I have used my hard case in the past as well. Much better protected. But what a major pain to move around.

On the other hand, by 2141 Eb has a nice hard case with 2 wheels on the bell end like the Yamaha 321s used to (maybe still do?) come with in the 90's. It is easy to maneuver and SO much better protected. Sorry I can't tell you what kind of case. I have no idea - came with the axe.

Just my experience for what it's worth. If you have kids, travel a ton with the horn, or have a tight car, I'd definitely recommend a hard case over a bag. There are some beautiful and practical hard cases out there (saw one this summer that is also a backpack). Probably worth every penny.

[Jerryleejr]

I've got both a hard case and a leather gig bag for my Alex.

The bag is fine if you treat the horn like it's naked. Just much easier to carry this way. And still easy to damage. When I was playing a ton back in college (and at times I didn't know if I was coming or going to a rehearsal/performance), it was easy to get careless and I've crushed the bell twice moving in and out of the back seat of the car. Jeep wrangler? Tight. Be careful. Jeep SUV? Better odds I think.

These days when going to rehearsal I lay the bag down in the back seat and buckle it in to the straps. I store my Alex upright in the bag and keep it in a spot where there is no way it will fall over or get bumped. Pretty sure one more bump and I'll need a new bell.

I also don't have kids.

I have used my hard case in the past as well. Much better protected. But what a major pain to move around.

On the other hand, by 2141 Eb has a nice hard case with 2 wheels on the bell end like the Yamaha 321s used to (maybe still do?) come with in the 90's. It is easy to maneuver and SO much better protected. Sorry I can't tell you what kind of case. I have no idea - came with the axe.

Just my experience for what it's worth. If you have kids, travel a ton with the horn, or have a tight car, I'd definitely recommend a hard case over a bag. There are some beautiful and practical hard cases out there (saw one this summer that is also a backpack). Probably worth every penny.

Thanks a bunch,
It comes with a hard case. I'm just looking at alternatives when it's just me in the jeep(liberty btw).

JJ

[DaTweeka]

I really like the Soundwear Performer gig bag for my euph. Lots of padding, lots of outside pouches. It's a bit bulky, but I've used it every day to and from school for about a year now, and my only complaint is that I haven't cleaned the lent out yet.

[Bob Kolada]

Any kids or stairs at all? Hard case, if only a lighter stock style case. Jeep Liberty? TJ-L with Dana 60's.



Bob "once fell UP some stairs during the winter onto his bass trombone's case" Kolada

[Jerryleejr]

Any kids or stairs at all? Hard case, if only a lighter stock style case. Jeep Liberty? TJ-L with Dana 60's.



Bob "once fell UP some stairs during the winter onto his bass trombone's case" Kolada

Diesel!

JJ

[PaulTkachenko]

Just ordering another Cronkhite bag.

That's what I use all the time and it's perfect.

[MartyNeilan]

When I was single, I had an 81 CJ7, 83 CJ7, and then a 97 TJ (Wrangler)
In all cases, I had the rear seats removed, holes plugged, and eventually put some kind of mat or bedliner in back of each of them. With such a configuration, the Jeep has a surprising amount of cargo room. I sold my soft top, half doors 97 not too long after the first time I got married. It didn't have air conditioning.

[tofu]

It's nice to have both. What you use and when is really dependent on a variety of factors including how much effort you are willing to put in to keep your horn as nice as possible. Some folks are fanatical about the condition of their horns and some are willing to accept the occasional ding when it doesn't affect playability. Don't delude yourself into thinking gig bags offer anything but minimal protection. Bloke doesn't call them dent bags for nothing. One thing I think often goes overlooked is the protection a hard case offers at venues. Especially when you have say a dress rehearsal and then a concert an hour or so later. It's amazing how much damage to horns occurs when you walk away to do whatever and somebody tries to move your horn in its bag. Horn in closed and locked hard case is going to be a much better bet. But it is a lot more effort to use the hard case. Make sure you get good wheels on your hard case. I once fell down a flight of stairs carrying a horn in its hard case. I landed on the case which both broke my fall and protected the horn. The case however did suffer some damage but both the horn and myself were unscathed.