I live in a small house in Japan with my wife and kids. My hard case keeps the guitar safe from any kind of accident at home, but when I am out and about I have a great padded soft case with backpack style straps. The soft case is so much more comfortable for getting around. 🎸
I find that walking through stations in Japan with a guitar outside a hardcase is a risk I’m unwilling to take. I’m 6’3” play Gretsch and enjoy Aloha shirts. You cannot walk into me and pretend you didnt see me! Yet as a resident of Japan, you know thats an everyday occurrence. If you love the guitar, hardcase it. It might be only my perspective, but I’ve also never had to deal with a broken neck/headstock from my Gretsches, Fenders, or Gibsons. Hardcase.
@@Kur0y4m4 I heard a luthier talking about Gibson headstock breaks, how some owners have never had a break in 30 years or so of ownership, yet others have suffered a number of breaks with the one instrument. It comes down to being careful. When you're finished playing, back in the case it goes. No leaning it against a chair, table, amp or even putting it in a stand where it's exposed to someone tripping over, collapsing, or pet and children impacts etc.
It just feels weird walking out of the shop with a guitar and no case. Noppers…I’m a grown up and need my guitars in a grown ups case! Have you ever seen a violinist or cellist dragging their instruments down the street with no case. We are civilized members of a modern society and We needs an adults case.
But I have seen cellists and violinists use soft shell cases. I prefer the idea of hard cases and usually just use a gig bag even though most my guitars have cases.
My violin came in a soft shell case. But I agree with you, it’s really weird walking out of a store with a guitar that doesn’t come with anything at all
I wouldn't go shopping on Saturday uptown in my birthday suit, sans trousers, or stark naked - this is what I think when I compute guitar with no hardcase - I know pathos a forethought... plus, I'm sick, I'm sick of all the case-less guitars! They are like homeless people! It's just eerie, weird & strange & sad & I am granted completely mad. Peace, play ya guitar & stfu!
@@matthewtayloryowieresearch1912 So wouldn’t it be easier just buy a case I know I would rather spend $1200 and not get a case over $1400 with a case. You can use the $200 and buy a case.
I’m pretty sure it’s a mental thing, but I always feel like a guitar should have a hard case. Technology and manufacturing have made leaps and bounds over the past few decades and I’m sure there are some really, really great soft cases out there but I just haven’t branched out.
It’s really a question of practicality for most people. If I just keep the guitars out on the stand most of the time, then these bulky expensive cases just collect dust 98% of the time.
Kiesel does soft cases. Now it’s important to note that soft cases aren’t created equally, but a high quality soft case WILL offer better protection than a hard case. They offer better shock absorption if you aren’t gigging with 30 instruments. Kiesel did a video on it
I like a hardshell case. The guitars I’m not currently playing are in them right now. Have a hardshell for each one. Had to buy then all separately, because I play mostly cheap stuff.
one of my worst memories from tour was at an airport, waiting to board. I walked up to the bass player, who was watching them load the luggage on the plane thru the window when i said good morning to him. At that same moment we both watched a crew guy take his hardcase with his, i think it was a Tobias, the guy launches it from about 10 feet away and it just bounces and slams on the conveyor belt up to the plane. I think we both just gasped...I mean what do you say even. I felt horrible but luckily the bass was okey.
I swear everytime I hear about this I just wish the mysterious stranger from fallout would just zip behind the fucker and shoot him. How is it ever okay to fling instruments? Or any luggage in general? You never know what fragile and important stuff is in there
I'm not sure why they recommend soft cases here for expensive rare guitars. That is complete nonsense! You MUST have a well-built, fitted hard case to protect your instrument that also is built with tight seals against the weather. I use a desiccant bag inside the case to keep the humidity near the same level year-round. German Sitka Spruce is wood that swells up just like any other wood and humidity fluctuations cause buckling. Check with a decent Luthier and see what the expert says.
"Let's decrease our costs by not giving the consumer a hard case to protect their multi-thousand dollar instrument/investment, but then charge them more for the overall decontented package." I'll never be okay with this, especially at the prices these brands charge. Looking at you prs.
2 days ago my three-year-old lifted up one of my 25 lb dumbbells and dropped it onto a hard shell case which contains my Taylor 914 CE. I said a little prayer before I opened the case to assess the damage. Thankfully, not a scratch. Bless those hard shell cases.
Firebirds, Explorers, Les Pauls, 335's ANYTHING GIbson NEEDS a hardshell. The headstock is vulnerable. I bought a PRS CE24 and was really irritated that it comes with a gig bag at almost 2k. Yes its essentially a Strat but at that price point a hardshell should be a given. I have been on the road and stuff gets thrown into the van and a gig bag isnt gonna cut it. Fenders I am actually ok with a gig bag (not custom shop pricing or American models) mostly because they are interchangeable. You cant really "break" a Fender
I gig with a Les Paul, SG and firebird. The Les Paul and SG are kept in a Mono M80 dual gig bag and the firebird is in a Mono vertigo. They’ve been all over the place on the road at tons of gigs and have always been protected perfectly. I’ve had more luck with the mono bags than I ever did with a hard case honestly.
@@mrmapegothe13th maybe it's that with a gig bag you know you have to be a little mindful but with hsc people tend to think you should be able to throw em out of a plane or whatever.
The plush soft-shell case that came with my 2020 Gibson Les Paul Tribute is a state-of-the-art package in terms of the protection it affords, the classic aesthetics, and the ergonomics.
I get why they don't include hardshell cases but it drives me crazy. A hardshell case should be included with $1000+ guitars, especially "higher end" instruments.
I’ve had similar experience as you Jonathan ,..with airport luggage 🧳 dudes tossing my strat!!😬like a lunitic…thank god it was in a hard shell ….company’s are just being cheap !!keep hard cases coming,everyone s got a soft case around if needed (rule of thumb,if the price is over 1000$ should come with hard cases)!!✌️❤️🎸by the way I’ll take any unwanted guitar cases,send em on my way 🤗
As a older cool,healthy and intelligent guitar player, l only use actual money and hard shell cases. Definite benefits to being stubborn. No broken head stocks.
It came with a Fender-branded bag from Incase. Unfortunately Incase no longer manufactures those, and aftermarket prices are two major limbs. I have one from years ago and it is some of the best money I ever spent. The new Icon series from Gator is indeed very similar to it.
When I bought my caparison guitar, I was really upset that several thousand dollar guitar didn't even come with a hard case. Then I saw the soft shell case it came with, and I changed my mind. Those things are bulletproof and dead smart. I use that case for all of my guitars.
Good post. I love gig bags for everyday use. But with a gig bag where do I stick all the case stickers? Eat Bertha's Mussels, a Stealie, the stickers from juke joints and studios and all the rest that are bragging rights for where the guitar and I have been? So how do I tell my gig bag from the rest of the crowd? BTW do y'all have Casino Guitars case stickers?
Wow, this is a topic that really resonates with me, not because I have a strong opinion one way or the other, but because it raises various emotional and practical issues. The price threshold for getting a hard shell case with a guitar keeps rising and that pisses me off. It has reached the point where I have to pay $A2,500+ before I get a hard case and that to me is a ripoff. Nonetheless, every time I buy a guitar that either comes with a gig bag or no bag at all I buy it a hard case. After all, I can buy a sturdy, non-name brand hard shell case for A$100. Fender and Gibson cases cost between A$250 and A$450. On the other side of the debate. I am getting old and infirmed so I have reduced my gig playing rig to be as light as possible and, in particular, want to be able to carry all of my gear into the venue in one trip. This means carrying two guitars on my back and so my Gator 4g gig bag is fantastic. It's the cheapest of the two guitar alternatives but that makes it lighter which suits me. If I had to trust my gear to a roadie I'd probably want more protection but since I am cursed with carrying all of my own gear then I see it as the best compromise.
I'm with you. I did see Fender Stratocaster and Tele hard cases on the Fender site for $199 so maybe it's not as bad as all that. But being someone who rolls up to a solo gig with 2 amps, 2 (sometimes 3) guitars, a kick drum, drum throne and a pedal board, I envy your one trip load in!
I have several luthier built classical guitars in various configs. With each purchase I forego the standard case and buy the waterproof SKB case. They offer protection few other cases can and considering the cost of a bench made guitar, I never bat an eye at the expense for that protection.
I have a MONO Dual Acoustic/Electric Guitar Case that I've been using for years. They aren't cheap! but they provide great protection, especially for the neck and headstock. I highly recommend a MONO bag, if you can afford it!
The John Mayer Incase bags I think started this whole change. There were a few iterations of that Incase over the Mayer signature line but they were all incredible hybrid bags that really had quality and utility down to a T.
If you look up the Music Area AA31 electric bag, it is the closest equivalent on the market these days. Based on some comments, I suspect Music Area was the actual manufacturer that Incase had contracted. I love my Incase bag, and wish they still mad them. The new Icon series from Gator is very similar.
@@Powerslave214 definitely looks like it for the original black Incase bag. The Cypress Mica bag was definitely an Incase material and Mayer worked with them to design it. All of them are phenomenal tbh
As I get older, I have jumped on the gig bag bandwagon. Going to band practice is so much easier, gig bag holds everything including my music book. However, when I break out my vintage Ric 4001, I do take the hard case because it's so valuable. I have 6 hard cases and 4 gig bags, thinking about at least one more bag. Thaks guys.
Not a comment about cases, but what to drink if you ever do come to Buffalo. Suggest that you don't ask for a Miller Light, around here, Labatt's and Molsens are considered to be "domestic" beer and there are a number of local breweries and distilleries making vary nice products. You would be doing yourself a disservice not to "drink local" if you ever get up here.
I'm military (26 years active duty!) and with moves every 3 years or so, I gotta have hardshell cases for all my guitars. I also NEVER let the movers pack them. They come with me in the Uhaul. That said, I bought a Les Paul Tribute last year and that is a true "soft case" not just a "gig bag." I was impressed.
Bro, same. I've been out since 2012 when the DOD budget cuts annihilated the Air Force and that was after being in the army and transferring over. Every single move. I look forward to driving my own car which had all of my tube amps, 24 cases, and all the firearms with the important documents and other stuff. I found the only way was to take leave before the restationing date and driving it all down.
I have even gone as far as driving to the nearest family member or battle buddy and asking a favor regarding a garage I could leave my car in temporarily. We always use allied for the big moves. I grew up in the military family with a retired colonel as a father at this point and the things I saw happen over that time frame growing up....
... were just unforgivable. God help anyone coming from overseas. I don't think there is a retired officer in the military that doesn't have a story of a family Heirloom China cabinet, European grandfather clock, for entire truck disappearing, if not being completely destroyed. I knew one guy whose stuff was in a container. His family's entire home of possessions fell into the ocean coming across the Atlantic from aviano, Italy. And there are people in this world who don't understand the sacrifice families live with as the home support system for service members of the lucky 2% of this country's historic Caretakers. In any case, Hope things went well for you and hope those cases are still holding up in the fight we can't prepare for!
In order to provide anywhere near as much protection as a hardshell case, a soft case needs to be extravagantly padded. You can get such cases, and they're decent protection for the instrument, and if you only own one or two guitars, they might be the right case for you. They do, however, take up at least half again as much space as a hardshell case that offers comparable protection. That means that you can fit /three/ instruments in hardshell cases in roughly the same space that you will only be able to fit /two/ padded soft cases. If you happen to have 15 guitars, you will only be able to fit 10 of them in the same space they would occupy in hard cases. And when the baggage handlers toss a set of ski-poles at your case like javelins (I've seen it done), what has a good chance of bouncing off your hard shell case is going to go right through your canvas & Styrofoam soft case. Basically what you're doing is justifying guitar manufacturers being cheap-asses.
Oh please. Quit normalizing the cheapness of manufacturers. Gig bags suck. Enough with the sales pitch. You guys are better than that. Every good bass or guitar I have ever owned got a hard case. Gig bags are immediately sold or tossed. Pro tip: Don’t put your Gibson SG or Les Paul in a gig bag.
Funny story. Got my 1st guitar in the mid 70's a hardtail Strat. With a case. Traded it for a totally upgraded partscastor Strat yrs later. Kept the case. Guitar got stolen yrs later by a drug addiction who was so stupid. How stupid. Took the guitar out of case, took off strap off straplocks, took cover off amp, stole broken VCR all taken apart so I could replace belt but left electric acoustic telly looking guitar laying right in plain view. So later I got Amer deluxe plus Strat w/o case and already has straplocks. Still have original case from the 70's for this Strat that I've owned since 96. Also on a side note got a steal of a deal on a Les Paul studio in 2012. Ebony w/gold trim 496/500 pups and best part at time IMHO was in chain saw case. $800. Never gonna be without hard cases for my good guitars. My junk guitars all have soft cases.
The T60 is so strong you could walk across skyscrapers on that. I had the T40 and T60 when they came out. I should never have sold the T60, it was an awesome player.
I'm a truck driver. The bag that came with my Taylor is perfect. When I go home or end up in a hotel on the road, the big pocket can fit all I need for a day or 2 and not have to have a separate backpack or anything. Just my guitar, a few clothes and stuff all in one thing. It's an overnight bag that my guitar fits in.
I prefer hardshell myself. I've had some "pretty decent" well padded gig bags in the past, and I let them go to 'sweeten' a deal on a sale (just like the people did that sold me the guitar that came with the gig bag). I have one gig bag left in my collection, and if I can sell the guitar that's in it---they get the gig bag. I'll stick with hardshell whether I have to buy it or not and maybe they (manufacturers) know that and I'm the chump . These manufacturers that keep jacking up their price on guitars, yet lowering the case value and case candy are breaking my brain---and those that sit back and accept it, are destroying my brain. But that's just my opinion. Thumbs up on the video guys; love it.
Its definitely a mental challenge accepting gig bag like cases over hard shell cases but some of the soft cases these days are like softer hard cases if that makes sense. The Taylor Aerocase is great. I also like the Tric gig bag that came with my Godin. Historically I've found hard shell cases easier to maintain humidification as the softer cases breath more. From a drop and impact perspective hard shell cases are not the winner. A majority of my guitars now are softer hard like gigbags but I still have several in hard shell cases because they are my most expensive guitars and came with those cases. There are a couple big name guitar makers that provide cheap and poorly designed gig bags with their guitars which is a shame. Taylor makes all their cases in house where most other makers sub out for cases. Got to give Taylor credit for their cases and providing a case or gigbag with every guitar they make.
I think I saw some of that coming several years back. I got tired of the mixed quality of "cases" anyway, and bought 5 HD SKB flight cases. Now that's all I use. At least it limited me to taking 5 guitars (electric and acoustic, 4+1) to a gig. We all know very well about Gibson's (especially SG's!) headstock breaking issues! I have a home-made system to support them in the case also! The Fender's I just tie behind the trailer and drag them down the road. 8) JMHO --gary
If I'm traveling with a guitar (or two) I need a good quality case. A good hard case can take minor knocks & bumps really well. A really nice padded gig bag/hybrid case can be just as protective...and possibly a little lighter...but I don't think they are "smaller"....maybe even taking up more room to give the same amount of protection to your guitar.
A soft case is okay if you want to save space in your car when your going to a gig close by. However in cold weather, extremely humid or dry climates I feel safer having a good hard shell case designed to protect your instrument in those kinds of conditions. If your guitar is worth keeping and your using it for gigs it's worth protecting it. Especially if you payed a lot of money for it.
I have 3 guitars that I consider my main guitars. The rest basically just stay in their hard shell cases, but when I do take them out they’re always pristine.
The Ovation Hard Case # 9158 is Made in the USA either by SKB or TLK. These are the highest quality cases available for the real protection of your cherished guitars.
I got a really nice gig bag with my Yamaha Revstar, super nice quality. I’m usually a hard case person, but the Yamaha gig bag changed my mind. I also really like the hybrid hard/ soft cases. Reduced weight, secure fit and better shock absorption. I’ve always wondered why those aren’t more popular
I always imagine of a hybrid of both of these... Making gig bags which is soft inside and out but has a hard material's layer in between... M and has straps making it attachable to your body. Hope guitar case manufacturers would someday come up with this
The John Mayer soft shell case you guys may be referring to is the Fender JM cargo softshell case made by INCASE. I believe they shipped with the John Mayer signature fenders back in the day. Apparently the cases are rare and sought after now. 🤔
When my guitars are not in my hands, they're in the case. Too many friends of mine who play guitar have way, way, way too many stories about how they damaged their guitar when their instrument was out of the case. The case is the first line of defense for our guitars, especially if you have kids in your home.
When I bought my 2020 gibson SG standard from gc last year the guy brought out a sweet hardshell with purple interior and then goes, oh wait wrong one! Then goes and pulls out the soft shell gibson bag. I was a little disappointed lol
Storing guitars outside a case in upstate NY will dry them out so bad in the winter. The case is a must up here unless you want to pay for and constantly fill a humidifier. Any guitar costing $1000 and up should come with a hardshell case.
Some good points made here... however, if you have a large collection of, say, twenty-plus guitars or more, etc., then, IMO, having hard cases is at least something you can then _stack against a corner_ in a room, etc. for organization-rather like placing books on a shelf. I simply cannot imagine successfully keeping that number (or more) of _gig bags_ in any kind of truly sustainable order, storage-wise. In general. So, all my guitars have hard cases, although I have managed to collect some nicer gig bags over the last few years (PRS, Yamaha) that I'd possibly consider carrying something in for brief use if necessary. Still, I bought cases for those guitars. too. Sure, I can understand the _theoretically_ easier time of it traveling locally to a gig using a few nicer (I'd hope) bags, but still... I also wouldn't want to _trip_ on top of my gigbag-ed guitar on the way into said gig!!! Oops. Also, consider transporting a bagged guitar in the back of your SUV or van, etc.... and then suddenly stopping short or turning a sharp corner, and... a heavy amp might just decide to fall against your guitar. Oops again. _Moveable_ Object meets Irresistible Force? That said, I do have a great hybrid case made specifically for my Ibanez AZ (inc in the price) that gives me complete confidence, even for that "trip factor", plus it's rectangular so that also works with storage in-between gigging out. That a design I can get along with!
There are some really amazing gig bag/hybrid hard cases I've see the last few years. That said, I think I'm too old school. I've got G&Gs for all my Fender Electrics. (CS 55 P, AVRI 57 P, and 50s Road Worn Tele) and hard cases for all my acoustics. (Gretsch Rancher Jumbo, Black Falcon Rancher, White Falcon Rancher 12 String and Fender Kingman Bass) I definitely would not trust gigging with a plain gig bag having to cram my instruments in a 2 door Jeep or back of a suburban. Like I said, though. Those Hybrid cases are really awesome. I'm just too old. I actually ordered a custom G&G for my CS 55 P years ago that matched my Ltd Edition Blonde Bassman 100t/Super Bassman 410 Neo Rig. I don't know. There's just something about pulling a vintage spec nitro Fender out of an old school case.
I prefer a hardshell case over gig bags , although the gig bag that came with my Fender Jimi Hendrix Strat is well padded up to some I've seen. The thought of putting my Les Paul in a gig bag, however, makes me slightly anxious to say the least!
Recently bought a RainSong, and had the dealer swap out the hard case for a gig bag before shipping. The first lightweight “hard” gig bag I can remember is the Ovation Zero Gravity case. I liked it.
the issue with hard cases is mainly the price - i’m a jazzmaster player and its near impossible to find ANY hard shell case in the jazzmaster shape thar isn’t ubsurdly priced, especially new, but even the used market most available listings are “vintage” or something so they’re way too expense...
Mono case for my Fender USA Geddy Lee bass and a soft Taylor case for my 37 Martin Authentic 28, but only when I'm playing somewhere. At home they stay in hard cases
if you have to stack up a hundred guitars... gig bags are not an option really. they need to stack for storage. the gig... buy a spare bag. I'm not putting a 1934 L7 in a bag. ever. lol.
I love hard cases knowing when I buy a guitar it will come packed well AND in a hard case. However, I wish all hard cases would be airport/airplane durable. Jackson/Charvel/Musicman type that at least feels like they would survive. The nice hard case that my PRS or Heritage comes in is great for personal travel but not for major touring/flying. Soft cases win for in-town gigging hands down (lighter, more cushion, easier to carry around before/after the gig)👌🏻
The music starts with the sound of a hardshell case being unlatched. I have grown accustomed to the gig bag but you cannot beat the sound of opening a case. The only thing better is what is inside!
I had a 15 year break from buying guitars and was peeved about the lack of hard cases for $$$ stuff but I'm actually happy now. My home is quite small, and they take up a lot of space. I'll fork over the extra if need be. ✌️🇦🇺
I have a tweed hsc for a Gretsch Duo Jet. It ways a ton when it’s empty. I’m love the Gator Transit case and their deluxe heavy duty whatever it’s called gig bag case. That even has its own rain cover. I also a double Reunion Blues for solid bodies that’s excellent. Unfortunately I have a closet full of hsc’s. But some are stored in them. I use the bags when I go out
I've always preferred hardshell cases, but recently got a Godin acoustic with their TRIC case and am really liking it. It's rigid like a hardshell but weighs less with a guitar in it than an empty hardshell, plus it has backpack straps and outer pockets like a gigbag. My only concern with the hybrid style case is longevity due to having a zipper instead of latches.
You guys are right. Those Mayer gig bags from his sig strat is great. There are even some prototypes around if you can’t snag the Fender one for a decent price
I was going to a funeral one time for my sister-n-in-law. Another SNL stopped me and stated I needed to go to another place before I went to the church. Being distracted, I then backed my car and heard a noise. Fortunately my guitar case was simply pushed down the drive way and was scratched. My living SNL was lucky. I would have had to go to 2 funerals if that had been a soft case ! I don't "GIG" per se, but I feel a hard case is vital to me.
I bought some gear from sweetwater to be sent to Bahrain. I ordered a Schecter solo 2 & hard case & a Gretsch with a hard case. A few weeks later all the gear arrived & the guitars were sent separate from the cases. Which was exactly the thing I wanted to avoid. I always get a hard case but I’ve had to move to different countries. I definitely bought them for my 2 silver sky’s!
Aren't hard cases easier to deal with humidity problems especially in the north when it gets very dry in a heated building in the winter and very humid in the summer instead of whole building humidity control?
I got a Reverend bass last year and I was shocked that it came with its own hard case, especially since it’s a short scale which are kind of notoriously difficult to find any case, hard or gig bag, for.
I say, no to the soft case. Living in Phoenix AZ, the lack of humidity is brutal. In order keep my acoustic guitars between 50 & 55 percent humidity content in a soft case is impossible. It is difficult enough in a hardshell case. I have yet to see a soft case capable of maintaining the 55 percent mark because the soft cases breathe and that causes problems. Maybe I am not aware of a soft case that will allow the ideal environment for an acoustic guitar to be in the proper humidity levels. If there is such a case please advise. Thank you, that is my 2 cents worth.
I love dropping 2 grand on a new guitar and then having to spend an additional $200 for a hard case. It makes me feel like I'm helping the company's bottom line. It makes me happy to see executives get a new yacht. Leo Fender had yachts. These new guys are just like Leo, right? Right? No? Hmmm....
Application specific, in my case. I think there is a big difference between a gig bag and a soft case. Soft cases can be amazing replacements for hard cases, but I do not trust gig bags for protection. That being said, the Gibson Protector case that came with the Mike Ness LP is amazing. That thing is a chainsaw case updated to modern specs, and I do really like that.
Yes, Jonathan is correct! The John Mayer Signature Strat came with an Incase bag that was backpack style when they were released in 2005. All of his guitars have had gig bags.
I like hard shell cases. And still use one of those funny Fender cases for my favorite Strat. Only problem is there is no place to to put a strap. The storage box is not big enough for anything. But my Strat is tightly padded. So I take a padded bag for the strap, etc. Hard shells on all my other guitars. Except my Fender bass, gig bag.🤘🤩🎸
I'm just a basement player so I dont need something that can handle a ride in a plane or truck. Soft cases are lighter, easier to handle, and take less storage room. I sold off all my hard cases and got soft cases.
My Novo came in a Mono bag. I don't need a hardcase because they're kind of annoying to store. The Gibson gig bag that comes with the Tribute is nice enough too.
I just got a Fender Vintera 50s road worn Strat and it came with a 'deluxe' gig bag. It was in fine shape, out of the bag... although as a road worn who can tell lol. I toyed with the thought of getting a tweed hard shell case for it because I intend to keep it forever, but I don't ever gig or play out, so the guitar's just here in the house on a stand where I can grab it quick to play, so it'd also be like parking a never-used $300 case in the closet on the highly unlikely off-chance I take the guitar somewhere...
I want hardcases for all my guitars. Just feels better. But I also want one or two very good and comfortable gigbags for a Fender style electric and for my 00-15m, because I don’t have a car anymore (I do have a scooter - Europe) and I have a prosthetic leg, so I’m extremely dependent. A good and strong gigbag is the only thing that makes me less dependent when I just want to go somewhere to gig and play. Although…, I’ve seen straps made to carry hardcases on your back. Probably not that comfortable, but if it functions, maybe that’s the way to go. 🤔
I definitely prefer a hard shell case, but I don't mind if a guitar comes with a high quality soft shell. I like the convenience of how well hard shell cases stack soft shell pockets tend to get in the way. All my guitar get a hard case at sompoint.
What makes me nuts is to go to a shop and buy what you might consider a more high-end guitar, like the Ibanez Premium series, and then find out that it doesn't come with a case or a gig bag, and you have to spend more money just to have it in SOMETHING for the drive home.
Hard-cases for acoustics are awesome for climate control. I think there's a lot of situations where a good soft case is more than fine. I use the mono for my acoustic when flying or gigs. If it's checked I have a SKB iSeries case.
Back in the 90s when I started a hard case was the only serious choice. Now a lot of guys (particularly younger) are using the Mono bags. I can definitely see the logic if you're using public transport in a city or lots of other gigs but I still can't trust it to be ok when it's being chucked in the back of a van with a load of amps and PA gear.
"The hardshell case is dead" - People without kids
"The hell it is" - Anyone with kids
🤣absolutely
😂
Turns out my kid is a custom guitar relic artist though.
I was literally shocked by this video's recommendations for soft cases for expensive guitars. Incredible!
I live in a small house in Japan with my wife and kids. My hard case keeps the guitar safe from any kind of accident at home, but when I am out and about I have a great padded soft case with backpack style straps. The soft case is so much more comfortable for getting around. 🎸
Same, I store the ones in a hard case at home. But when one comes out of the home; it travels in a gig bag
I find that walking through stations in Japan with a guitar outside a hardcase is a risk I’m unwilling to take. I’m 6’3” play Gretsch and enjoy Aloha shirts. You cannot walk into me and pretend you didnt see me! Yet as a resident of Japan, you know thats an everyday occurrence. If you love the guitar, hardcase it. It might be only my perspective, but I’ve also never had to deal with a broken neck/headstock from my Gretsches, Fenders, or Gibsons. Hardcase.
@@Kur0y4m4 I heard a luthier talking about Gibson headstock breaks, how some owners have never had a break in 30 years or so of ownership, yet others have suffered a number of breaks with the one instrument. It comes down to being careful. When you're finished playing, back in the case it goes. No leaning it against a chair, table, amp or even putting it in a stand where it's exposed to someone tripping over, collapsing, or pet and children impacts etc.
It just feels weird walking out of the shop with a guitar and no case. Noppers…I’m a grown up and need my guitars in a grown ups case! Have you ever seen a violinist or cellist dragging their instruments down the street with no case. We are civilized members of a modern society and We needs an adults case.
But I have seen cellists and violinists use soft shell cases. I prefer the idea of hard cases and usually just use a gig bag even though most my guitars have cases.
My violin came in a soft shell case. But I agree with you, it’s really weird walking out of a store with a guitar that doesn’t come with anything at all
A case is fine but I would rather pay less and buy my own case
I wouldn't go shopping on Saturday uptown in my birthday suit, sans trousers, or stark naked - this is what I think when I compute guitar with no hardcase - I know pathos a forethought... plus, I'm sick, I'm sick of all the case-less guitars! They are like homeless people! It's just eerie, weird & strange & sad & I am granted completely mad. Peace, play ya guitar & stfu!
@@matthewtayloryowieresearch1912 So wouldn’t it be easier just buy a case I know I would rather spend $1200 and not get a case over $1400 with a case. You can use the $200 and buy a case.
I’m pretty sure it’s a mental thing, but I always feel like a guitar should have a hard case. Technology and manufacturing have made leaps and bounds over the past few decades and I’m sure there are some really, really great soft cases out there but I just haven’t branched out.
It’s really a question of practicality for most people. If I just keep the guitars out on the stand most of the time, then these bulky expensive cases just collect dust 98% of the time.
Kiesel does soft cases. Now it’s important to note that soft cases aren’t created equally, but a high quality soft case WILL offer better protection than a hard case. They offer better shock absorption if you aren’t gigging with 30 instruments.
Kiesel did a video on it
@@iAutodidact pre se soft case def can take some abuse
I like a hardshell case. The guitars I’m not currently playing are in them right now. Have a hardshell for each one. Had to buy then all separately, because I play mostly cheap stuff.
@smth 9021 they cost 2 Squiers ... new monetary unit
one of my worst memories from tour was at an airport, waiting to board. I walked up to the bass player, who was watching them load the luggage on the plane thru the window when i said good morning to him. At that same moment we both watched a crew guy take his hardcase with his, i think it was a Tobias, the guy launches it from about 10 feet away and it just bounces and slams on the conveyor belt up to the plane. I think we both just gasped...I mean what do you say even. I felt horrible but luckily the bass was okey.
I swear everytime I hear about this I just wish the mysterious stranger from fallout would just zip behind the fucker and shoot him.
How is it ever okay to fling instruments? Or any luggage in general? You never know what fragile and important stuff is in there
Yep they do the same with wheelchairs too…
I'm not sure why they recommend soft cases here for expensive rare guitars. That is complete nonsense! You MUST have a well-built, fitted hard case to protect your instrument that also is built with tight seals against the weather. I use a desiccant bag inside the case to keep the humidity near the same level year-round. German Sitka Spruce is wood that swells up just like any other wood and humidity fluctuations cause buckling. Check with a decent Luthier and see what the expert says.
"Let's decrease our costs by not giving the consumer a hard case to protect their multi-thousand dollar instrument/investment, but then charge them more for the overall decontented package."
I'll never be okay with this, especially at the prices these brands charge. Looking at you prs.
2 days ago my three-year-old lifted up one of my 25 lb dumbbells and dropped it onto a hard shell case which contains my Taylor 914 CE. I said a little prayer before I opened the case to assess the damage. Thankfully, not a scratch. Bless those hard shell cases.
Little Samson!
I'm sorry, your THREE YEAR OLD LIFTED A 25 LB DUMBBELL!?
JFC WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FEEDING HIM????
@@SilverPaladin Lol! Yes he is abnormally strong for his age
@@cuscoothriyas5163 Yes, no joke! Giant's milk does a body good!
@@MrHeliosoul I can't decide if you mean your wife or if you somehow convinced Snu Snu to donate her milk
Saying the Silver Sky shipping with a soft case ruffled some feathers is an understatement lol. PRS hardshells are heavy as hell though.
Firebirds, Explorers, Les Pauls, 335's ANYTHING GIbson NEEDS a hardshell. The headstock is vulnerable. I bought a PRS CE24 and was really irritated that it comes with a gig bag at almost 2k. Yes its essentially a Strat but at that price point a hardshell should be a given. I have been on the road and stuff gets thrown into the van and a gig bag isnt gonna cut it. Fenders I am actually ok with a gig bag (not custom shop pricing or American models) mostly because they are interchangeable. You cant really "break" a Fender
"Price"
same, bought a CE24, was expecting at least the super padded gig bag they use on the Silver Sky.
I gig with a Les Paul, SG and firebird. The Les Paul and SG are kept in a Mono M80 dual gig bag and the firebird is in a Mono vertigo. They’ve been all over the place on the road at tons of gigs and have always been protected perfectly. I’ve had more luck with the mono bags than I ever did with a hard case honestly.
@@mrmapegothe13th maybe it's that with a gig bag you know you have to be a little mindful but with hsc people tend to think you should be able to throw em out of a plane or whatever.
Yor 100% right all the guitar companies are doing is cutting cost for themselves.
The plush soft-shell case that came with my 2020 Gibson Les Paul Tribute is a state-of-the-art package in terms of the protection it affords, the classic aesthetics, and the ergonomics.
I actually bought one for my 2017 Tribute. The old gig bag were awful, and honestly I'm pretty content with it in lieu of a hard case.
I get why they don't include hardshell cases but it drives me crazy. A hardshell case should be included with $1000+ guitars, especially "higher end" instruments.
I used my hard shell cases 6 months ago when I
moved houses after 11 years. Without them it would have been a nightmare.
I’ve had similar experience as you Jonathan ,..with airport luggage 🧳 dudes tossing my strat!!😬like a lunitic…thank god it was in a hard shell ….company’s are just being cheap !!keep hard cases coming,everyone s got a soft case around if needed (rule of thumb,if the price is over 1000$ should come with hard cases)!!✌️❤️🎸by the way I’ll take any unwanted guitar cases,send em on my way 🤗
A hard shell locking case is a necessity.
As a older cool,healthy and intelligent guitar player, l only use actual money and hard shell cases. Definite benefits to being stubborn. No broken head stocks.
Yes the Fender John Mayer Model came with a gig bag that was very similar to the Gator Icon
It came with a Fender-branded bag from Incase. Unfortunately Incase no longer manufactures those, and aftermarket prices are two major limbs. I have one from years ago and it is some of the best money I ever spent. The new Icon series from Gator is indeed very similar to it.
When I bought my caparison guitar, I was really upset that several thousand dollar guitar didn't even come with a hard case. Then I saw the soft shell case it came with, and I changed my mind. Those things are bulletproof and dead smart. I use that case for all of my guitars.
Good post. I love gig bags for everyday use. But with a gig bag where do I stick all the case stickers? Eat Bertha's Mussels, a Stealie, the stickers from juke joints and studios and all the rest that are bragging rights for where the guitar and I have been? So how do I tell my gig bag from the rest of the crowd? BTW do y'all have Casino Guitars case stickers?
Wow, this is a topic that really resonates with me, not because I have a strong opinion one way or the other, but because it raises various emotional and practical issues.
The price threshold for getting a hard shell case with a guitar keeps rising and that pisses me off. It has reached the point where I have to pay $A2,500+ before I get a hard case and that to me is a ripoff. Nonetheless, every time I buy a guitar that either comes with a gig bag or no bag at all I buy it a hard case. After all, I can buy a sturdy, non-name brand hard shell case for A$100. Fender and Gibson cases cost between A$250 and A$450.
On the other side of the debate. I am getting old and infirmed so I have reduced my gig playing rig to be as light as possible and, in particular, want to be able to carry all of my gear into the venue in one trip. This means carrying two guitars on my back and so my Gator 4g gig bag is fantastic. It's the cheapest of the two guitar alternatives but that makes it lighter which suits me. If I had to trust my gear to a roadie I'd probably want more protection but since I am cursed with carrying all of my own gear then I see it as the best compromise.
I'm with you. I did see Fender Stratocaster and Tele hard cases on the Fender site for $199 so maybe it's not as bad as all that. But being someone who rolls up to a solo gig with 2 amps, 2 (sometimes 3) guitars, a kick drum, drum throne and a pedal board, I envy your one trip load in!
started watching this after working a blues tutorial at .75 playback speed. took a sec to figure out what was going on with Baxters speech
I have several luthier built classical guitars in various configs. With each purchase I forego the standard case and buy the waterproof SKB case. They offer protection few other cases can and considering the cost of a bench made guitar, I never bat an eye at the expense for that protection.
I have a MONO Dual Acoustic/Electric Guitar Case that I've been using for years. They aren't cheap! but they provide great protection, especially for the neck and headstock. I highly recommend a MONO bag, if you can afford it!
The John Mayer Incase bags I think started this whole change. There were a few iterations of that Incase over the Mayer signature line but they were all incredible hybrid bags that really had quality and utility down to a T.
If you look up the Music Area AA31 electric bag, it is the closest equivalent on the market these days. Based on some comments, I suspect Music Area was the actual manufacturer that Incase had contracted. I love my Incase bag, and wish they still mad them. The new Icon series from Gator is very similar.
@@Powerslave214 definitely looks like it for the original black Incase bag. The Cypress Mica bag was definitely an Incase material and Mayer worked with them to design it. All of them are phenomenal tbh
Charge more, give less, & wait longer...thanks Manufacturers. You're the bestest!
🤣
As I get older, I have jumped on the gig bag bandwagon. Going to band practice is so much easier, gig bag holds everything including my music book. However, when I break out my vintage Ric 4001, I do take the hard case because it's so valuable. I have 6 hard cases and 4 gig bags, thinking about at least one more bag. Thaks guys.
I switched to a Gator Transit series gigbag that holds one acoustic and one electric guitar. Perfect for a solo artist.
Not a comment about cases, but what to drink if you ever do come to Buffalo. Suggest that you don't ask for a Miller Light, around here, Labatt's and Molsens are considered to be "domestic" beer and there are a number of local breweries and distilleries making vary nice products. You would be doing yourself a disservice not to "drink local" if you ever get up here.
I don't need a hard case, I play a strat. You could probably throw it down a flight of stairs deliberately and still have a playable instrument.
I'm military (26 years active duty!) and with moves every 3 years or so, I gotta have hardshell cases for all my guitars. I also NEVER let the movers pack them. They come with me in the Uhaul. That said, I bought a Les Paul Tribute last year and that is a true "soft case" not just a "gig bag." I was impressed.
Bro, same. I've been out since 2012 when the DOD budget cuts annihilated the Air Force and that was after being in the army and transferring over. Every single move. I look forward to driving my own car which had all of my tube amps, 24 cases, and all the firearms with the important documents and other stuff. I found the only way was to take leave before the restationing date and driving it all down.
I have even gone as far as driving to the nearest family member or battle buddy and asking a favor regarding a garage I could leave my car in temporarily. We always use allied for the big moves. I grew up in the military family with a retired colonel as a father at this point and the things I saw happen over that time frame growing up....
... were just unforgivable. God help anyone coming from overseas. I don't think there is a retired officer in the military that doesn't have a story of a family Heirloom China cabinet, European grandfather clock, for entire truck disappearing, if not being completely destroyed. I knew one guy whose stuff was in a container. His family's entire home of possessions fell into the ocean coming across the Atlantic from aviano, Italy. And there are people in this world who don't understand the sacrifice families live with as the home support system for service members of the lucky 2% of this country's historic Caretakers. In any case, Hope things went well for you and hope those cases are still holding up in the fight we can't prepare for!
In a place where it's horribly dusty and my house is tiny, I'm forced to use a hard case and stack all of them up.
In order to provide anywhere near as much protection as a hardshell case, a soft case needs to be extravagantly padded. You can get such cases, and they're decent protection for the instrument, and if you only own one or two guitars, they might be the right case for you.
They do, however, take up at least half again as much space as a hardshell case that offers comparable protection. That means that you can fit /three/ instruments in hardshell cases in roughly the same space that you will only be able to fit /two/ padded soft cases. If you happen to have 15 guitars, you will only be able to fit 10 of them in the same space they would occupy in hard cases.
And when the baggage handlers toss a set of ski-poles at your case like javelins (I've seen it done), what has a good chance of bouncing off your hard shell case is going to go right through your canvas & Styrofoam soft case.
Basically what you're doing is justifying guitar manufacturers being cheap-asses.
Oh please. Quit normalizing the cheapness of manufacturers. Gig bags suck. Enough with the sales pitch. You guys are better than that.
Every good bass or guitar I have ever owned got a hard case. Gig bags are immediately sold or tossed. Pro tip: Don’t put your Gibson SG or Les Paul in a gig bag.
Funny story. Got my 1st guitar in the mid 70's a hardtail Strat. With a case. Traded it for a totally upgraded partscastor Strat yrs later. Kept the case. Guitar got stolen yrs later by a drug addiction who was so stupid. How stupid. Took the guitar out of case, took off strap off straplocks, took cover off amp, stole broken VCR all taken apart so I could replace belt but left electric acoustic telly looking guitar laying right in plain view. So later I got Amer deluxe plus Strat w/o case and already has straplocks. Still have original case from the 70's for this Strat that I've owned since 96. Also on a side note got a steal of a deal on a Les Paul studio in 2012. Ebony w/gold trim 496/500 pups and best part at time IMHO was in chain saw case. $800. Never gonna be without hard cases for my good guitars. My junk guitars all have soft cases.
One of my favorite travel hard case was made for my Peavey t-60 which I have flown with over 30 times with and never had a problem.
The T60 is so strong you could walk across skyscrapers on that. I had the T40 and T60 when they came out. I should never have sold the T60, it was an awesome player.
I'm a truck driver. The bag that came with my Taylor is perfect. When I go home or end up in a hotel on the road, the big pocket can fit all I need for a day or 2 and not have to have a separate backpack or anything. Just my guitar, a few clothes and stuff all in one thing. It's an overnight bag that my guitar fits in.
I prefer hardshell myself. I've had some "pretty decent" well padded gig bags in the past, and I let them go to 'sweeten' a deal on a sale (just like the people did that sold me the guitar that came with the gig bag). I have one gig bag left in my collection, and if I can sell the guitar that's in it---they get the gig bag. I'll stick with hardshell whether I have to buy it or not and maybe they (manufacturers) know that and I'm the chump . These manufacturers that keep jacking up their price on guitars, yet lowering the case value and case candy are breaking my brain---and those that sit back and accept it, are destroying my brain. But that's just my opinion. Thumbs up on the video guys; love it.
Its definitely a mental challenge accepting gig bag like cases over hard shell cases but some of the soft cases these days are like softer hard cases if that makes sense. The Taylor Aerocase is great. I also like the Tric gig bag that came with my Godin. Historically I've found hard shell cases easier to maintain humidification as the softer cases breath more. From a drop and impact perspective hard shell cases are not the winner. A majority of my guitars now are softer hard like gigbags but I still have several in hard shell cases because they are my most expensive guitars and came with those cases. There are a couple big name guitar makers that provide cheap and poorly designed gig bags with their guitars which is a shame. Taylor makes all their cases in house where most other makers sub out for cases. Got to give Taylor credit for their cases and providing a case or gigbag with every guitar they make.
Living in New Mexico, I need a case that controls for humidity. I am not aware of a gig bag that can keep a guitar hydrated…
I think I saw some of that coming several years back. I got tired of the mixed quality of "cases" anyway, and bought 5 HD SKB flight cases. Now that's all I use. At least it limited me to taking 5 guitars (electric and acoustic, 4+1) to a gig. We all know very well about Gibson's (especially SG's!) headstock breaking issues! I have a home-made system to support them in the case also! The Fender's I just tie behind the trailer and drag them down the road. 8) JMHO --gary
The decent soft cases are outrageous in price.
You guys are entertaining and informative. Thanks.
If I'm traveling with a guitar (or two) I need a good quality case. A good hard case can take minor knocks & bumps really well. A really nice padded gig bag/hybrid case can be just as protective...and possibly a little lighter...but I don't think they are "smaller"....maybe even taking up more room to give the same amount of protection to your guitar.
A soft case is okay if you want to save space in your car when your going to a gig close by. However in cold weather, extremely humid or dry climates I feel safer having a good hard shell case designed to protect your instrument in those kinds of conditions. If your guitar is worth keeping and your using it for gigs it's worth protecting it. Especially if you payed a lot of money for it.
I have 3 guitars that I consider my main guitars. The rest basically just stay in their hard shell cases, but when I do take them out they’re always pristine.
My Seagull is in gig bag-ish case but, inside is a hard foam with a soft suede fabric. It's kind of dumby to carry and heavy, but protects really well
Fender has great cases. I keep my PRS Custom 24 in an SKB waterproof case (with wheels!). It’s an amazing case, I highly recommend them.
The Ovation Hard Case # 9158 is Made in the USA either by SKB or TLK. These are the highest quality cases available for the real protection of your cherished guitars.
I got a really nice gig bag with my Yamaha Revstar, super nice quality. I’m usually a hard case person, but the Yamaha gig bag changed my mind. I also really like the hybrid hard/ soft cases. Reduced weight, secure fit and better shock absorption. I’ve always wondered why those aren’t more popular
I always imagine of a hybrid of both of these... Making gig bags which is soft inside and out but has a hard material's layer in between... M and has straps making it attachable to your body. Hope guitar case manufacturers would someday come up with this
The Monos are kinda like it, I bought one with a Epiphone about 4 years ago and I have been converted
Yeah, they do exist.
The John Mayer soft shell case you guys may be referring to is the Fender JM cargo softshell case made by INCASE. I believe they shipped with the John Mayer signature fenders back in the day. Apparently the cases are rare and sought after now. 🤔
The sexy tweed case with orange interior had more influence on my fender strat purchase than id like to admit 😂
The John Mayer signature strat came in a Mono Vertigo. Suhr has been shipping with soft cases for a while.
When my guitars are not in my hands, they're in the case. Too many friends of mine who play guitar have way, way, way too many stories about how they damaged their guitar when their instrument was out of the case. The case is the first line of defense for our guitars, especially if you have kids in your home.
When I bought my 2020 gibson SG standard from gc last year the guy brought out a sweet hardshell with purple interior and then goes, oh wait wrong one! Then goes and pulls out the soft shell gibson bag. I was a little disappointed lol
I wish soft cases actually meant lower prices, but instead it seems to be that prices have went up and now there are no more hardshell cases.
Storing guitars outside a case in upstate NY will dry them out so bad in the winter. The case is a must up here unless you want to pay for and constantly fill a humidifier. Any guitar costing $1000 and up should come with a hardshell case.
Some good points made here... however, if you have a large collection of, say, twenty-plus guitars or more, etc., then, IMO, having hard cases is at least something you can then _stack against a corner_ in a room, etc. for organization-rather like placing books on a shelf. I simply cannot imagine successfully keeping that number (or more) of _gig bags_ in any kind of truly sustainable order, storage-wise. In general. So, all my guitars have hard cases, although I have managed to collect some nicer gig bags over the last few years (PRS, Yamaha) that I'd possibly consider carrying something in for brief use if necessary. Still, I bought cases for those guitars. too.
Sure, I can understand the _theoretically_ easier time of it traveling locally to a gig using a few nicer (I'd hope) bags, but still... I also wouldn't want to _trip_ on top of my gigbag-ed guitar on the way into said gig!!! Oops.
Also, consider transporting a bagged guitar in the back of your SUV or van, etc.... and then suddenly stopping short or turning a sharp corner, and... a heavy amp might just decide to fall against your guitar. Oops again. _Moveable_ Object meets Irresistible Force?
That said, I do have a great hybrid case made specifically for my Ibanez AZ (inc in the price) that gives me complete confidence, even for that "trip factor", plus it's rectangular so that also works with storage in-between gigging out. That a design I can get along with!
There are some really amazing gig bag/hybrid hard cases I've see the last few years. That said, I think I'm too old school. I've got G&Gs for all my Fender Electrics. (CS 55 P, AVRI 57 P, and 50s Road Worn Tele) and hard cases for all my acoustics. (Gretsch Rancher Jumbo, Black Falcon Rancher, White Falcon Rancher 12 String and Fender Kingman Bass) I definitely would not trust gigging with a plain gig bag having to cram my instruments in a 2 door Jeep or back of a suburban. Like I said, though. Those Hybrid cases are really awesome. I'm just too old. I actually ordered a custom G&G for my CS 55 P years ago that matched my Ltd Edition Blonde Bassman 100t/Super Bassman 410 Neo Rig. I don't know. There's just something about pulling a vintage spec nitro Fender out of an old school case.
I prefer a hardshell case over gig bags , although the gig bag that came with my Fender Jimi Hendrix Strat is well padded up to some I've seen. The thought of putting my Les Paul in a gig bag, however, makes me slightly anxious to say the least!
Recently bought a RainSong, and had the dealer swap out the hard case for a gig bag before shipping. The first lightweight “hard” gig bag I can remember is the Ovation Zero Gravity case. I liked it.
the issue with hard cases is mainly the price - i’m a jazzmaster player and its near impossible to find ANY hard shell case in the jazzmaster shape thar isn’t ubsurdly priced, especially new, but even the used market most available listings are “vintage” or something so they’re way too expense...
I gig regularly, hard cases used to be my go to. These days its gig bags. Less damage to the inside of my car, lighter etc etc.
Mono case for my Fender USA Geddy Lee bass and a soft Taylor case for my 37 Martin Authentic 28, but only when I'm playing somewhere. At home they stay in hard cases
if you have to stack up a hundred guitars... gig bags are not an option really. they need to stack for storage.
the gig... buy a spare bag.
I'm not putting a 1934 L7 in a bag. ever. lol.
I can see your face Baxter when he says the mono is for two but the gator is for one. Lol
I love hard cases knowing when I buy a guitar it will come packed well AND in a hard case. However, I wish all hard cases would be airport/airplane durable. Jackson/Charvel/Musicman type that at least feels like they would survive. The nice hard case that my PRS or Heritage comes in is great for personal travel but not for major touring/flying. Soft cases win for in-town gigging hands down (lighter, more cushion, easier to carry around before/after the gig)👌🏻
im pretty sure the one of gig bags that came with the john mayer fender is like a collector item now and can sell for like 800 bucks
The only time I use a case is when I'm storing them or if it's my Les Paul Special (which ways travels in a hard case). My CE24 came with a gig bag.
The music starts with the sound of a hardshell case being unlatched. I have grown accustomed to the gig bag but you cannot beat the sound of opening a case. The only thing better is what is inside!
I just bought my First Gibson Les Paul and it came with a Leather Soft case. Probably cost more than the Old hard cases we grew up with !!
I had a 15 year break from buying guitars and was peeved about the lack of hard cases for $$$ stuff but I'm actually happy now. My home is quite small, and they take up a lot of space. I'll fork over the extra if need be. ✌️🇦🇺
I have a tweed hsc for a Gretsch Duo Jet. It ways a ton when it’s empty. I’m love the Gator Transit case and their deluxe heavy duty whatever it’s called gig bag case. That even has its own rain cover. I also a double Reunion Blues for solid bodies that’s excellent. Unfortunately I have a closet full of hsc’s. But some are stored in them. I use the bags when I go out
Just hearing the story of the flight attendant throwing your guitar in the case angered the heck out of me too
This happens every single time when you fly with your guitar and have it checked though. They just don't care.
I've always preferred hardshell cases, but recently got a Godin acoustic with their TRIC case and am really liking it. It's rigid like a hardshell but weighs less with a guitar in it than an empty hardshell, plus it has backpack straps and outer pockets like a gigbag. My only concern with the hybrid style case is longevity due to having a zipper instead of latches.
You guys are right. Those Mayer gig bags from his sig strat is great. There are even some prototypes around if you can’t snag the Fender one for a decent price
I was going to a funeral one time for my sister-n-in-law. Another SNL stopped me and stated I needed to go to another place before I went to the church. Being distracted, I then backed my car and heard a noise. Fortunately my guitar case was simply pushed down the drive way and was scratched. My living SNL was lucky. I would have had to go to 2 funerals if that had been a soft case ! I don't "GIG" per se, but I feel a hard case is vital to me.
Wasn’t it a Hendrix Custom Shop that came with a gig bag inside a travel case?
I bought some gear from sweetwater to be sent to Bahrain. I ordered a Schecter solo 2 & hard case & a Gretsch with a hard case. A few weeks later all the gear arrived & the guitars were sent separate from the cases. Which was exactly the thing I wanted to avoid. I always get a hard case but I’ve had to move to different countries. I definitely bought them for my 2 silver sky’s!
Confucius say, "One should not use a case that is more expensive than the guitar it carries."
Aren't hard cases easier to deal with humidity problems especially in the north when it gets very dry in a heated building in the winter and very humid in the summer instead of whole building humidity control?
I got a Reverend bass last year and I was shocked that it came with its own hard case, especially since it’s a short scale which are kind of notoriously difficult to find any case, hard or gig bag, for.
I say, no to the soft case. Living in Phoenix AZ, the lack of humidity is brutal. In order keep my acoustic guitars between 50 & 55 percent humidity content in a soft case is impossible. It is difficult enough in a hardshell case. I have yet to see a soft case capable of maintaining the 55 percent mark because the soft cases breathe and that causes problems. Maybe I am not aware of a soft case that will allow the ideal environment for an acoustic guitar to be in the proper humidity levels. If there is such a case please advise. Thank you, that is my 2 cents worth.
I love dropping 2 grand on a new guitar and then having to spend an additional $200 for a hard case. It makes me feel like I'm helping the company's bottom line. It makes me happy to see executives get a new yacht. Leo Fender had yachts. These new guys are just like Leo, right? Right? No? Hmmm....
Fine. New guitar with hardcase? That’ll be $2200 please, thx byeeee.
Feel better? All I’m saying is NO ONE has EVER gotten a “free” case.
everything pretty needs a pretty box
Application specific, in my case. I think there is a big difference between a gig bag and a soft case. Soft cases can be amazing replacements for hard cases, but I do not trust gig bags for protection. That being said, the Gibson Protector case that came with the Mike Ness LP is amazing. That thing is a chainsaw case updated to modern specs, and I do really like that.
Yes, Jonathan is correct! The John Mayer Signature Strat came with an Incase bag that was backpack style when they were released in 2005. All of his guitars have had gig bags.
I could not imagine storing or transporting my Ibanez Zyphos, Destroyer or Iceman in a gig bag!
I like hard shell cases. And still use one of those funny Fender cases for my favorite Strat. Only problem is there is no place to to put a strap. The storage box is not big enough for anything. But my Strat is tightly padded. So I take a padded bag for the strap, etc. Hard shells on all my other guitars. Except my Fender bass, gig bag.🤘🤩🎸
I'm just a basement player so I dont need something that can handle a ride in a plane or truck. Soft cases are lighter, easier to handle, and take less storage room. I sold off all my hard cases and got soft cases.
My Novo came in a Mono bag. I don't need a hardcase because they're kind of annoying to store. The Gibson gig bag that comes with the Tribute is nice enough too.
I just got a Fender Vintera 50s road worn Strat and it came with a 'deluxe' gig bag. It was in fine shape, out of the bag... although as a road worn who can tell lol. I toyed with the thought of getting a tweed hard shell case for it because I intend to keep it forever, but I don't ever gig or play out, so the guitar's just here in the house on a stand where I can grab it quick to play, so it'd also be like parking a never-used $300 case in the closet on the highly unlikely off-chance I take the guitar somewhere...
You purposely bought a scuffed up guitar; just to buy a case for it and baby it? Humans have reached peak derp.
Do you feel comfortable putting your Gibsons in a gig bag? I always worry about a headstock break.
I want hardcases for all my guitars. Just feels better. But I also want one or two very good and comfortable gigbags for a Fender style electric and for my 00-15m, because I don’t have a car anymore (I do have a scooter - Europe) and I have a prosthetic leg, so I’m extremely dependent. A good and strong gigbag is the only thing that makes me less dependent when I just want to go somewhere to gig and play.
Although…, I’ve seen straps made to carry hardcases on your back. Probably not that comfortable, but if it functions, maybe that’s the way to go. 🤔
I definitely prefer a hard shell case, but I don't mind if a guitar comes with a high quality soft shell. I like the convenience of how well hard shell cases stack soft shell pockets tend to get in the way. All my guitar get a hard case at sompoint.
What makes me nuts is to go to a shop and buy what you might consider a more high-end guitar, like the Ibanez Premium series, and then find out that it doesn't come with a case or a gig bag, and you have to spend more money just to have it in SOMETHING for the drive home.
Hard-cases for acoustics are awesome for climate control. I think there's a lot of situations where a good soft case is more than fine. I use the mono for my acoustic when flying or gigs. If it's checked I have a SKB iSeries case.
I have a Framus which came with a Warwick deluxe gigbag that is heavy duty and awesome.
I miss those molded plastic cases from the '80s
Any case I can use that Carrie’s both a 335 and a Strat? Thanks
Not one movie reference? Did I miss something?
You’re not hard-core, less you live hard-core
-Jack Black
Back in the 90s when I started a hard case was the only serious choice. Now a lot of guys (particularly younger) are using the Mono bags. I can definitely see the logic if you're using public transport in a city or lots of other gigs but I still can't trust it to be ok when it's being chucked in the back of a van with a load of amps and PA gear.