Good company. The reps are always thorough and courteous, when I call. Bought hardware and pickguards in the past. Looking to do a full build this year.
I've settled on the lightweight cases that some companies are offering now. They have the same polyfoam interior as an ABS case, but with a canvas or nylon exterior. You trade the ruggedness of the latches and handle for a zipper, but you also loose the weight. They're about as light as a gig bag, but have most of the shock absorption of an ABS case.
My strings and polished frets stay fresh forever since I started keeping my guitars in soft cases. My house has a humidity of around 75% and this is the only way to avoid prematurely corroded/dull strings and scratchy frets. Saves money on strings, and has me playing a lot more
Love the gator stuff. I have the double guitar gig version of the pro go. My most used bag for band gigs. Love it! I have a very nice cross rock single guitar bag that I’ve had for about 10 years as well when I only need one electric. Acoustic gigs are a bit of a different story, but I’m sure there will be a solution for transporting delicate acoustics in a more portable way down the road soon
I personally use hard cases mostly because I only have two or up to five guitars out at any time in my rack the rest I keep them in for protection and humidity
Funny timing! Yesterday I got my Mono classic, upgraded from my Suhr gig bag which is also very heavy duty. I absolutely despise hard cases. Hard to lug around especially when the venue doesn't have convenient parking or loading zone. Also they only really protect from heavy weight or an impact focused in small area, but when they tip over (very common) the impact is transferred to guitar without much absorption unlike heavy-duty gig bags.
❤ thanks Aaron. I always enjoy watching you and listening to you chat about whatever. You seem so cool and chill! I still have your Candy Tangerine song in my head too! That was a fun guitar.
I have two of that style, one I bought, and one that my Acoustasonic Telecaster came in. The are both very nice and well made, Mono style cases. Perfect for someone gigging around their area and not doing a ton of long air travel. Fender really did a nice job on them. Plus they are more affordable than a Mono case with lot of the same features.
@@drumsNstuff79 yeah I got mine from an acoustisonic as well. I’m tempted to go buy two more to have on hand. They do have a slightly cheaper version but idk if it’s as tough as the FE1225
True story in 95 , i was working for cash as part of a breakdown crew for night clubs in San Antonio. One night GWAR was playing with like 4 other bands. Long story short, at the end of the night we were loading up gear. Now i couldnt tell you whos was what , but there was a SUV with a mini Uhaul trailer guitars were being loaded into. And they were parked too close to get some other stuff out. So some yelled pull forward you're too Close!! then the crunch of of 2 guitars getting smashed. I dont know whos gear got damaged but it wasnt pretty.
Personally, I prefer gig bags for the obvious reasons that they are just easier to transport and have way more storage for cords, straps, pedals, etc. I only like hard shell cases for home storage.
Love my Gator dual guitar gig bag - it's so durable, the cats gave up trying to tear into a couple years back. I was worried the first time but then when I checked, the cats weren't even snagging it so I let it go until they got tired of trying to shred the unshreddable. So convenient - I can take two guitars and cover my jam needs but in one really really well made bag; came with a rain cover and lots of storage too. EDIT: ProGo series, plus I forgot to mention it's got like three handles in the best places possible (one right in the front that is balanced perfect) - and looking it up to make sure I got it right, it's 20 bucks less NOW than when I bought it 5 years ago (still looks new, even after the cats get on it).
I made this comment at the beginning of the video lol nice to know that I spec gear well. EDIT: OMG you never opened up the gator bag to show the padding configurability, quality, and denseness/thickness - as well as the reinforced "scratch" pads on the inside that keep the string pegs and bridge from tearing it up (made of that same stuff as the outside, indestructible). By FAR the best designed and executed guitar/bass/acoustic soft case on the market and surprisingly less than I expected it to be after looking at some more "boutique" alternative soft cases (I priced one guys soft case, and it was a custom job for his Takamine acoustic, so it's not really realistic but the case was only fitted and not much else improved ).
Talk about synchronicity, I'm in the market for a case, just yesterday got the Classic Fender, for a guitar that always stays at home, but this Gator looks amazing, will have to look at that
The safest place for any instrument when it's not being played is in its case. Unfortunately, I have three instruments that I couldn't find cases or gig bags for, so they are permanently on stands, which isn't ideal. I plan on sewing something to protect them somewhat, when I get around to it. One problem with plywood cases is that clothes moths love them. I had one with no instrument in it stored undisturbed for a long time in my apartment and when I had a clothes moth infestation, that's where I traced it to. Clothes moth eggs will only hatch if they are undisturbed, which is yet another good reason to get one's instruments out and play them. I always have a little cloth bag with cedar chips or lavender and/or those pieces of cedar wood for cloths closets to discourage the moths (and I haven't had them since). The bags need to be changed regularly (when they stop smelling) and the wood pieces can be sanded to refresh them. I prefer a hard case where possible, but I have a couple of instruments in gig bags, because they can be stored standing up that way (and/or I couldn't get cases for them). Obviously, a hard case or a flight case gives the best protection, but it's horses for courses. The flight case for my pedal steel could be run over by a tank, but the instrument is permanently set up, because it would be too much of a pain in the neck to assemble and disassemble it each time I wanted to play it.
I gotta fender fe620 gig bag its my favorite I like it more than my hard shells, the necks slot is detachable so I can take it out and put it on a table to work on my guitar too
Ultimate Support USHB2EGBK Gig Bag. Great padding and protection. The heavy tread on the bottom allows it to stand upright on its own. Useful when riding public transportation. Bought my first one in 2016, use it extensively and it’s still kicking.
I have 2 SKB 3i-4719-8B-E cases that I keep my Warmoth double necks in. Those came as empty shells, but take a little arts and crafts time with some styrofoam and some velvet and voila! a beautiful custom case that's waterproof ( a plus here in hurricane central). AND they have wheels + ultra reliable handles.
PRS makes a high end gig bag similar to the Gator but with all the storage just in the body area. I put my velocity in there and it stands on its side as well
Over the years, I've had many different cases. However, my biggest disappointment in a case recently is the gig bag that came with the Martin 000CJr-10e. I would probably be able to protect the guitar better by wrapping it up in a blanket. Also, the 000CJr-10e is an oddball size, and Martin doesn't even offer a hardshell case for it. When packing for a gig or rehearsal, the 000CJr-10e has to go in last so that it doesn't get crushed by other cases. My Les Paul case is nice, but the handle fell off. My Fender ABS case is nice, but the aluminum seam gets tweaked and can be a pain lining up to close. My Carvin and Hamer cases were the older rectangular style, but they had room for extra strings and a strap. They also stacked nice.
Wow, you really knew that I needed this video. I have one of those hard Epiphone LP cases and it's so excruciatingly heavy. It's actually a huge deterrent to me going out to play guitar because it's so difficult to carry and stash. When you're not getting paid to play it's like f*** this
I rocked soft cases for years as a gigging musician. I've had some incidents which ultimately led to my decision to switch to primarily hard cases, fortunately there was no damage involved. That said, I think that for most part, soft or semi-soft cases are adequate for most cats playing on a local level.
I use the Gator Pro and the Mono M80 Vertigo. I never travel with a hard case, only these better-quality gig bags. I store most of my guitars in the hard case they came with. My main guitar is always on a stand ready to be played, it's only in a case when traveling.
The case you use depends on your use case. I don't need depends, so I'll let my self out... I'm a hard shell case kinda guy. It's what I grew up with and I've had great success with them over the last 40 years of playing. Even intercontinental travel where baggage handlers have damaged the case and the guitar was untouched.
I got a weird padded bag one, forget who makes it at the moment, currently not at my house. Pretty sure its called a gator bag or something like that?More than 1, actually. They got the ease and comfort of a gigbag but the padding and protection of a hardshell. They're more expensive than a gig bag, but not as expensive as a hardshell. Once I saw these things a few years ago, I stipped using anything else. Some even come with a combination lock pad where it locks the zipper in place.
Amendment: just got home, only 1 is gator. The other is a super padded gigbag, but I can't seem to locate a logo or anything. My gator case doesn't have that rain cover, so I'm a little jelly there haha
Very good,got a 335 copy,need a hard case for that100%,How about tremolo bridges,brass,titanium,cold rolled steel,arm installation,threaded,or pop in,or stripped thread solutions,or the much maligned Bigsby
Well, to each his own. My guitars are valuable to me. The point I would make is, responsibility takes a level of maturity. The world isn’t changing for anyone. Dings are real things. Choose wisely.
Today, it's a miracle of getting a even a gig bag with a purchase of a new guitar ❗ If you are spending $500 and up a gig bag should be included in the price ‼️
I think the appeal of a $20 gig bag is more to act as a dust cover for cheaper knock-around guitars. I don’t wanna buy a $100+ case for my project crapper guitar that ran me less than the cost of the case!
What I learned considering guitar cases and Warmoth builds... if you're using a Warmoth baritone conversion neck, the guitar won't fit in most HSCs... 😳
@@warmoth Gator makes an XL guitar case, which is just long enough to fit a Warmoth baritone build. I use these cases for mine. (Yes, I'm more of a HSC guy, I guess 😳)
"The only time my guitars are in a case is when I'm moving them". I've never broken a Gibson headstock and the only time they're not in a case is when I'm playing them.
Some people like to store them in cases, some don't. Neither is right or wrong. I prefer not to, and I've never broken a Gibson headstock either. I've also seen a Gibson case fall over and break the headstock of the guitar that was inside. It's all a crapshoot.
Warmoth; the only company-TH-cam channel that isn't constantly trying to sell you stuff
Who knows. Maybe we should wait for cases/bags in stock soon…))
Because it's operated by a saint.
Warmoth cases....coming soon!!! LOL. Just kidding.
@@warmoth partner with SINGER and sell a gig bag kit.
You're being sold knowledge and experience, and that's priceless. ;-)
Guitar case tone test!!!
Good company. The reps are always thorough and courteous, when I call. Bought hardware and pickguards in the past. Looking to do a full build this year.
I've settled on the lightweight cases that some companies are offering now. They have the same polyfoam interior as an ABS case, but with a canvas or nylon exterior. You trade the ruggedness of the latches and handle for a zipper, but you also loose the weight. They're about as light as a gig bag, but have most of the shock absorption of an ABS case.
My strings and polished frets stay fresh forever since I started keeping my guitars in soft cases. My house has a humidity of around 75% and this is the only way to avoid prematurely corroded/dull strings and scratchy frets. Saves money on strings, and has me playing a lot more
Love the gator stuff. I have the double guitar gig version of the pro go. My most used bag for band gigs. Love it! I have a very nice cross rock single guitar bag that I’ve had for about 10 years as well when I only need one electric. Acoustic gigs are a bit of a different story, but I’m sure there will be a solution for transporting delicate acoustics in a more portable way down the road soon
I personally use hard cases mostly because I only have two or up to five guitars out at any time in my rack the rest I keep them in for protection and humidity
Aaron these videos are so great and fun to watch! I'm currently waiting on a warmoth body and neck and am so exited to build it up!
Thanks!
I'm really into the Gator ICON soft cases. Hot tip, the 335 size fits a Rhodes style offset V very nicely. Having a reverse headstock helps.
Funny timing! Yesterday I got my Mono classic, upgraded from my Suhr gig bag which is also very heavy duty. I absolutely despise hard cases. Hard to lug around especially when the venue doesn't have convenient parking or loading zone. Also they only really protect from heavy weight or an impact focused in small area, but when they tip over (very common) the impact is transferred to guitar without much absorption unlike heavy-duty gig bags.
The most convenient feature about my Mono Vertigo bags is the ability to top load your guitar. No more laying it on the floor and opening the bag.
Thank you! Very informative!
❤ thanks Aaron. I always enjoy watching you and listening to you chat about whatever. You seem so cool and chill!
I still have your Candy Tangerine song in my head too! That was a fun guitar.
LOL. Mission accomplished! ;)
Excellent video! Thanks!
I love the newer style fender gig bags. Specifically the fender FE1225. Nice solid cases over all.
I have two of that style, one I bought, and one that my Acoustasonic Telecaster came in. The are both very nice and well made, Mono style cases. Perfect for someone gigging around their area and not doing a ton of long air travel. Fender really did a nice job on them. Plus they are more affordable than a Mono case with lot of the same features.
@@drumsNstuff79 yeah I got mine from an acoustisonic as well. I’m tempted to go buy two more to have on hand. They do have a slightly cheaper version but idk if it’s as tough as the FE1225
True story in 95 , i was working for cash as part of a breakdown crew for night clubs in San Antonio. One night GWAR was playing with like 4 other bands. Long story short, at the end of the night we were loading up gear.
Now i couldnt tell you whos was what , but there was a SUV with a mini Uhaul trailer guitars were being loaded into. And they were parked too close to get some other stuff out. So some yelled pull forward you're too Close!! then the crunch of of 2 guitars getting smashed. I dont know whos gear got damaged but it wasnt pretty.
Yikes! Somebody had a bad night that night.
Can't say enough about my Gator bass case. I have Reunion Blues. I sold my Mono cases.
Reunion Blues gig bags are awesome, also!
Agree with U 100% . Thanks for the video.🎸🎸🎸
Personally, I prefer gig bags for the obvious reasons that they are just easier to transport and have way more storage for cords, straps, pedals, etc. I only like hard shell cases for home storage.
Love my Gator dual guitar gig bag - it's so durable, the cats gave up trying to tear into a couple years back.
I was worried the first time but then when I checked, the cats weren't even snagging it so I let it go until they got tired of trying to shred the unshreddable.
So convenient - I can take two guitars and cover my jam needs but in one really really well made bag; came with a rain cover and lots of storage too.
EDIT: ProGo series, plus I forgot to mention it's got like three handles in the best places possible (one right in the front that is balanced perfect) - and looking it up to make sure I got it right, it's 20 bucks less NOW than when I bought it 5 years ago (still looks new, even after the cats get on it).
Me too ! Gator bags and Road Runner bass gig bags.
I made this comment at the beginning of the video lol nice to know that I spec gear well.
EDIT: OMG you never opened up the gator bag to show the padding configurability, quality, and denseness/thickness - as well as the reinforced "scratch" pads on the inside that keep the string pegs and bridge from tearing it up (made of that same stuff as the outside, indestructible). By FAR the best designed and executed guitar/bass/acoustic soft case on the market and surprisingly less than I expected it to be after looking at some more "boutique" alternative soft cases (I priced one guys soft case, and it was a custom job for his Takamine acoustic, so it's not really realistic but the case was only fitted and not much else improved ).
I'm always on the lookout for a versatile case.
Talk about synchronicity, I'm in the market for a case, just yesterday got the Classic Fender, for a guitar that always stays at home, but this Gator looks amazing, will have to look at that
I thoroughly enjoy your videos.
I appreciate that!
The safest place for any instrument when it's not being played is in its case. Unfortunately, I have three instruments that I couldn't find cases or gig bags for, so they are permanently on stands, which isn't ideal. I plan on sewing something to protect them somewhat, when I get around to it.
One problem with plywood cases is that clothes moths love them. I had one with no instrument in it stored undisturbed for a long time in my apartment and when I had a clothes moth infestation, that's where I traced it to. Clothes moth eggs will only hatch if they are undisturbed, which is yet another good reason to get one's instruments out and play them. I always have a little cloth bag with cedar chips or lavender and/or those pieces of cedar wood for cloths closets to discourage the moths (and I haven't had them since). The bags need to be changed regularly (when they stop smelling) and the wood pieces can be sanded to refresh them.
I prefer a hard case where possible, but I have a couple of instruments in gig bags, because they can be stored standing up that way (and/or I couldn't get cases for them). Obviously, a hard case or a flight case gives the best protection, but it's horses for courses. The flight case for my pedal steel could be run over by a tank, but the instrument is permanently set up, because it would be too much of a pain in the neck to assemble and disassemble it each time I wanted to play it.
I’ve got both Mono and Gator cases. Both about equally as good as the other but the Gator won’t hurt the wallet as much
I gotta fender fe620 gig bag its my favorite I like it more than my hard shells, the necks slot is detachable so I can take it out and put it on a table to work on my guitar too
Ultimate Support USHB2EGBK Gig Bag. Great padding and protection. The heavy tread on the bottom allows it to stand upright on its own. Useful when riding public transportation. Bought my first one in 2016, use it extensively and it’s still kicking.
Thanks, Aaron! This was actually really helpful and educational. :-)
I went with smaller guitars ( 00's ) acoustic electrics for the flight reasons mentioned.🎸🎸🎸
If you play a Strat all you need is a Gunny Sack.
It worked for Johnny B.!!!
I have 2 SKB 3i-4719-8B-E cases that I keep my Warmoth double necks in. Those came as empty shells, but take a little arts and crafts time with some styrofoam and some velvet and voila! a beautiful custom case that's waterproof ( a plus here in hurricane central). AND they have wheels + ultra reliable handles.
PRS makes a high end gig bag similar to the Gator but with all the storage just in the body area. I put my velocity in there and it stands on its side as well
Over the years, I've had many different cases. However, my biggest disappointment in a case recently is the gig bag that came with the Martin 000CJr-10e. I would probably be able to protect the guitar better by wrapping it up in a blanket. Also, the 000CJr-10e is an oddball size, and Martin doesn't even offer a hardshell case for it. When packing for a gig or rehearsal, the 000CJr-10e has to go in last so that it doesn't get crushed by other cases. My Les Paul case is nice, but the handle fell off. My Fender ABS case is nice, but the aluminum seam gets tweaked and can be a pain lining up to close. My Carvin and Hamer cases were the older rectangular style, but they had room for extra strings and a strap. They also stacked nice.
Wow, you really knew that I needed this video. I have one of those hard Epiphone LP cases and it's so excruciatingly heavy. It's actually a huge deterrent to me going out to play guitar because it's so difficult to carry and stash. When you're not getting paid to play it's like f*** this
Yup, I know how you feel. That old saying "I play for free...I get paid to haul gear" is very true.
I rocked soft cases for years as a gigging musician. I've had some incidents which ultimately led to my decision to switch to primarily hard cases, fortunately there was no damage involved. That said, I think that for most part, soft or semi-soft cases are adequate for most cats playing on a local level.
Great info! Thanks 🎸🎵
I use the Gator Pro and the Mono M80 Vertigo. I never travel with a hard case, only these better-quality gig bags. I store most of my guitars in the hard case they came with. My main guitar is always on a stand ready to be played, it's only in a case when traveling.
You can't beat a high quality gigbag and a straight headstock (non-tilt back). It's super practical for gigging IMO.
The case you use depends on your use case.
I don't need depends, so I'll let my self out...
I'm a hard shell case kinda guy. It's what I grew up with and I've had great success with them over the last 40 years of playing. Even intercontinental travel where baggage handlers have damaged the case and the guitar was untouched.
I guess you'll need to make a video on a V build, or some of the more radical shapes Warmoth offers.
Ah, Warmoth V build's on my list. A bit disillusioned though, as it seems you can't get laminate tops on them any more... 🙁
I like a good gigbag. The only downside is you can't put stickers on any gigbag I've seen.
Solid point!
I have a roadrunner highway semi hardshell bag. Never going back to hard cases
I love my buc-ee stickers on my case
I got a weird padded bag one, forget who makes it at the moment, currently not at my house. Pretty sure its called a gator bag or something like that?More than 1, actually. They got the ease and comfort of a gigbag but the padding and protection of a hardshell. They're more expensive than a gig bag, but not as expensive as a hardshell. Once I saw these things a few years ago, I stipped using anything else. Some even come with a combination lock pad where it locks the zipper in place.
Amendment: just got home, only 1 is gator. The other is a super padded gigbag, but I can't seem to locate a logo or anything. My gator case doesn't have that rain cover, so I'm a little jelly there haha
Very good,got a 335 copy,need a hard case for that100%,How about tremolo bridges,brass,titanium,cold rolled steel,arm installation,threaded,or pop in,or stripped thread solutions,or the much maligned Bigsby
Well, to each his own. My guitars are valuable to me. The point I would make is, responsibility takes a level of maturity. The world isn’t changing for anyone. Dings are real things. Choose wisely.
Yo Aaron will a diamond back fit in the gator go pro is so what size.......
Yes, a Diamondback would fit in the ProGo.
Today, it's a miracle of getting a even a gig bag with a purchase of a new guitar ❗ If you are spending $500 and up a gig bag should be included in the price ‼️
Anyone have a good recommendation for a hard case for a Mooncaster??
Never use a gig bag that doesn’t have neck support!
"use case" ... get it? 🤟🤟
stashability.... .heh hehh hehehehehe
Buckys stickers lol
The jerky wall is real. Respect the jerky wall.
How much does a casino musician make per gig?
$20 in gambling credit and a trip to the buffet
Ya, but some of those buffets are really, really nice! ;)
I think the appeal of a $20 gig bag is more to act as a dust cover for cheaper knock-around guitars. I don’t wanna buy a $100+ case for my project crapper guitar that ran me less than the cost of the case!
What I learned considering guitar cases and Warmoth builds... if you're using a Warmoth baritone conversion neck, the guitar won't fit in most HSCs... 😳
Yep! A bass case is generally required when the neck exceeds two miles long. :D
@@warmoth Gator makes an XL guitar case, which is just long enough to fit a Warmoth baritone build. I use these cases for mine. (Yes, I'm more of a HSC guy, I guess 😳)
Hard case all the way!
Anvil.
Not the best choice for my use case, that's for sure. I've had them made for guitars of mine before, but probably won't again.
"The only time my guitars are in a case is when I'm moving them". I've never broken a Gibson headstock and the only time they're not in a case is when I'm playing them.
Some people like to store them in cases, some don't. Neither is right or wrong. I prefer not to, and I've never broken a Gibson headstock either. I've also seen a Gibson case fall over and break the headstock of the guitar that was inside. It's all a crapshoot.
Nice presentation, but there's a reason we don't talk about cases, (yawn) much....
Obviously you’ve never spent time on an acoustic guitar forum. Thousands upon thousands of forum pages on cases, it never stops.
Where do you get this "we" crap? 🍿