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If you’re taking your bass guitar on frequent gigs and need to travel with it often, you probably need a high-quality hard case, to keep it from getting damaged while rolling around in the back of a van. But for less precious instruments or infrequent gigs, a basic soft gig bag is more lightweight and comfortable to carry. These days, the best bass guitar bags and soft cases offer many of the same protective features of a hard case too, only in slimmer, more manageable packages.
What Makes a Good Bass Guitar Case or Bag?
To make sure you’re purchasing a quality bass guitar case, it’s important to consider details like how much padding it includes, types of zippers, and the durability of the materials. Other considerations have more to do with personal taste, including the size and positioning of straps, how much room there is for additional storage and how snugly it fits an acoustic or electric bass.
Construction: Soft gig bags are usually made of heavy-duty nylon, usually with some kind of waterproof coating, essential in case of rain. (You can also boost the case’s waterproof capability yourself with a waterproofing spray). Quality stitching and good zippers are also important, as is the shape and design of the bag, which will affect where the weight of the bass is supported and therefore how comfortable it is to carry.
Padding: Second to construction, the most important factor in making sure the bag provides adequate protection for your instrument is the quality and thickness of the padding in the lining. Most will include an inch or so of foam batting, but the more padding the more snug your bass guitar will fit.
Storage: In addition to the bass guitar itself, you probably need a place to carry other equipment and accessories like picks, music, or cables. Many of our favorite gig bags come with plenty of zippered pockets with room for all of your gear.
Handles and Straps: If you prefer a backpack style gig bag, look at how wide and adjustable the straps are as well as where they are positioned and if they are also padded for comfort. Also look at the construction and comfort details on handles, as well as where they are located on the case.
