A gig bag that fits Rics well

[cassius987]

At the Colorado mini-con this afternoon, located at Premier Bass Guitars, I happened to see how well one of my Rics fit in a gig bag Dan (Basica, the store's owner) had on display. It was a "MBTEGBH" case sold by MBT (apparently a division of Musicorp which is probably related to some big box retailer, just guessing). The fit was spot-on. They must have used a Ric for the model. Naturally this makes it an awful gig bag for any Fender or similar bass but a great fit for a Ric. Lots of pockets, plenty of padding and shoulder straps make it likable as well. I noticed negative reviews on Amazon were pointed at the fact that the cases are too small, so those reviewers must own something longer than a Ric. That's exactly what makes it a good fit for a Ric bass, however.

I just thought I would share this for those of you looking for a gig bag for your Rics. It can be frustrating because many of them are way too big and the bass slides around in transit.

[Colonel Sanders]

Thanks for the recommendation!

But recommending a gig bag for a Rickenbacker? Now that is living on the edge!

[woodyng]

My Ricks all stay in their cases when not being played,but i have to admit i would prefer to transfer them to a (good)gig bag when transporting them to practice/gigs. Thanks for the tip,Cassius! Are these sold on the interwebs?
Edit...just found this on Amazon,where it is labelled as a being for 6 string guitar. Very reasonable price,too!

[cassius987]

It doesn't surprise me if they are being re-branded for electric guitars as several negative reviewers suggested that because of their smaller size. I hope they keep making them long enough to get a decent supply on the used market as they are great for Ric basses; if they start disappearing I might need to pick up a couple more.

I take gig bags everywhere I take my basses except for the biggest and craziest of shows. So far I've yet to suffer an incident and my wrists are a lot happier too. At home my basses are hanging on Hercules wall-mount stands.

[sloop_john_b]

I haven't brought out a hard shell case in about 7 years. 300 gigs and no damage to report. Just be careful folks.

[T28]

I am like Woody.
Basses in cases when at home (that will change in about 4 more months when home studio renovation is complete).

For gigs I always cary my basses in gig bags....either a MONO single or double.
The ones Joshua mentioned looks like a good, less expensive option.

Sorry I missed the gathering. Really wanted to meet a bunch of you guys but unexpected company called...passing through Colorado from Texas to California for vacation and the opportunity to see some old friends was too great to pass.

[jdogric12]

I haven't brought out a hard shell case in about 7 years. 300 gigs and no damage to report. Just be careful folks.

+1

I can bass!

[jsm610]

I haven't brought out a hard shell case in about 7 years. 300 gigs and no damage to report. Just be careful folks.

Ignorance on my part, but is this to save on the weight of a case?

I have one gig bag but I never considered using it....

[johnhall]

If you HAVE to have a bag, the best choice would be any one of those made by Gator. They understand what materials are acceptable for use with an instrument.

Just don't send an instrument to US in gig bag. We'll confiscate it and take you into the back parking lot for a beating. Or maybe just refer you to a good shrink.

[jdogric12]

I haven't brought out a hard shell case in about 7 years. 300 gigs and no damage to report. Just be careful folks.

Ignorance on my part, but is this to save on the weight of a case?

I have one gig bag but I never considered using it....

They're great for getting around in a big city where stairwells are skinny and little parking options make subway the best way to get around. In Tampa, where I drove everywhere, I always took cases, but in DC.. well, I can't remember the last time I took a hard case anywhere. I got a Road Runner double bass bag that's very convenient. Sometimes I take a 4001 and a 4003FL, but usually it's just one bass and the other compartment holds an A-frame stand, power strip, extension cord, music stand, book, etc. Plus the little compartments on the front easily hold my cables and 3 or 4 Boss pedals, and a tuner, extra 9V's, and a CD to sell (1 is enough since I rarely sell my own CD's on bass gigs).

[Colonel Sanders]

If you HAVE to have a bag, the best choice would be any one of those made by Gator. They understand what materials are acceptable for use with an instrument.

Just don't send an instrument to US in gig bag. We'll confiscate it and take you into the back parking lot for a beating. Or maybe just refer you to a good shrink.

One of my basses survived 30 years of being carried around in a gig bag. Including 4 years of weekly travel twice a week in the cargo bay of a Fokker F100 jet.

Ok that is my Steinberger L2... When the end of the world will come, two things will be left on Earth. Cockroaches and Steinberger (the original ones, not the POS knock offs Gibons is selling now).

[cassius987]

I haven't brought out a hard shell case in about 7 years. 300 gigs and no damage to report. Just be careful folks.

Ignorance on my part, but is this to save on the weight of a case?

I have one gig bag but I never considered using it....

I have a lot of gigs and rehearsals that involve way too much gear schlepping as it is. The annoying thing about those hard cases is they put a lot of torque on your wrist if you have to carry them quite a long ways. As the weeks, months, years go by eventually (if you're me) you'll get really sick of that. A good gig bag means you can sling the bass over a shoulder and get on with your life, using your arms for the stuff that's going to be hard to carry anyway... or if you're smart, to guide a dolly around with the rest of your heavy gear loaded up.

I'm not advocating people throw their SKB cases away. I just tuck them away neatly in storage and get them out when needed--long road trips or shipment usually, or to securely store a bass I'm not keeping out on a stand.

If it means anything, my 4001FL was really popular at the Colorado get together, and I don't remember anyone saying, "Hm, you must always carry this around in a gig bag huh?" But they would have been right because the vast majority of the time it goes around with me in a $20 gig bag. In fact that's how I brought the bass to the get-together.

If you HAVE to have a bag, the best choice would be any one of those made by Gator. They understand what materials are acceptable for use with an instrument.

Just don't send an instrument to US in gig bag. We'll confiscate it and take you into the back parking lot for a beating. Or maybe just refer you to a good shrink.

I haven't seen any Gator ones that seemed like a good fit for a Ric but I also haven't seen too many in person. I remember trying the Reunion Blues gig bag (not the leather ones, the relatively cheaper one carried by GC) and thinking it was way too big inside for a Ric, it drove me nuts carrying it on my back with the bass sliding around. They're a great fit for those massive Fender Jazz Vers though.

I don't think I've ever heard of someone shipping a bass in a gig bag but I know for sure now, if someone puts a gun to my head and makes me do it, not to send it to Santa Ana...!

They're great for getting around in a big city where stairwells are skinny and little parking options make subway the best way to get around.

Echoes of Denver, at least parts of Denver, for sure. When I gig in LoDo/RiNo etc. sometimes I still drive but I look with envy at the guys who took the light rail (or even a bike sometimes!) with their bass, toolkit and DI in a gig bag. I haven't had the courage to try either yet, but both practices are increasingly common.

[marc61]

take you into the back parking lot for a beating.

You moved your offices to Brooklyn?

[marc61]

My Ricks all stay in their cases when not being played,but i have to admit i would prefer to transfer them to a (good)gig bag when transporting them to practice/gigs. Thanks for the tip,Cassius! Are these sold on the interwebs?
Edit...just found this on Amazon,where it is labelled as a being for 6 string guitar. Very reasonable price,too!

Don't buy the guitar bag. It's only 45' long. That ain't fittin' a Rickenbacker 4003

[cassius987]

Don't buy the guitar bag. It's only 45' long. That ain't fittin' a Rickenbacker 4003

Actually 45'' is right on the money for my basses, that all come in a little under that.