I'm making this post as a sort of service announcement. I put a posting on yesterday, but i did it on my phones server, and didnt see it on here so I dont think it made it. I realize allot of people like gigbags because it makes it easier to carry your strat, especially if you need to carry other things at the same time due to the strap that allows you to put it on your back. This is true, but this is the ONLY thing gigbags are good for, they do nothing to protect your guitar on anything more than maybe a scratch, or from being knocked on its side if its leaning on a chair or something. This is something that was made apparent to me the last time I was at my tech's shop ( the person who actually made his opinion on gig bags to me on several occasions). He wanted to show me a guitar that his postal carrier brought in to see how much it would cost to be repaired. Apparently the mailman's son was carrying his guitar out to the car earlier in the week, and was carrying a couple other things at the same time. He was one step off the ground, (so maybe 10 inches) and dropped his guitar. The literally exploded. The body broke in two, and the headstock and neck split in a diagonal break. Although he could fix it, the cost would be 3 or more time what a new guitar would have cost (MIM Standard), and it would never be the same. I couldnt believe that much damage could be done from anything less than throwing it off a ten story building. Now, obviously this is a freak result of a drop, which may be due to cold climate, but the point is that if it was in a hardshell case, the kid would still have his guitar in one piece. My luthier looked at me and said "this is why I tell you to never bring your guitar over here unless its in the hardshell (I only live a couple blocks from his shop, so I walk). Bags are good if you're going to throw your guitar on your back seat and drive it, but anything more any you're really putting your instrument in jeopardy. A halfway decent hardshell case can be purchased for $50, it may not fit your strat perfectly, but at least it gives it some protection. Some people love gig bags, and will only use them, i dont know why, but that's their prerogative, but if you truly want to protect your guitar, get a hardshell case. I was actually shocked to see the John Mayer Strat is $1500 and only comes with a soft bag, Fender should really go a little extra on any guitar that is over $1000 and put it in a hardshell, that includes the ridiculously priced new MIM Road Worn guitars, $950 and no hardshell. This is something I feel very strongly about, and normally wouldn't make this big a deal, but I've come to realize the time I've spent on this forum how much the members really love Fender and Strats, so I'll risk coming off as harsh to tell everyone, dump the crappy gigbags, and get a good case.

I have an Ibanez with a very damaged finish, that would be OK if it had been in a hardshell case instead of a gigbag.

So i agree.

Thank god it was only a Roadstar 2 and not a really expensive guitar, but it was my first electric. That was the first in a LONG line of scars that guitar got.

maybe I should use it as a project and refinish it.

I had a black electric back in the day that actually got scratches FROM the gigbag, the bag is still in the back of my closet.

I never use the "gig" bag that came with my HWY 1. It sits in the back of my closet. I have a beat-up HSC that I use if I am going out of the house with my axe (which isn't much unfortunately). I do want to eventually get a good HSC for my Fender, molded to my guitar.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Hello Windwalker9649,

Last summer ago, I bought a used
Mexico strat off craigs list w/gigbag.
On the way home I stopped at the
music store and bought a $50
hardshell case and trashed the bag.

So I did own one once.

Cheers.

It is true that it is better to have a hardshell case to take your guitar wherever you go, but on the other hand I have to mention that mmm years ago when I traveled to South America and I took one of my guitars with me I bought this super protection road runner gig bag that I found online at the time.. it has really thick pads inside and the outside is really strong and you can even spill stuff on it and nothing will happen... after staying overseas for a few months and come back to the states my guitar returned farily in good shape so I actually can say the gig bag was tested and it delivered... but theres nothing like a HSC

I used to use a gig bag to take my Peavey T-60 places before I found a hard case for it. Once I was getting it out of the car, it slipped from my hand and hit the side of the car. Luckily I didn't let it hit the ground. The guitar ended up with a little dent, it would have been much worse if it had been any other kind of guitar (T-60s were built like rocks). The car had a bigger dent in it then the guitar!
I keep my Peavey bass in a gig bag and one day I opened it up and my bass had a quarter sized patch of paint chipped off. I have no idea how that happened. All the time at guitar stores I see people walk in with just their guitars (mostly kids) and not a gig bag or anything. I've even seen people literally throw guitars without a gig bag or case into the back seat of their cars. I'm a fan of relic'd finishes, but I think that guitars should get their battle scars from being played, not being thrown around in gig bags.

There are gig bags and then there are gig bags.

The gig bag that came with my Breedlove Atlas series guitar is incredible. It is as close to HSC protection as you can get without it actually being an HSC.

The gig bag that came with my Fender Players Classic is useless. Given that the price of the Fender was about the same as the Breedlove and the reputation of Fender, I was shocked. The only purpose that this bag has is to carry the guitar home from the store. Seriously, I have seen dry cleaner garment bags with more protection....

Having said that, I still got an HSC for my Breedlove and am awaiting the delivery of an HSC for my Fender. You just can't beat an HSC.

Hi Windwalker:

I have a pile of unused gig bags in a corner. First time you walk through a low doorway with your axe in a gigbag on your back and wack the headstock on that door frame... Well, that's when you give in and grudgingly go back to hardcases.

Cheers - C

Gig bags are kind of common knowledge. If you want to protect your investment, get a hardshell case. I use them from time to time, but never put my prized instruments in them. Just my beater guitars.

Every time I drag one of my guitars to a gig I ask myself when I'm going to get a gig bag. But stories like these tell why. And I have had a Stratocaster in a hard shell case fall out of the back of a Chevy Suburban. No problemo.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

Used to carry my guitars in a gig bag during my teens for sessions and practices but ever since i learn the hard way now in my late 30's all my guitars are in hardcases even and i carry them even to practices... no regrets..

Tip of the day.
When you carry a hardshell case, keep the lid facing your leg, that way if for some reason the lid comes open, your guitar won't fall out. the lid will stop on your leg. I've had a lid open a couple of times usually by my own carelessness or someone helping me load up and not latching the case properly.

Gig bags are great if you want to save yourself some cash on that "Roadwarn" strat.

I bought a hard shell rectangular case for one of my Strats off Ebay and got it today. Getting rid of the gig bag was the best thing I did. I never liked any of my guitars in a gig bag. Its an accident waiting to happen.

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