Playing your instrument can be fun, but every time you take your guitar outside of a controlled space you’re running the risk of inflicting some sort of damage. While a hard case is probably the best way to protect your gear, the gig bag is ideal for the musician on the go who needs to travel with ease. Everything from weather to incidental damages can potentially harm your instrument, so you'll want a durable gig bag designed to keep your cherished guitar well-protected.
Before making your guitar gig bag purchase, be sure to keep these key factors in mind.
Padding/Protection
The level of protection and padding can vary depending on the model and cost. Some gig bags are quite thin, while others are padded enough so a light drop on the ground wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the world. Similarly, the interior protection can range from bare-bones to extreme padding. While extra padding means that the guitar will be more secure in a variety of traveling situations, this can also make the bag bulkier, and consequently more difficult for travel.
Features
Should Straps
While some bags may only be held by the attached handle, others have straps that enable owners to wear the bag like a backpack. Carrying the instrument on your back makes for two available hands which can be used to carry amplifiers, effect pedal boards, and other gig necessities.
Exterior Pockets
Many bags come equipped with additional pockets on the exterior of the bag. This is an ideal feature for musicians who need to travel with other equipment such as cables, capos, tuners, strings, and other essentials.
Flexibility
While hard cases may protect a guitar from a wider range of potential threats, the gig bag has the advantage of being more flexible for travelers navigating through tight spaces where there’s very little room to spare. Whereas a hard case is difficult to squeeze in a packed van or into a half-full airplane overhead compartment, the gig bag can be a bit easier to work with in more constricted situations.
Zipper Access
Another advantage that guitar gig bags have over hard case counterparts is the ease with which owners can access their instrument. Because most bags are opened just by unzipping the zipper, a guitar can be pulled out at a moment’s notice whereas many hard cases require unbuckling several latches on the exterior first. Many gig bags also allow owners to pull their guitar out while the case is still standing up; most hard cases need to be set down on the floor in order to pick up the instrument.