Guitar bags suck

[xtian]

I have been playing bass and guitar for well over 20 years now, and have yet to find an intelligently designed gig bag.

Briefly, a gig bag is what you stick your guitar/bass into when you are going to play a concert. It is NOT a shipping container of any sort. It usually has backpack-like straps, storage for cords, tuner, music books, etc, and a handle that allows you to hold it horizontally by one hand.

Some problems with these bags include:
- No attention to protecting the delicate parts of the instrument.
- Difficult to move and manipulate when standing on a bus, etc.
- Wasted space.
- Poor balance.
- Bad strap location.
- etc...

I have conceptualized a new type of bag design that addresses all of these weaknesses. It is never going to make a bazillion dollars, but it could be a steady seller.

Unfortunately, I don't know any competent bag designers/manufacturers!

Do you have some sort of process for reviewing designs submitted by outside parties? Is there a way I could meet with Tom (or someone) while I am in Seattle and San Francisco visiting my family in November and December? (I live in Budapest, Hungary.)

I would love to see this bag in production!! What can I do to move this forward?

Thank you for your time and attention!
- Christian
Budapest, Hungary

[Tom Bihn]

We have contempated making gig bags, though it is a far different market than we currently deal with. Back when I made custom bags (back in the bad old days) I once made a padded case for a bass sax which was like 6 or 7 feet long; also I used to make cases for a small stringed instrument called a Bowed Sultry. So making the bag or case doesn't seem to far off. Just the marketing of it that would be difficult; as it is now we sell only direct to the end customer - if we sold to stores the retail mark-up would make our prices even further out of reach.
All that being said, I'll give it some more thought. I'm in Seattle a few times per month so maybe we could meet there; also Port Angeles is a 2-1/2 hour drive west of Seattle and I'm there most of the time.
Let me know your schedule as the time approaches.
Thanks for your interest.

[xtian]

Coming to Seattle

Hi Tom,
I will be in Seattle from Nov 3rd (Monday) to January 8th. While I am in town I will call you and see if we can mesh our schedules.

I have put a lot more thought into the gig bag, and it is really becoming an interesting device.


I look forward to meeting you in person!

Thanks for your time,
- Christian Jacobsen

[CharlieL3]

I would be very interested in a well-thought-out gig bag as well. I'm currently using a Reunion Blues Stratocaster bag for my David King headless six-string bass, and even though the bag appears to be symmetrical, the bass will only fit into the case backwards.

Thanks, I'm looking forward to receiving the Empire Builder briefcase.

--Chuck Lawhorn
Bass guitarist, IONA

http://www.ionamusic.com

[puregrace]

Did anything ever come of these gig bags?

[shenkin]

What comes out of a gig bag?

Did anything ever come of these gig bags?

Like maybe a gig?

-Starving Musician

[puregrace]

funny

you'll have to find gigs on your own, unfortunately.
but it'd be nice to have some bags designed with the musician in mind. artist bags would be a great market too, Tom.