Gig Bag for 16" shallow depth archtops?

[DanielleOM]

Any thoughts on gig bags for 16" shallow depth archtops. EG Eastman AR503CE, Benedetto Bravo.

I was thinking this one might work. Mono Vertigo Semi-Hollow Guitar Case, Black — M80-VHB-BLK Not sure I like the zipper start and end points with the kind of drop in loading. Vertigo Semi-Hollow Guitar Case, Black – MONO

I would be using the case for local car travel.


Any other favorites?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Any thoughts on gig bags for 16" shallow depth archtops. EG Eastman AR503CE, Benedetto Bravo.

I was thinking this one might work. Mono Vertigo Semi-Hollow Guitar Case, Black — M80-VHB-BLK Not sure I like the zipper start and end points with the kind of drop in loading. Vertigo Semi-Hollow Guitar Case, Black – MONO

I would be using the case for local car travel.


Any other favorites?

That's the one I use for my thin 16" archtops. I carry my Eastman Jazz Elite and my Ibanez AF207 in one and have been very happy with it for at least 2 years. One is about 2.5" deep and the other is 2.6" deep. The extra 1.5" is plenty of room for the bridge AFAICT.

I love the vertical entry & exit. The zipper ends are properly placed to facilitate folding the top back while inserting or removing the guitar. I find it easiest and safest to fold the back part of the case down a bit with my left hand and fold the top part down in front of the bag. This makes the opening "gape" a little and greatly eases slipping the guitar down into the bag with the neck in my right hand.

I did contact Mono before buying it to be sure it was the correct size for these guitars, and they confimed that it is.

[marcwhy]

Yep - here's my Holst -- 1.75" depth -- in the Mono:

[DanielleOM]

For a more conventional design, I am thinking the Reunion Blues Expedition Semi-Hollow is a good alternative. I find I can usually find a place where I can lay a bag flat on it's back and fully open the zipper.

RB Expedition Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Case

[DanielleOM]

I measured the length of the Bravo and 16-B and measured 42 1/2" from the end of the tailpiece to the top of the headstock. Looks like the Reunion Blues with a 43" internal length would be the better fit. Only 42" per web site for the Mono bag. I measured 42" with the Eastman AR503CE.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I measured the length of the Bravo and 16-B and measured 42 1/2" from the end of the tailpiece to the top of the headstock. Looks like the Reunion Blues with a 43" internal length would be the better fit. Only 42" per web site for the Mono bag. I measured 42" with the Eastman AR503CE.

I carry both of my 16” seven string archtops in the Mono, and there’s plenty of room for the extended headstocks. The 7 string Eastman ‘stock appears to be quite a bit longer than the ones on a 503CE or a Benedetto 6 string, and the 503 body & neck unit is almost exactly the same size as my Jazz Elite 16, So I’d be quite surprised if a 503 didn’t fit. But the RB is also a fine bag, so you’re well protected with either choice.

[sgosnell]

I have a Gator ProGo Acoustic, and it's fine for my use. Plenty of room for extra stuff in the pockets, and I can remove/insert the guitar while standing, with the case held vertically. It slides in just fine, even though the case only opens on one side. Not expensive, but it does the job for me, getting to and from local locations in the car.

[DanielleOM]

For a more conventional design, I am thinking the Reunion Blues Expedition Semi-Hollow is a good alternative. I find I can usually find a place where I can lay a bag flat on it's back and fully open the zipper.

RB Expedition Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Case

Case arrived and I plan to return it. Although the case had adequate depth and width, I was uncomfortable with the case depth as things were very tight and did not seem to accommodate the arched top, bridge, and arched back. It took some effort to close the zippers and I did not like the appearance when fully closed. This case has a storage unit at the back for storing the loose end of unused shoulder straps. The top end of the straps are permanently fastened. One needs to be careful when stowing those straps to make sure the adjustment hardware is not behind the arched part of the guitar. If I had kept the case I think would have used double sided tape to keep the straps and hardware in place in that storage area.

[MHeld]

I use a Reunion Blues Expedition Semi Hollow. It fits a 335 and a thicker at the rim but not as wide across the lower bout Ibanez GB10.

One thing to keep an eye on is the headstock angle. On the Mono with a Gibson angle, the headstock rests on the bottom of the bag, not the neck cradle. I noticed this with my 335/mono. But it’s clear with the reunion blues bags.

here’s a video showing the differences and the issue I ran into at 13 minutes in.

[spencer096]

One thing to keep an eye on is the headstock angle. On the Mono with a Gibson angle, the headstock rests on the bottom of the bag, not the neck cradle. I noticed this with my 335/mono. But it’s clear with the reunion blues bags.

here’s a video showing the differences and the issue I ran into at 13 minutes in.

i emailed cronkhite asking if their bags come with neck cradles for archtops...they do not, and their rep said the tight body fit is the most important part. vid guy's talking about it as if it's a problem. same with the headstock stuff...im not sure it's a problem from protection (tho his point about the tag causing wear is a good one), because every cronkhite is made this way intentionally. i honestly don't know whether you need a cradle or not?...if it helps?...if any of this stuff matters? it's probably due to design differences for bags meant to fit different sizes vs. custom made to size. and how much the extra 1" of foam helps the cronkhite.





to keep back on topic...the mono bag is a great choice. i have one for my 335 and a jumbo m80 one for my archtops (that i never use...anyone want it for cheap?)...tremendously well designed bags, and wish they made one in a more sleek size for 17" guitars. id go w mono over RB, a student of mine has the eastman mentioned above, and it fits great.

not sure if youre married to a gig bag or not...the crossrock fiberglass cases are about as light as the RB bags, and come with backpack straps that work just fine. a lil pricier but if you can use some amazon discounts/coupons or whatever, you can probably get close to the RB price. i still use their jumbo case for my nickerson, and it's a solid case even if it's not a hoffee.

[Woody Sound]

This may have come up already, but would a 335 case work? They are 16".

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

This may have come up already, but would a 335 case work? They are 16".

Some do and some don't. The Mono "semihollow" Vertigo bag (stated by them as being for a 335) is nominally 3.5" deep and holds my 16x2.5" archtops perfectly. There's no struggle to push the guitar down into the bag (which opens vertically) or close the zipper. I was worried enough about pressure on the bridge to run a long strip of paper between the bridge and the inside of the top, leaving it protruding between the two zipper pulls with the zipper closed around it. The paper can be easily withdrawn with two fingers - there's no significant pressure on the bridge from the top.

I would not put anything on top of the bag with the guitar in it, though. Even the mighty Mono bags aren't that resistant to downward force on the top directly over the bridge, and I wouldn't stack even 2. But with no more than ordinary care in handling, the Mono Vertigo 335 bag has been excellent protection and convenient carry for my Ibanez AF207 and my Eastman Jazz Elite 16 (also a 7). I only use the gig bags for transport to gigs - I store my guitars in their OHSCs with humidity packs. If time is tight (home late from a gig, little time between gigs etc) I'm very comfotable leaving them in their Mono Vertigo bags standing up in a row. But I would not stack them, and there's no good place to put a humidity bag when they're standing up. The exception to this is that I keep a soundhole pouch in my flattop, which lives in a 17" Vertigo because I never got a HSC for it. The 17" bag also carries my 17" archtop when I take it out (which is essentially never these days).

Most of the semihollow bags made for 335s are a bit too snug for my comfort with a 16x 2.5" archtop in them. There's too much pressure on the bridge and/or the zipper closure has to be pulled too hard to bring the top and body of the case together around the guitar.

[DanielleOM]

Here's the RB semi hollow case with the 16-B inside. Things were just a little too tight for comfort when fully zipped. Found myself questioning this design for archtops. At 8 lbs it was not a light case. Seemed like there was a lot of protection on the sides and reasonable neck and head stock support, with not much protection for the top and back.