Gibson Johnny Smith gig bag?

[Geechnyc]

In my experience a 17" archtop that is on the narrower side (like the JS) fits very well into a 16" dreadnaught bag, as long as the bag's sides aren't rock-hard stiff, like a true hard case. If you think about it, a dread bag is quite deep, and you only need the bag to flex 1/2" around the body bindings. But you should definitely try it first. Contact a sales rep at Sweetwater, they may give you a return option if you ask.

If I can find a colleague near me with a 17" archie, I'll see how it fits in the acoustic compartment of my dual bag.

Thanks for that kind offer, which is much appreciated. If possible, the experiment would be most informative using a GJS, and not just any 17-inch archtop, due to the added height on the lower treble bout of the volume knob on the GJS pickguard. (As mentioned initially, a Gator acoustic jumbo case that works fine for an L-5 CES is problematically tight for the GJS.) That added height also seems likely to exceed the benefits of the slightly slimmer GJS depth of 3 inches (not including the top and back arch) (over against, for example, an L-5) if the 'flex' you mention of 1/2 inch on the sides of the 16-inch bag would result in reducing the effective case depth from the spec'd 5 1/4 inches of that particular soft bag. Hence the wisdom of your suggestion to try it first and get a return option for anything ordered!

[floatingpickup]

Perhaps you have a Levy’s LM51J (Jazz), which is 46 ½” L x 19” W at lower bout x 5” deep, as the company kindly just informed me in response to my inquiry, while adding: “The bad news is we have suspended all of our Leather gig bag manufacture till the new year as we are completely redesigning the line.”

I think you’re right. My bag is probably the LM51J. That’s too bad that production of that line of bag is suspended.
Keith

[floatingpickup]

In my experience a 17" archtop that is on the narrower side (like the JS) fits very well into a 16" dreadnaught bag, as long as the bag's sides aren't rock-hard stiff, like a true hard case. If you think about it, a dread bag is quite deep, and you only need the bag to flex 1/2" around the body bindings. But you should definitely try it first. Contact a sales rep at Sweetwater, they may give you a return option if you ask.

If I can find a colleague near me with a 17" archie, I'll see how it fits in the acoustic compartment of my dual bag.

Remember that the Johnny Smith has an elongated headstock.
Keith

[Woody Sound]

Remember that the Johnny Smith has an elongated headstock.
Keith

You didn't read the whole thread
The bag I suggested IS longer. See #22.

[Geechnyc]

Conclusion: I've acquired a Levy's LM-20 for my GJS and am pleased with the quality of the bag at its price as well as the instrument fit (the interior length is sufficiently accommodating). NB: Probag has been non-responsive/unreachable (their website has also been down for the past month).