Recommendations Requested: Mid-Priced Gig Bag for Semi-Hollow/Thinline/335

[maxsmith]

Hi, All - Happy Holidays!

I’m looking for a gig bag for the Gibson Midtown Kalamazoo I bought in Montana this past Summer.

Can anyone identify this Gibson?



$79 - $129 USD price range (but I’ll consider others)

I’m thinking something that fits an ES-335 would probably work. Hollowbody bags are too deep; this guitar is less than 2 inches thick, with no arch on the top or the back. Less neck angle than a 335 or Les Paul, but about as wide as a 335.

It’s hard to find a nice bag in this size range - most are for solidbodies or fat hollowbodies.

I would appreciate any and all recommendations - thanks!

Max

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I'm looking for another good bag for my thin (~2 1/2") 16" archtops, and it's tough. The Mono M80 Vertigo semi-hollow bag is great, but it's $270 and I already have an M80 Vertigo acoustic that fits fine except for an extra inch+ of depth. Still, it's worth every penny and I'm planning to order a semi-hollow one (M80-VHB-BLK) next week.

The Gibson headstock angle is the problem with the softer bags for thin guitars. There are numerous posts online about this from people using Mono sleeves - there's pressure on the back of the headstock at the very top when the bag is on its back. The Protec acoustic bag is 4" deep and looks like good value for $70, but it doesn't have a neck cradle. So it's not much protection against a broken headstock / neck if you'll be throwing it into trunks, leaning it against loading docks etc. The Reunion Blues semi-hollow bag is very nice, but it's $170 (and worth it, in my opinion). And between those two are the $125-$150 Gator and Road Runner bags, both of which are also fine bags. I used Road Runners for several years and still use one for my LP that looks great after 15+ years of gigging.

Gorgeous guitar!!

[John A.]

Take a look at the Reunion Blues RBX and Gator Transit bags. There’s also a brand called Music Area that makes excellent bags that you can sometimes find on Amazon for decent prices.

[guavajelly]

I have a Mono Vertigo Semi-Hollow Bag for my 330 and I am very happy and confident that it protects my guitar well. It's more than you'd like to spent – I'm in the "cry once" camp. Besides good protection it's also very convenient on tight stages.
Vertigo Semi-Hollow Guitar Case, Black – MONO

[NewNewcastleBud]

I got the Gator Pro Go for my Pat Martino Custom, which, I think is about the same size as a Midtown.
It's been great, no issues at all.
However, it seems they're about $200 at Sweetwater, I seem to remember paying about $140 from them a couple of years ago.
In any case (no pun intended), it really is a great case.

Just my 2 cents,....or 1.4 cents.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

The Gator ProGo 335 bag is great. But it’s 3” longer, 1/2” thicker, and 2+ pounds heavier than the Mono Vertigo. It’s excellent protection. But like my Vertigo acoustic bag, it’s too big to fit through the opening into my trunk. The Mono semi hollow bag will go in with about a millimeter to spare.

[RJVB]

I have 2 Ritter gig bags (for a classical/reso and for a big jumbo/archtop) which are very good quality and very reasonably priced:

Ritter Guitar Cases and Bags – Thomann United States

[Alter]

There is also the Reunion Blues Rbx semi hollow, which is a lot cheaper than their more expensive series, and a great gig bag (I have the electric and the small acoustic version). Lighter also.