Our instruments are incredibly precious to any musician. They’re a big part of all of our lives, our passions, and (if we’re lucky) our dream jobs too.
That makes taking care of your instrument with a great gig bag essential.
Pick the right instrument bag, and you’ll be able to protect your prized possession and take it all across the world with you. You’ll be able to focus on the music, rather than fretting over your guitar the whole time, and enjoy the sights and sounds of wherever the music takes you.
But what should you be looking out for in a great instrument bag? There are so many options and features that choosing the right bag for you can be tough.
Well here’s exactly what you should be looking for when choosing the perfect new instrument bag.
1. Your Instrument Bag Should Be Rockstar Proof!
We don’t all spend our days throwing TVs out of hotel room windows, but any good gig bag should be rockstar-proof none the less.
The perfect bag needs to be able to stand up to the stresses and strains of everything from airport bag handlers to a quick rain shower. This means you should be looking for features like high-density padding and hardwearing materials.
Having a gig bag that’s water resistant is also a good idea. It wont hold back a downpour, but guarding your instrument from splashes and spills is probably a good idea when on tour.
You should pick a bag that’s durable and well built - look for good quality materials like hardwearing polyester.
2. Your Instrument Bag Should Carry Everything You Need
When you’re travelling the world with your instrument, the last thing you want is to be lugging excess baggage around. This means you should choose a bag that can carry everything you need.
Look for instrument bags that have plenty of extra pockets. You’ll want to use it to store everything from cables to straps, as well as your instrument.
It’s not just about the quantity of pockets either. Also look for bags where the manufacturer has clearly thought about the uses for their pockets.
A good bag should have a large or A4 pocket for documents and sheet music, as well as smaller pockets for leads, cables and other accessories.
3. Your Instrument Bag Should Be Expandable
Sometimes, even having extra pockets isn’t enough. You need more storage space for extra accessories, and a great instrument bag should be able to adapt as your needs change.
If you suddenly need to carry extra kit around, you don’t want to have to buy a whole new bag. Pick an instrument bag that can take add-ons like our Fuse-On attachments. The Fuse-On bags that we have designed are smaller bags that can be attached to your main gig bag, allowing you to add extra storage space to your bag and carry around that extra kit without needing another - great for those musicians who are always struggling to find space for everything!
4. Your Instrument Bag Should Be Professionally Reviewed
A good bag will have caught the attention of plenty of industry experts. This means professional review sites should have picked up your bag for a closer look. You can take a look at all of our professional reviews and features here.
Look for a bag with a good reception among reviewers. Many will have tested and reviewed bags thoroughly, and will understand which products offer the quality and features that professional musicians need.
Speaking of professional musicians, their instrument bags of choice are also worth paying attention to. Well known professionals will certainly give their bags a good test, so choosing a bag preferred by your favourite celebrity musician may be a good option.
5. Your Instrument Bag Should Have Plenty of Happy Users
Finally, nothing is a bigger vote of confidence in an instrument bag than the great experiences of its users.
Look at on-site reviews for gig bags and look at their owners’ experiences of using them day to day. Taking a look at some reviews will help you to decide if a particular bag can meet your needs.
Users may be able to answer any more detailed questions you might have, and will have experience of using the bag to take their instruments around the world.
If you see plenty of happy customers, there’s a good chance the bag in question will be a good fit for your too.
Take Your Pick…
Armed with plenty of advice on what makes a great instrument bag, you should be able to make a decision on which is the right bag for you.
Choose carefully and pick out an instrument bag that’s durable, flexible and used by plenty of happy musicians and you’ll have a bag that lasts for many years to come.
All of our gig bags are made from durable materials that will keep your prized instrument safe. They’re build to withstand the stresses and strains of the road, and let you carry everything you need with you. Take a look at the bags we have, just waiting to safeguard your instrument.
