My New S-10 Gig Bag

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 17 Jul 2018 7:42 am

Here are some photos of my new S-10 Gig Bag.
I started out with a Gator Pro-Go 49 key keyboard gig bag. (G-PG-49) It has dense 1 inch foam on the top, bottom, and all 4 sides...covered in a nice micro fleece.

A friend took some more dense foam and constructed a divider to put between the guitar and the legs/pedal rack. He covered the divider with blue velour.

Since the case will be used for both a keyed guitar and a shorter keyless guitar, he also built a couple of pads to put on either end of the keyless guitar.

Here are a couple of pictures of my BMI guitar in the case.

Here are a couple of pictures of my Williams keyless guitar, with the extra pads on either end.

Both guitars fit in the case with their respective covers on them.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 17 Jul 2018 7:54 am

I forgot to mention...the gig bag weighs 7 pounds.

The BMI case weighs 20 pounds.

The Williams case weighs 23 pounds.

Every little bit helps when you have skinny arms and a weak back!

This will ride nicely in the back seat of my car.

Lee

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 17 Jul 2018 8:33 am

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Jack, from South Colorado - Up On The Rio Grande

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 17 Jul 2018 8:45 am

Dayum, he could go into business making those...

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 17 Jul 2018 10:38 am

Great idea!!

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 17 Jul 2018 11:28 am

I've been working on a project like this to offer for sale.

What I am struggling with is the price. As an example the Gator bag that Lee used as the basis for his project has a price of $170 on Amazon. It seems that what I have in mind to offer would be similarly priced.

Is a price in this range, and up to $200, something a good number of people are willing to pay for a slightly more refined product like this? A D10 case would probably be another $50.

Feedback please!

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 17 Jul 2018 11:52 am

Doug: I would say yes, there should be a market. I don't need or want a heavy ATA caliber case. I carry my steel myself from my truck to wherever I have to set up, and I'm careful enough that I don't need that extra weight to protect the steel. The benefits of a light case, or even better a split light case set up, are obvious. I have an order pending for a lightweight poly case from PhillyCases that should be about 7 or 8 pounds. So I may not be one of your customers, but I suspect others would be.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 18 Jul 2018 5:04 am

Doug Earnest wrote:A D10 case would probably be another $50.

This case would probably hold a D-10 guitar; but, the pedal rack, rods, and legs would need to go in another case.

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 18 Jul 2018 10:52 pm

Paul Sutherland wrote:Doug: I would say yes, there should be a market. I don't need or want a heavy ATA caliber case. I carry my steel myself from my truck to wherever I have to set up, and I'm careful enough that I don't need that extra weight to protect the steel. The benefits of a light case, or even better a split light case set up, are obvious. I have an order pending for a lightweight poly case from PhillyCases that should be about 7 or 8 pounds. So I may not be one of your customers, but I suspect others would be.

Paul, was it fairly straightforward placing your order with Phillycase?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 20 Jul 2018 2:39 pm

The BMI weighs 37 pounds in the case, with legs, rods, and pedal rack.

There is a shoulder strap that can be adjusted so the weight can be distributed between shoulder and arm.

The case also came with a double strap, for carrying it on your back, like a backpack. I don't believe I'll be trying that one.

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 20 Jul 2018 4:44 pm

That is definitely the way to go for carrying a steel. I've been meaning to do something like this for one of my lap steels.

Greg Thompson · Post by **Greg Thompson** » 20 Jul 2018 6:57 pm

Doug,
Can I be in for a Prototype softie for my Proto.Encore please? (as long as its well padded and the arm rest fits too)- hehe

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 20 Jul 2018 7:40 pm

Sure Greg. That first prototype will cost about ten thousand dollars. I'm having a hard time talking myself into it.

Greg Thompson · Post by **Greg Thompson** » 20 Jul 2018 8:51 pm

I'll have three at that price? Long as they have Zum Steel printed on them

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 22 Jul 2018 2:07 pm

Picked up the Gator and it fits my D-10s just fine (with a little foam added). Feels very firm for a gig bag. Slew of gigs coming up in the next few weeks so I'll get a good sense of its utility. Also have a new Hugh Briley "split" case which I'll use when more protection might be needed.

Aaron Johnson · Post by **Aaron Johnson** » 5 Aug 2018 5:14 am

How are these bags working out for you guys? Iâ€™m thinking of buying one too.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 5 Aug 2018 6:26 am

ðŸ‘ great gig bag An you done very well with design!

Duane Dunard · Post by **Duane Dunard** » 5 Aug 2018 6:34 am

Doug, I really like the gig bag pictured above. The $150.00 to $200.00 range isn't that big a factor for a high quality gig bag that will save my back, yet protect my guitar.

Sean Borton · Post by **Sean Borton** » 5 Aug 2018 6:42 am

I've been using a Gator bag/case for about 10 years with my S10... but I purchased a version just a little longer (61 note keyboard) that also has a pair of wheels so it is really easy to haul around. With a little added foam the guitar is really well protected. It holds all of the steel essentials other than the seat.

The case itself holds up well... mine is starting to show some wear, but nothing out of the ordinary. Just some frayed material on the outside edges.

Jeffrey McFadden · Post by **Jeffrey McFadden** » 5 Aug 2018 10:20 am

Here's a lazy man's answer to the same question.
1. Start with same case

2. Take cheapo Walmart yoga pad, cut to case length, lay over guitar.

3. Put legs & pedal board on top of pad in front of guitar.

4. Wrap & strap

VoilÃ¡

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 5 Aug 2018 12:15 pm

I've now done four or five gigs with mine. Very happy with it. A couple of caveats.

1) It won't stand up on its side consistently. Just make sure you lean it on or book end it with other equipment.

2) family members don't know that this is not a normal case and may lay it string side down to get at something near it.

Educate accordingly.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 21 Aug 2018 2:51 pm

Thanks for all he responses and great ideas.....

Aaron Johnson · Post by **Aaron Johnson** » 20 Nov 2018 5:51 pm

How are these bags holding up for you guys?

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 20 Nov 2018 8:21 pm

Beautifully! I've probably done two or three dozen gigs/rehearsals. Most of those have been with a D-10 and the legs/pedal bar in a separate bag. A few have been with my S-10 Sho Bud legs and all. Love it.

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 21 Nov 2018 6:46 am

Our stock cases hold the guitar up from pressure being put on the strings, keeping pressure off the changer fingers.

I wonder what your case will do, not isolating the fingers. Thoughts?

Ron

The Steel Guitar Forum

My New S-10 Gig Bag

My New S-10 Gig Bag

Lazy man's solution