I've decided that lugging my trusty Taylor 514-ce around in its hardshell case is a bit too cumbersome and heavy these days. I'm looking for some advice on a gig bag that provides good impact and temperature protection. I haven't really looked at gig bags in years, so I was wondering if there are any that you'd recommend.

I don't mind if it's kind of heavy (for a gig bag), as long as I'm providing good protection for my instrument.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

If you look in Acoustic Guitar mag, you'll find some options.

Personally, I think that you're nuts, but I've always carried my instruments in at east the OHSC.

Yeah, it's been a tough decision, but I usually have my daughters with me when I'm carrying it into church and it's too much to handle at once. I'll probably still keep in the hardshell whenever I'm not transporting it, or if I'm taking it somewhere that it's more likely to be damaged.

would a better option be a 'gigging' guitar? Couldn't cost a whole lot more. My Santa Cruz sits home, the Washburn does the dirty work.

Even though some of my cases are heavy, I never use gig bags...if it's a cheap guitar, gig bags will be better than nothing...if it's an expesive guitar or one you just don't want to slam the neck in the car door, keep using a case and get someone at church to help with your daughters...one of these days you may take a fall (hopefully never) and you'll wish you had your baby in a case instead of a gig bag...

Don't take this the wrong way, but make 2 trips; I'm sure someone can watch the kids for 5 minutes if you drop them off out front and then take your guitar in.

You can tell I don't have kids, but if I did, yeah, I probably wouldn't let them out of my site for 10 seconds At that point, then I would pull up front with the kids AND DROP THE GUITAR off with someone. Then go park and bring the kids in

Hmmn, "a gig bag that provides good impact and temperature protection"? No such thing. Seriously.

I'm not meaning to be snide or snotty, either, just considering your best interests here.

Taylor? Santa Cruz? HSC alllll the way for such nice guitars. Maybe you might find a lighter, sleeker HSC, but anything that could reasonably be called a "gig bag" isn't, and isn't even remotely enough reliable, confidence inspiring protection. Effectively it's sun-screen and a wind-breaker for your guitar, at BEST a leather jacket with no helmet.

If you really must get yourself a "gig-bag" have you tried sourcing one of those TRIC cases that come with Godin/Seagull guitars?

TRIC cases, are a strange sort of hybrid case, not quite a full-on HSC, but not quite a gig-bag either...

Okay I know you have a Taylor, so the shape may not fit, but just a thought.

gig bag haters?
not all gigbags are the thin non protecting bags. there are gigbags with inserts that give puncture protection and are padded to offer plenty of temp protection. and the ability to put it on your back and free up your hands is awesome.
the bags i refer to are more like a case like Godin's gig bags which are very protective.
as mentioned Godin's tric case is great.

How about a lightweight case by Gator? It's solid, and has two shoulder straps.

I have to agree. I've seen a speaker fall through a regular hard shell case and crush a very expensive acoustic. I would never trust my acoustic, or any instrument for that matter, to a gig bag. Road cases for road guitars my friend. It's cumbersome, but safe.

Yeah lots of people use gig bags in Asia but those are mostly practice instruments. For the good stuff, IMO no way. One thing that has helped for me is getting a hand cart-trying to maneuver a guitar case (or anything else) in Tokyo pedestrian traffic can be a real nightmare, and if you`re tall with a gig bag some doorways are low enough to bang a headstock. Don`t have time to check now but I recall there was one made specifically for wheeling guitars around.

That's a great idea skip!

Almost like a hand cart for moving furniture, but much less bulky. Maybe a bungee cord or two and he can cart the guitar in one hand, kids in the other!!

Won't be long before the kids are carrying their own guitars as your back up band....keep the case and customize a cart to carry the whole shebang.....

dont you dare put that taylor in a soft case. If you dont mind with the heaviness, get a case gig bag.

http://coloradocase.com/search.aspx?manufacturer=1

This way you put the case in a gigbag that way it still has the protection, with extra protection AND straps.

I found a Rockbag by Worwick at a local shop's clearance sale. It's for a bass that I use around campfires at festivals, but it's really nice - all leather, heavy padding and backpack style straps, with a couple of very handy pockets. IDK if they make acoustic bags or not, but this one is thumbs up.

I have a cheaper gig bag for my campfire guitar, an Ovation. That fiberglass back makes it much more camp-friendly.

Watch out for tripping over tree logs on the way back to your tent in the dark...my buddy did it and we dusted him off to the emergency ward with his right hand all cut up as we couldn't stop the bleeding...took 8 stitches...his favorite acoustic made it with out a scratch (even though he fell on it with all his weight)...luckily it was in the case...

I think Reunion Blues makes some nicer gig bags. But i say what the others have said, keep it in a HSC if you can.



Anton

http://www.rbcontinental.com/index.html
dude check out the video. I think this guitar case
can handle anything your thow at it.
plus it pry wont tear up your car interior like hard cases do.

I have a Seagull Artist Studio model and also got one of those Godin gig-bags for it. A very solid case made out of some kind of poly-whatever, light, strong but wouldn't want to throw it under a car of course. I think it floats - not sure if it would fit the Taylor. Would much rather use this instead of any fabric.