Gig bag advice

[aellison62]

Just wanted to get opinions of two gig bags I've narrowed down to. This is for a Yammie ES8.

 

KACES KKP14KB or a SKB 1SKB-KB.

 

Both have wheels and look very similar so I'd like to know if anyone has an opinion on the quality of one vs. the other.

 

Thanks !!

[johnchop]

My PC3 (76-key semiweighted) goes into an SKB. It's alright, but not really that padded. OK for taking to/from rehearsal with care. The straps have held up very well, as have the wheels. No issues there.

 

I know you didn't ask, but I wouldn't get a gig bag for an 88-key weighted board. I've done it before, but at 50+ lbs, I'd fear for the straps holding (regardless of brand)... never mind the awkwardness of handling.

 

YMMV.

-John

[DanL]

The straps and handle on the gig bag I use for my S90ES held up for almost 5 years- finally one night the side handle snapped off. I repaired it by putting some flat aluminum bar on either side of the handle and bolting thru both pieces, sandwiching the handle ends in between the metal. Been good ever since.

 

I had more problems with the wheels, one got pulled out of it's socket, but I was able to repair that with some small nuts and bolts.

 

The zipper pulls are long gone, I use zip ties threaded thru the place where the pulls used to be.

 

I load my gear myself so the bag has worked fine. If it were being put into a common truck or if people other than me were moving it, I'd invest in a hard case.

[aellison62]

DanL,

 

I'm going to load my gear myself as well and not all that often so I'm not so concerned with a hard case.

 

What make of gig bag did you use?

[MonksDream]

What you want is one of these:

Yamaha YBS keyboard bag

 

I've used one for the last three years and they hold up very well.

 

[HammondDave]

What you want is one of these:

Yamaha YBS keyboard bag

 

 

 

I use them as well.. One for my Motif XS7 and the other for my Hammond XK3c (fits perfectly)!

[aellison62]

I'll definetly check out the YBS bags, thanks.

[Dave Ferris]

I've posted this here before. I think the YBS 882 is discontinued. Maybe the 881 is still available.

http://www.andysmusiconline.com/products/yamaha_ybs882.html

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-YBS882-88Note-Signature-Series-Keyboard-Bag?sku=546594&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0&gclid=CLigtf3JmqcCFQELbAodKSPL0A

http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMYBS882

 

I've owned the YBS 882 going on 4 years now. I bought it for the CP300 monster and it worked fairly well, although I think more frequent and prolonged use would have eventually destroyed that bag sooner then later.

 

I'm currently using it for the CP5 and it works very well. I can tell it like 55 lbs. more then 72 . If it does ever rip or tear, there's a great luggage repair guy over in Pasadena who I've heard also does excellent repairs on these kind of bags.

 

If I was going to get something with a little more protection for a higher ticket, 45-55 lb weighted board that I was going to keep for awhile--like the Kronos or CP5, I'd consider spending the dough and checking this out.

http://coloradocase.com/customkeyboardrigidcasemedium.aspx

 

Fwiw--whenever possible I try to move the CP5, or when I had them, the CP300 and S90, with a dolly.

That way I'd put less stress or wear and tear on the handles and wheels of the YBS 882.

 

 

 

[DanL]

DanL,

 

I'm going to load my gear myself as well and not all that often so I'm not so concerned with a hard case.

 

it's an actual motif bag, with the motif logo on it. it's the only one i could find at the time that would fit the s90es since it's so long.

[GDP]

I have a Yamaha YBS bag like new for sale (76). These are hard to find as they are discontinued. PM me if interested. Here is the link to the ad page:

 

Keyboard Case

[mate stubb]

Is it too much trouble or something for Yamaha to tell us the inside dimensions of their cases?

[GDP]

Is it too much trouble or something for Yamaha to tell us the inside dimensions of their cases?

 

Perhaps, but not for me: 50 x 16 x 6 (inches 76 key model)

 

The case has thick padding so there is a bit of play.

[Fusker]

Well, I used to use a soft KACES for my XS8. Key word is used to. I too loaded carefully in my own car....but the weight shifted while transporting. Mass of the keyboard + mass of the amp+ slight shift while taking a corner = several crushed keys.

 

I bought a hard case right after that.

 

That being said, I use a soft case with my Nord...it's only 17 pounds and fits in the back-seat by itself...nothing to crush it.

 

Just some food for thought. I thought the KACE would work given I loaded myself very carefully, but it didn't.

[MoodyBluesKeys]

I have a soft case for the Nord - but I only use it when just carrying it (like to church where I already have amps, stand, and a PC2). I also have a hard case for it, use that anytime I'm loading in & out.

 

I worked on keyboards and other musical electronics for decades - did a bunch of repairs where people had gotten things banged up for lack of good protective cases. Only compromise is using light duty hard cases, I wouldn't do that if shipping commercially or others handling my gear.

 

[bhodaway10]

I had a Kaces case for my long gone Yamaha P250 and wouldn't recommend it.

 

I bought a Yamaha YBS 761 (similar to the ones being praised here) and it was a really nice case. I sold it because it wouldn't fit in my car - it was just too long.

 

I have Protec cases for my xk3c because it's light enough that I don't need wheels. The cases are ok - not as good as the Yamaha but they're really affordable.

 

 

[MonksDream]

I ended up with the YBS case because my RD300GX is longer than the average 88 as it has the pitch bend/mod lever which adds a good 5 inches to the width of the board. It fits into my trunk with the split back seat folded down. I've heard that Yamaha discontinued them but they are still available at some stores. The closest thing I've seen to them is the GigSkinz cases but I have no experience with them.

[rappa29]

At the very least get a soft case that has rigid padding. That is, a case that retains its shape when it's empty and can stand on it's own.

I load in\out my own gear too but there's no accounting for shifting during travel. Especially if you have all kinds of random stuff...X stand, stool, speaker stands, speakers, other bandmates stuff, etc...

I'm not a 'pro', but we play a lot. I haul my own gear, but occasionally we load up the trailer, so it's hard cases only for me anymore. I go by the "10%" rule.

YMMV.

[JeffLearman]

For my 54-lb MR76 (about 52" long) I use a rigid foam Protec case. I've used it regularly for 14 years now. In the last 5 years, I've restitched the shoulder straps and replaced the plastic Fastex buckles with heavy-duty steel D-rings.

 

The sewing awl is your friend!

 

http://www.awlforall.com/merchant2/images/awl.jpg

 

At 5 lbs, the rigid foam case is great; makes the MR76 an easy carry on the shoulder strap, and it fits on the floor behind my front seats so load-in/out is simple and back-friendly.

 

I need to replace the MR, which now has a few dodgy unfixable keys, but I'll be finding something that fits in this case.

 

As mentioned above, I carry my own gear. I wouldn't use this case in the band van.

 

Unfortunately, they don't make this case any more: their 52.5" has wheels, which I wouldn't have any use for. If the load-in is farther than I'd want to carry this case, I'd find a dolly to save trips even if it was 20lbs.

[HankL]

I have a gigskinz that I use for my MO8. I gig about two or three times a month. between that and back and forth to rehearsals, it gave out after 3 years and i was expecting longer service. I'm thinking about a YBS bag or the new MOX8 bag if Yamaha ever releases it.

[JeffLearman]

Is the YBS a rigid foam case? From the descriptions, it sounds like it. IMHO, those are the way to go for gear you carry in your own vehicle (not for the band van). So much lighter than a hardshell, and all the protection you need as long as you pack the vehicle sensibly.

 

BTW, my case mentioned above is 15 lbs, not 5.

[Rockhouse]

I use Gator cases. Great stuff.

[AnotherScott]

I actually use a Roadrunner 76 bag for the MOX8. It fits (just barely), and only weighs 3 lbs. Nice handles and light weight keeps it easy to carry. Cheap, too. But like Jeff said--and even more so--this is only good if you're handing your own gear, reasonably carefully. The padding is quite thin (but not non-existant)... so what it really protects from is surface scuffs and bad weather. It's not going to protect it from a solid whack against a wall like a thickly padded soft case would.

[Ken Beaumont]

I use semi-rigid gator cases for both my SP4-7 and my MOX8.

There was only a $70 difference between the soft case and the semi-rigid foam. So I went with the better protection. I'm glad I did! I slipped once last winter walking down a ramp and the SP4-7 smacked the back corner of our band trailer pretty hard. The case kept it pretty safe. I'm quite sure there would a cracked or broken end cap on it if it had been in a soft bag. I also like the wheels on them . While both boards are very light it starts getting heavy if you have to carry them a distance.