Your guitar isn’t going to carry itself, and that’s why you need a guitar case or a gig bag. It’s a simple proposition until you start digging into the matter. Which is better, a hard case or a gig bag? Do you travel with your guitar often? Do you need to be able to lock your guitar case? Is this case or gig bag going to fit your guitar? Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of choosing the best case or gig bag for your guitar.
Choosing a Gig Bag
A gig bag is a smart choice for gigging guitarists, students, and guitar teachers that transport their instrument regularly. A big reason for this is simply that gig bags generally feature backpack-style shoulder straps — when you’re loading and unloading for a gig or traveling across town on public transport, you can’t beat the convenience of wearing your guitar on your back. Most quality gig bags feature plenty of padding and a rugged exterior, which is all the protection you need against minor bumps and drops. And, because most gig bags offer exterior pockets and expandable compartments, you can generally pack more accessories in a gig bag than you can in a hard case.
Gig bag pros:
- Shoulder straps leave your hands free for other gear
- Padded protection against minor mishaps
- External compartments for extra accessories
Gig bag cons:
- Not stackable; can be awkward to fit in a small car with the rest of your gig gear
- Unreliable protection against heavy blows, falling down the stairs, and other major mishaps
- Not ATA or TSA approved
Choosing a Hard Case
A hard case (generally made from wood or heavy-duty ABS plastic) provides more protection against mishaps than a gig bag does, and that makes it a must-have for touring guitarists and players that fly with their guitars. Hard cases provide a more secure fit for your guitar than gig bags do, and many are ATA or TSA approved for air travel (more on that below). But, beyond artists touring the world, a hard case may actually be the better option for casual players that keep their instruments at home. Think about it: casual players may go days or weeks between playing sessions with their guitar stored in a closet, under a bed, or off in the corner. A rectangular hard case is more convenient and efficient to store than an irregularly shaped gig bag; you can stack stuff on it, and it will offer more protection if your roommate knocks it over while vacuuming (most accidents happen right at home, after all!).
Hard case pros:
- Stackable with other equipment
- Reliable protection against bumps and drops
- Available in ATA- or TSA-approved designs for air travel
- More convenient and safer to store at home in a closet, under a bed, etc.
Hard case cons:
- Heavier to carry; no backpack straps
- May not offer much storage space for accessories
ATA Approved vs. TSA Approved
We borrowed the following text from Daniel Fisher’s excellent article, “Choosing the Right Case for Your Keyboard,” because it applies directly to ATA- and TSA-approved guitar cases, as well:
“At first glance these two things may seem interchangeable, but they are two different types of approval. A case with ATA Approval has passed the Air Transportation Association’s requirements regarding the case’s construction to reduce/eliminate shipping damage. For musical instruments, a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) approved case has key locks that can be (theoretically) unlocked by any TSA officer with a TSA master key. This presumes, of course, that the TSA personnel at the airport actually have that key available. (I mention this because one time a TSA officer threatened to break the locks if I didn’t run to where the case was to be inspected and unlock it myself.)”
Check for Sweetwater’s Certified Fit
When selecting a hard case for your guitar, you don’t want it to “kind of” fit — you want a perfect fit. That’s why we at Sweetwater have gone to great lengths to test fit hundreds of guitars and hard cases to make sure they’re a Certified Fit. On the vast majority of our guitar pages, you’ll find a list of Certified Fit Cases that have been hand tested and guaranteed to fit the guitar. It makes it easy to find the perfect case when you’re buying a new guitar or when you’re shopping for a case for a guitar or bass that you already own with the same size and shape.
Why Not Have Both?
As we mentioned, gig bags are more convenient for transporting your guitar or bass around town, while hard cases offer the additional protection and security you need for air travel or longer-term storage — so why not have one of each? Sweetwater offers a wide range of gig bags and cases to meet every need and budget. Not sure which gig bag or hard case is the best for your lifestyle? Give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at call at (800) 222-4700, and they’ll be happy to help!
