I've been ferrying my Les Paul around in the gig bag it came with for the past month or two and the more pubs after practice I take it it to, the more I grow concerned. For whatever reason, the exterior of the gig bag is shaped to the ridiculous head-stock angle of the guitar, this means that the case doesn't lie on the floor flat - much like the guitar itself!
It seems a little stupid to me. Its a notorious weakness of the guitar and the case doesn't do enough to protect it. Oh well.
I want a Hard-case but I already have one for a Telecaster that the LP won't fit in and I simply don't have the room in my small flat for another big case. Is there a hard-case out there that can fit a Telecaster and a Les Paul model comfortably?
I've come across this (
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rockcase_rc20806b.htm#bewertung) so far and little else.
Amusingly this gator case (
https://www.gak.co.uk/en/gator-gc-elec-a-deluxe-fit-all-electric-case/34508?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInoidx8ux1wIVx53tCh0C4AKIEAQYBCABEgLW1_D_BwE ) is described as 'Fit All' and then in the description explicitly says that it only fits Strat and Tele shapes
Any recommendations?
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Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youyou need a proper hiscox case
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
http://www.flightcasewarehouse.co.uk/industry/index.asp?section=guitar-hard-cases-4775
What to do is simple - get a Hiscox for the Les Paul and, keep the gig bag for the Tele and get rid of the Tele hard case - it doesn't need one.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
They demonstrate them by putting a les paul in the case and throwing off a balcony one story high. Then stand on the case, then open it and play the guitar!
Also many luthiers sell thier hand crafted guitars in Hiscox cases by default.
Heres a way to spend half an hour
I've played Fenders since forever. I'm new to this Gibson world of fragile necks and printed circuit boards. If someone wouldn't mind humouring - just how easy is it to break the headstock of a Les Paul?
You would need a Les Paul case - that properly supports the neck and holds the headstock in space - which can also accomodate a Telecaster with adequate protection.
It is going to be hard to find a hard case that will do that.
Only you can judge if the single version of this double case might do the job for you??
(Like other posters - I don't like gig bags. Not even top quality gig bags).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lHsuNVUuxs
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
Some are fairly strong and can take a bump. Some are so weak that the guitar being in a hard case which falls forward onto its front is enough to snap the head as it moves forward under the combination of the string tension and its own inertia. I would never put one in a gig bag without a proper neck support (like a Mono) anywhere pressure could be applied to the back of the headstock. And definitely not the gig bag Gibson supply.
Put it this way… as a repairer working in a shop, I can safely say that not only are Gibsons by far the most common head repairs, they're probably more common than *all other brands put together* - certainly 'quality' brands. It's rare that there isn't at least one Gibson head repair in the shop at any time, and often more than one.
I'm not opposed to gig bags at all though - not proper ones, anyway - they're more than adequate for almost any other guitar, and in fact often give more protection than a cheap hard case, apart from against extreme crushing or bending forces. I wouldn't use one to put a guitar in a van with heavy amps and flight cases, but I'm more than happy to use them for even my expensive guitars for putting in the car or carrying on public transport - more than the hard cases I have.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
You could probably get something custom made, but that would be expensive.
It hit head first and bounced twice across the floor.
Not a mark on the guitar.
My trousers, on the other hand...
Ok so it's a bass, it's a Fender and won't implode at the headstock joint after a slight tap, but still...
If so I've done that too, with the same result .
The volute doesn't help much in fact - you see plenty of broken ones. It's the reduction in the head angle and most importantly the maple necks which finally fixed the problem… until the purists moaned and Gibson went back to the old weak design.
I have Mono gig bags for my '73 Rickenbacker 4001 bass and 381V69 guitar. They're much better than the crappy plywood cases they came in, especially the bass one which gives almost no protection while also being a pain in the bum to carry anywhere. The guitar one is better for strength, but it's ludicrously heavy.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
As ICBM said they are ludicrously heavy.
Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
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I wouldn't actually get a Mono for a Fender - unnecessarily bulky and expensive. Any decent bag is fine, including the Fender ones.
Fenders are so strong that you really just need something that will protect the guitar from the weather and minor knocks and bumps, rather than structural damage.
Things like the number of pockets and quality of zips and straps are what matters - in particular avoid straps attached by plastic clips, they break. Fully sewn-in ones are best.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson