Gig BagReview: Reunion Blues EB Gig Bag

Construction: 10/10 - can't argue with leather and brass.
Convenience: 7/10
Protection: 9/10 - rigid, high-impact foam combined with a plush interior.

After shipping off my well-worn Levy's gig bag along with the bass I bought it for, there was a big hole in my life. I don't miss the bass too much, but I sure missed the bag! When I got surprised with a check in the mail from the government (guess I didn't owe as much interest as I'd thought) I knew it was time to pounce. Paying down the Mastercard can wait; I need that gig bag now!

If you have any experience with outdoor gear, you know that there's a big difference between a $10 backpack and a $100 backpack. From a distance, they might look identical, but it doesn't take long to find out that they're anything but. Turns out, careful design and redundant construction are well worth the extra money! Gig bags for bass are exactly the same way.

The Reunion Blues cordura nylon gig bag lacks some of the bells & whistles I had grown used to with the Levy's. The shoulder straps are sewn in, and thus can't be reconfigured or removed, and there's no storage pouch up by the headstock. The main storage pouch uses velcro instead of a zipper. The padding feels stiff, and the inside isn't lined with that sort of synthetic sheep skin.

It didn't take long to realize that these things don't matter. The thick, stiff padding actually does a better job of protecting from impact, like a shin guard as opposed to a pillow. While I do believe my basses are alive, I don't think they're so alert as to miss the coziness factor.

I wasn't too crazy about the velcro on the main storage pouch, but I soon realized, it's surprisingly effective. When the lid is velcroed down, it's held pretty firmly, and there's almost no room for anything to slip out the top. The pouch itself is double-stitched on all sides, and the bottom is folded under. You can expect zero leakage for a very long time.

By slinging the bag under my right shoulder, I still have both hands free, I can move more gracefully, and there's less stress on the instrument than with my previous method (hooking one strap up by the headstock and hanging the instrument over my back). Clip-on straps? We don't need no stinking clip-on straps!

Strap failure? Not in this lifetime! That's real brass, folks...
I quickly appreciated the fact that, unlike with the flimsy plastic fittings on the Levy's, the Shoulder straps on this bag will never ever let go. The straps are made out of wide, expedition quality nylon webbing with brass length adjusters. Each of the fittings is held in place with a stitched leather brace and TWO brass rivets. It's hard to imagine what kind of use or abuse could ever wear through all that. Leather handles and trim add a very convincing final touch of class.

Long story short: nylon good, brass & leather BETTER. The Reunion Blues gig bag is simple, elegant, and overbuilt. At $145, it doesn't cost a lot more than gig bags in the $120 range, but it does protect slightly better and it should last a whole lot longer.

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