Skip to main content

Banjo-Related Holiday Gift: Boulder Alpine Gig Bag

Something happened when I started playing fiddle. I stopped taking my banjo to jams and festivals. The rare occasions when I would lug both instruments somewhere, the unwieldiness of the two handheld, hard-shell cases was overwhelming. I needed a new solution.

Granted, when I first got my current banjo, my wonderful wife offered to make me a well-padded gig bag as a present, but I snobbishly declined. I didn't trust the protective qualities of a soft-sided case. And yet, here I am today touting my new forest green Boulder Alpine Deluxe gig bag from Saga Music.

My wife, rightfully, gave me the side-eye when I opened the gift over the holidays. She threw in a couple choice words for good measure. I admit it: I was an ass when I said no to her offer 10 years ago.

That said, I'm excited to have this gig bag. I know a bunch of banjo players who use them, and they receive strong reviews. I hope to add mine to the list after a thorough testing.

The features I like most are its backpack style straps, light weight and plentiful storage. I'm still a bit leery about its sturdiness, and I wish there were some support for the neck and peghead. I'm looking forward to toting my banjo and fiddle to my next jam or festival.

I got the resonator size because of the deep, 12-inch rim on my banjo. However, I have seen some reviews that say a 12-inch rim will fit in the open back version of this gig bag.

The sad thing is I've accumulated quite the sticker collection on my old case. I'm going to have to find some patches or something to jazz up this new addition.

Do you have a Boulder Alpine gig bag? How do you like it? What are your thoughts on hard-shell case vs. gig bags?
Labels:

Comments

  1. ChicagoGenealogyJanuary 21, 2020 at 9:53 AM

    Great choice! I bought the same gig bag and it served me well until I passed it on to my daughter. It even survived a vigorous machine wash after a run-in with a family member’s cat. If I were buying another, I’d add an iron-on patch to protect string ends from catching the lining because I’d expect to use it for a very long time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. B. KramerJanuary 21, 2020 at 4:11 PM

      Thanks for the testimonial. I"m looking forward to putting this gig bag through its paces this year.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Ultimate Banjo Joke Compendium

This post is dedicated to my friend Joel Specht. Ever since the Olitsky & Moskovitz concert last month, my son has been obsessed with banjo jokes. During one of the MANY tuning breaks, they asked the crowd to fill the time by telling their favorite quips about the old five-string. Joel told many that night. I've been trying to remember them, along with best ones I've heard over the years for when my son asks again, so I thought I'd make this list. Question: What's the difference between a banjo and an onion? Answer: Nobody cries when you cut up a banjo. Question: How do you know if the floor is level? Answer: The banjo player is drooling out of both sides of his mouth. Question: What's the difference between a banjo and trampoline? Answer: You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline. Question: What's the definition of perfect pitch? Answer: When you can throw a banjo into a dumpster without hitting the sides. Question: How do yo
8 comments
Click to continue »

Clawhammer Picks and You: A Review

Clawhammer picks are a useful tool for increasing volume or to overcome fingernail challenges, such as broken, too short or weak nails. There are all sorts of commercial and homemade solutions available for banjo players, but it can be difficult to decide which options to choose. Thankfully, I've already done some of the work for you. Just to be clear, I prefer my natural fingernail for frailing. However, there was a time when I experimented with regularly using a pick, and there are instances now where I find that a pick is necessary. Today, I'll take you through the five options I've tried. These are all available online at prices ranging from about $1 to $13. Reversed/Reshaped Dunlop Pick ($0.75) This was the most common suggestion before other companies started addressing the gap in the clawhammer pick market. Take a bluegrass pick, flatten it out and wear it backwards. The problem is that it's hard to get the fit right. While Dunlop picks are cheap and r
8 comments
Click to continue »

Summer Blockbusters: Top 10 Banjo Movies

We’re nearing the end of the summer movie season, which this year has included blockbusters like Avengers: Infinity War , Solo: A Star Wars Story , Incredibles 2 and other movies, including some that weren’t produced by Disney. However, none of these films showcases a banjo in any way. It's not like the banjo hasn't been featured on the silver screen throughout film history. The five-string has starred in numerous movies, sometimes in its proper context as a musical instrument and other times as a comedic prop. Whether making a cameo or starring in the hands of the main character, it's well past time to present my Top 10 Banjo Blockbusters: O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000) Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, this movie sucked me into the realm of old-time , bluegrass and country music in general. The banjo is featured in a number of songs on the soundtrack and shows up on screen a few times throughout the movie. Top Banjo Moment: Delmar picks the banjo b
5 comments
Click to continue »