Whether you’re looking for something inexpensive or willing to pay a bit more for that extra durability, there is the perfect case or bag for your electric guitar to help you safely store your instrument and make traveling around with it easier.
In this guide, I will share with you some cases and gigbags for electric guitars that can accommodate a variety of budgets and fulfill your needs as a musician.
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ChromaCast Nylon Gig Bag
Sometimes the simplest problems have the simplest solutions, and the most basic gig bag will do just fine for many people.
Although this specific style of gigbags doesn’t offer that much padding, the ChromaCast nylon gigbag for electric guitars will only run you about 20 bucks, and it’s certainly better than having no protection for your guitar at all.
I recommend thinner gig bags like these for those on a strict budget, such as beginners, who just need something to help protect and secure their instrument when going to guitar lessons or storing a guitar around the home to protect it from dust.
While it’s pretty hard to beat this price, I would suggest looking into a gig bag with padding if you intend to do some actual gigging, though, and the next one is an excellent and affordable option.
Cahaya Premium Padded Gig Bag
Padding makes a difference and is worth the extra money spent, especially if you take your guitar places regularly.
However, even if you don’t, a padded gig bag will give you more peace of mind even when transporting your guitar to get a guitar setup once in a while.
At under $50, the 0.5-inch padding on the Cahaya premium padded gig bag will do a much better job of preventing any damage to your instrument, and it also offers a lot more storage than the most basic kinds of bags.
This gig bag is 41 inches long and can accommodate all of your standard electric guitar shapes, including Les Pauls.
However, if you want something thicker than a gig bag, keep reading further.
Gator Cases Hardshell Wood Case
Hard cases are the next most commonly used methods of storing and transporting your guitar around, and wooden ones are a classic design that will offer even more security for your instrument.
Now, while the exterior is made of durable plywood, it’s protected by black Tolex, a type of vinyl that’s also often used on amplifiers.
The interior of this case also offers even more cushioning than a gig bag with its thick plush lining!
One of the only disadvantages of hard cases vs. gig bags is that they don’t have as many compartments to store things, but they usually offer adequate space for most of your accessories, and this Gator case is no exception.
If you have a standard-shaped guitar, like a Fender Stratocaster, you can pick up this case for about $100, but they do offer ones for other shapes, like Les Pauls, PRS, and extreme ones, like Explorers and V-shaped guitars, albeit at a higher price, but still under $200, nonetheless.
Gator Cases Polyfoam Guitar Case
Hybrid guitar cases are a fantastic alternative to your regular gig bag and hardshell cases by combining the best of both worlds.
Once again, Gator Cases has created an excellent and affordable product – a lightweight, soft case that doesn’t sacrifice durability.
Like many gig bags, the exterior is made from nylon; however, the inside is formed from expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and plush.
It also has more storage space than your typical hardshell case, which is nice if you need more than what those can provide.
You can get this electric guitar case for under $150, and while this one specifically is for your standard guitars, there are also versions that are molded for Les Pauls and SGs, too. The length of each will vary.
SKB Economy Rectangular Plastic Case
At under $200, plastic guitar cases aren’t as common as other types on the market, but they’re around, and this one by SKB (1SKB-6) is as good as it gets at this price range.
Although wood is durable and a reliable material for hard guitar cases, plastic is regarded to be better at handling impacts which is why higher-end ones will use them, and they’re the best for traveling long distances.
Now, there are a handful of different types of plastics that cases can use – not all of them are equal, but this particular one uses acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is cheaper than other kinds of plastic but still very sturdy, but not quite strong enough to be a flight case.
The EPS foam interior of this hardshell case will accommodate Strat and Tele-shaped guitars and gives a nice amount of space for your accessories, but if you happen to use a Les Paul, look into one of the Gator ABS cases, like this one.
SKB also offers ones for Les Pauls too, but they will run you for more than $200, whereas the Gator versions are more in line with the price of this case. I just thought I’d put that out there so you’re aware!
Conclusion
Every guitarist, whether you’re a beginner or a touring musician, should have a gig bag or case they can count on.
So, in this guide, I’ve picked out a handful of electric guitar cases and gig bags that you can get for under $200, so you can pick out one that fits your needs and budget.
These will be perfect for most musicians, but if you need something fancier, you’ll most likely need to shell out a bit more money to get what you’re looking for currently. However, you can check out brands like Gator and SKB to find more robust cases with extra features.
Either way, I hope you find something that works for you and helps you safely get your guitar and accessories to point A to point B damage-free!
Guitar gig bags and cases are some of the best guitar storage methods, but be sure to check out my other tips on how to store your guitar properly. This simple but effective advice will help keep your instruments in tip-top shape and look and sound great as long as you own them.