Review: Lenar Gigbag Made to Order Gig Bags
Price: Varies
Made to order services for musical instrument bags and cases are aplenty, if you know where to look. I’ve seen and owned a few. They’re not the best make ever, but the bags serve their purpose well. The people who make these bags make a killing in supplying cheap but fairly reliable merchandise. But there are also those who dare ask for an added premium for their work, in exchange for a significantly higher level of quality – something they claim can hold its own against well-known ready-made and imported brands.
It’s been a few years since Lenar (formerly Bumbum) Gigbags started building a reputation over at the PhilMusic Forums. They got regularly showered by compliments from clients who seemed very happy with what they got. I’d always thought about ordering a bag to see the workmanship for myself. But I’d just end up changing my mind and buy a Gator bag or something. Once again, I found myself in the same quandary after buying a Line 6 POD HD500. I was told at the store that they didn’t have a Gator bag available that would be a good fit for the effects unit. A few days later, I was told that it actually wasn’t the case and they had just the thing. But this was only after I sent an inquiry to Lenar about having a bag custom made. The Gator was more expensive (around PHP2,500), but I’d have to wait for the Lenar (PHP2,000 including shipping with a two week waiting period). I live outside Manila, and since at the time I had no planned trips within the next two weeks, I figured this was a good time to go custom!
Fast forward to the day the bag arrived…
I wasn’t high on the available colors, so I stuck with the ever-popular black. I asked for his standard design following the dimensions of the HD500 – one main compartment and two side pockets. The bag itself is lined with a heavy duty nylon fabric that’s noticeably glossier than what I’m used to with Gators. I had never been particular with zippers. That was until I came into possession of two cheap semi-hard cases whose pull tabs broke off after only a handful of tugs. At least the sliders didn’t jam. Otherwise, I’d have been frantically ripping the case apart as this happened just before a very rare gig, but I digress. Needless to say, just seeing the sturdy-looking black zippers allayed any lingering concern of mine.
Flipping the bag over reveals a compartment for the shoulder straps (in case one wants to carry it as a backpack). It’s a nice touch, but the obsessive-compulsive might have an issue with it as the bag will not be able to lie completely flat on a floor or table.
What I am not a fan of, however, was the set of plastic boots. Of course, I probably should be happy that the bag has those (not all bag makers include them) whenever I lay it on the floor upright. But wide rubber skid pads would have provided a nicer touch.
Opening the bag reveals an interior lined with a thinner and softer light grey fabric covering the padding. It won’t scratch all but the flimsiest plastic, so it serves its purpose well. But I wished the bag had a plush-type interior instead. One thing I really like about the inside, however, is the internal flap for added protection. I was a little disappointed because the side pockets cannot fit a folder where I usually put chords and lyric sheets (not Lenar’s fault – the size of the bag was dictated by the HD500, after all). But with the flap, aside from providing additional padding, it also acts as a divider which provides more than enough space for my folder).
Another important thing to consider about this sort of bags is the fit. Bags not intended for any specific item, and even some custom made bags have varying degrees of allowances. For my order, I just specified what the bag was going to be for, and the HD500 fit snugly right in. Sometimes I do like more slack. But for this particular bag, a snug fit is ideal for me. The interior flap can also be fastened tightly in place for good measure. Very nice.
Overall, the only other thing I could think about picking on are the stray strands of thread sticking out of the seams, some of which you will clearly see in the pictures here. It’s not a deal breaker and I know that the case is the same in many other bags. But still, attention to this tiny detail does mean something.
I’ve seen so many glowing feedback on Lenar bags. But my point in bothering to write this review is to provide an honest perspective. I’ve already patronized them with my money. I don’t need to patronize them with empty compliments. Come on people, Lenar bags aren’t the best. I’ve certainly seen better stuff out there.
But…
Even they realize that’s not what they’re about. Even though they’re no Mono, you are going to be hard-pressed to find anything better for the money that you would spend for a Lenar Gigbag. In case that is not enough, you also have customization options otherwise not available in ready-made counterparts (like, when was the last time you saw after-market bags for a Flying V or an Explorer readily available?). And, you will enjoy the benefit of dealing with a proprietor who always seem to go put in the effort to keep their lines of communication open to their clients. Thank you, Arnel!
I love bags. I can probably rival my wife in that regard. But by no means am I an authority. While I do not know if my word carries any weight if I say that I heartily recommend getting a bag from Lenar to all musicians looking for reasonably priced well-made and rugged gig bags, one thing is for sure – I know for sure I will do just that whenever the need arises.