Nowadays, the number of options available for transporting your bass are many. That’s thanks to the variety of companies stepping into the production field of gig bags and hard-shell cases, greatly surpassing the meager offerings of even ten years ago. Cases now come in all varieties with an array of options and add-ons that focus on durability, comfort, weight reduction, and innovations that help us bass players hop from gig to gig with peace of mind that our precious tools of the trade will arrive with us safely.

For over 50 years, Levy’s has occupied the case space, ever since creator Dennis Levy first picked up leather-working tools back in 1973. Since then, they’ve become a reliable brand for bassists and guitarists who sport their straps and gig bags, which focus on durability as much as comfort. But for some time, Levy’s stepped away from offering leather cases in lieu of using polyester, which is why musicians took note when they recently returned to their leather roots in releasing their Solera Series Gig Bags.

Handmade in Nova Scotia, Canada, the Solera Series is made with premium Crazy Horse Leather and offered in brown and black, giving them a timeless look that only gets better with age as the patina sets in with use. These bags are lined with a 1” foam padded interior that secures your instrument and keeps it safe from bumps and drops. A large accessory pocket is located on the front, which is sealed with strong magnet buttons to keep your cables and miscellaneous cargo safe. The straps were ergonomically designed to fit comfortably and lessen the weight distribution of your bass.

For years I’ve been using a combo of Reunion Blues and Mono gig bags, which certainly get the job done, but in unboxing the Solera gig bag I was floored with how beautiful it looks in person. The Crazy Horse leather has an already aged look to it and every stitch and detail, down to gold hardware and zippers, are meticulously crafted. The feel of the bag is sturdy and dense with a soft interior lining that hugs your bass at every curve. There is internal padding for bridge and string protection and even a patch of leather positioned to protect the headstock and tuning pegs.

Being used to zipper pockets on my gig bags, I was curious if I would be able to fit my usual gig accessories safely into the pocket, which is secured with two magnetic buttons. Loading in my Walrus Audio Canvas Tuner, two Fender coiled 30’ instrument cables, power supply, and extra set of D’Addario strings (can never be too prepared), it all fit snugly and in place. Nervous about the magnets holding as I secured them, I was pleasantly surprised at how strong and adhesive they are, as the pockets never opened in my initial tests of carrying it.

To test the bag, I first popped in my Fender Mod Shop P-Bass, which fit snuggly and zipped in easily. Unlike my other cases, the interior conforms to the bass, leaving no extra wiggle room, which is not only good for protection, but also in avoiding the load shifting while in use. I decided to get a little more ambitious with testing the size of the interior, so I put in my Moollon J-Classic 5-string full scale bass. It fit like a charm and felt extra secure, even staying in tune after my initial test walk around my neighborhood.

One notable feature that is paramount to the function of this bag is the oversized zippers. Easy to grab and always smooth to operate, I realized how important solid zippers are for gig bags once I gave these a try. I’ve often had to un-pry the zippers from my other gig bags and even get material out from them to open the case, but these glide effortlessly and are easy to pluck even without looking. That sounds like a very trivial point of focus, but I can’t tell you how much I began to appreciate them the more I used it.

Along with durability and protection, the other important factor of course is comfort. I decided to put this to the test on a two-gig weekend at a festival where I knew I would be lugging my bass for the long walking distances of the venue grounds. The first day I brought my Fender American PJ bass, which is not the lightest instrument in my collection. After having to wear my bass for around three hours on the day, I was beyond appreciative of the ergonomic backpack straps. Highly adjustable and tailored even for a 6’1” person like myself, these sit comfortably on your shoulders and distribute the weight evenly, lessening the load on your back. At no point was I dying to remove the bag, as I had experienced in the past.

Unlike my other gig bags, I never had to adjust the straps once it was on me, as they sit snugly in place, fixed with the leather padding that doesn’t shift up and down with movement. The small leather hand strap at the center back of the bag is also a key feature, which I used when loading the case into my car and hefting it onstage to remove my bass. As before, the bass needed minimal tuning once removed, despite the snug fit of the case, and everything stayed in place throughout my six-plus hours of wearing it over the course of two days. 

Not surprisingly, I got a big reaction from the bag everywhere I took it. Between bandmates and onlookers, I accumulated a steady stream of compliments on the case and fielded a lot of questions about it from fellow musicians. The best part about the aesthetic of the bag is that it will only look better with time and use, as the high-quality leather will build patina (aged leather sheen) thanks to elements like sunlight, moisture, and natural body oils. 

Overall, it’s hard to find anything objectively negative about this case. With its stunning look, meticulous craftsmanship, reliable durability, and extreme attention to detail, this is something that will last you a lifetime and then some. While the price tag (list $699) might be a little steep for some, the quality and materials that go into this bag make it well worth the cost. The bottom line is that once you obtain one of these cases you will never need another one again, nor would you want to use another gig bag.

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