Crossrock CRSG106E & CRDG300 electric and acoustic guitar gigbags review

Crossrock gigbags have been around for a while now but are newly available in the UK thanks to Vigier, Framus and Warwick distribution partners, High Tech Distribution. The Crossrock CRSG106E is a padded electric guitar bag designed for use with your favourite bolt-on six-string, while the CRDG300 is a larger and more robust affair suited for a traditional acoustic such as a dreadnought.

The CRDG300 has a twill polyester exterior and 30mm of multi-layered high-density foam internal protection, and a soft velvet interior to provide scratch resistance for your beloved cargo. In addition, a moveable foam block, secured by Velcro, provides support for the neck. There are also four accessory pockets including a laptop-friendly sheath in the largest of the quartet, while the others provide plenty of space for smaller items such as strings, tuners, capos, slides and the like. Adjustable backback straps and a robust rubberised carry handle mean that whether you are transporting your acoustic over long or short distances, you can do so in comfort.

The CRSG106E feels like more of an entry-level choice as its is padding is 10mm high-density foam and its outer layer doesn’t have the hard-wearing twill effect. There are three pockets in total, and although they come equipped with less padding than featured on the CRDG300, they still provide plenty of space for cables and other small items. The backpack straps and fabric handle are more rudimentary and less cushioned.

In Use

Following our best attempts to simulate the British climate by spraying both gigbags with a water bottle, neither proves particularly water resistant, but a light shower probably won’t penetrate the exterior of either product, particularly the acoustic bag, as its thick padding creates a greater physical barrier than than the electric one’s 10mm protection.

The CRDG300 is certainly reassuring on the padding front – the foam is thick but squidgy, and the sides have a semi-rigid construction that’ll be very reassuring should you give it a knock when transporting it to a gig. It’s worth noting that that the rigidity only really inspires confidence for sideways movement, and the neck area is quite pliable – though the foam neck rest will add rigidity, you probably wouldn’t want it to be in the back of a van or car with loads of other gear.

It’s also a weighty beast – easily doubling the heft of our tester dreadnought, but that’s the price you pay for the reassurance of the semi-rigid construction, though it’s a shame there’s not a bit more padding in the rucksack-style straps to offset this.
The CRSG106E on the other hand is as light as you’d want it to be, and doesn’t add any appreciable weight to our tester Les Paul, Tele and Strat in transit. The tradeoff, of course, is that it doesn’t provide a great deal of protection, the carry handles are practically unpadded, and asides from a small nylon cushion at the heel, there’s not much to keep it safe if you knock it on the sides.

For their respective prices, both of these bags are decent options – if your electric didn’t come with a gigbag and you need one to take the guitar out with, the CRSG106E is a no-frills option with enough storage to keep your accessories in, and even a small pedalboard.
The CRDG300 is a much more reassuring proposition – while the weight might not make it an option if you’re needing to take it on a long journey, it will keep your guitar safe from knocks and small drops if you’re schlepping it on public transport or in the back of a car to gigs and rehearsals.

Crossrock CRSG106E

Price: £29.99
Type: Gigbag for electric guitar
Contact: Hi-Tech Distribution
www.htd-uk.com

Crossrock CRDG300

Price: £129.99
Type: Gigbag for acoustic guitar