Every drummer should own at least one good cymbal bag. They’re essential for gigging, but they’re also good for storing your cymbals when you don’t have them set up at your drum set.
Some cymbal bags are quite pricey, but there are some great affordable ones that do a great job. They have simple designs, but that’s often all you need.
In this review, we’ll look at the Gator GP-12 Cymbal Slinger Bag. It’s a great option for most drummers, and we’ll show you why.
The GP-12 Cymbal Slinger is mostly made from nylon. It has a diameter of 22”, meaning it can take cymbals up to that size.
It also has a fur-lined inside to protect the cymbals. You’ll find thin nylon dividers inside to stop the cymbals from having contact with each other.
On the exterior, you’ll find a carrying strap on each side. You’ll also find a longer shoulder strap.
The bag has an outer pouch to carry hi-hats and smaller cymbals, and then it has a smaller pouch where you can place accessories.
The overall quality of this cymbal bag is fairly standard. It doesn’t have anything that stands out, but it’s a reliable bag that any drummer would use for years once they got it.
The bag is made from nylon material, which is the same material that most drumstick bags are made from.
It’s very light, yet surprisingly strong once the bag has heavy cymbals placed inside of it.
All of Gator’s products are made with high-quality standards, and you get the same from this cymbal bag.
While the nylon casing is very durable, it’s typically the straps that go first. We love how comfortable the straps are on this bag.
There’s a strap on each side of the bag, so you can hold those together once the bag is zipped up. That will reinforce them and make the bag stronger. If you just carry the bag using one hand strap, it will rip after a while.
The shoulder strap is very strong, and it makes carrying the bag over your shoulder feel quite easy.
This bag is a great option to use in both studios and live gig environments. In a studio or practice space, you can use the bag to store cymbals that you aren’t using. This will keep them safe from dust.
For gigs, you can use the bag to transport your cymbals. You just can’t store cymbals that are larger than 22”. Drummers that use 24” ride cymbals will need to get a larger bag.
This isn’t the cheapest cymbal bag out there, but it’s definitely not an expensive one. With a relatively intermediate price tag, it’s a good price option for most drummers.
If you paid more, you’d get a bag that could hold larger and heavier cymbals, but we think paying for this particular bag is perfectly fine if you only have a few cymbals.
A good cymbal bag should hold all your cymbals without you worrying about them getting damaged. It should also be comfortable to carry in your hands, on your back, or over your shoulders.
The best cymbal bags last a lifetime, meaning you only need to buy them once.
There isn’t one brand to single out that makes the best bags. There are dozens, and all of them offer something slightly different.
Good brands to check out are Gator, On-Stage, and SKB. Otherwise, look at what the major cymbal brands offer. They all have great cymbal bag products.
You can’t go wrong with the Gator GP-12 Cymbal Slinger Bag. It’s solid and reliable. It’s just not a good option for drummers that use cymbals larger than 22”.
If you plan on traveling very far with your cymbals, it also may be better to get a hard case rather than a soft bag.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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