<br><br> <div><span class="gmail_quote">On 9/27/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Tom Sivak</b> <<a href="mailto:tvaktvak@sbcglobal.net">tvaktvak@sbcglobal.net</a>> wrote:</span></div> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"> <div>It certainly looks well-constructed and durable.  Only time will tell.    As noted by David Love, it is heavier than my Genck.  I'm a pretty big guy, so I'm thinking it's not going to bother me all that much, but I wouldn't mind if it were a bit lighter.   Again, if I had to do it over, I think I'd buy a Jailhouse instead.    </div> <div> </div> <div>Today is my first day out in the field with it, so I can't really answer many of your questions.  My first impression is very positive.</div> <div> </div> <div>Tom<span class="q"><br><br><b><i>ben the surveyor <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:ben@nttsurveyors.com" target="_blank">ben@nttsurveyors.com</a>></i></b> wrote:</span></div> <blockquote style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid"><span class="q">Tom, thanks for the follow-up on the Big House bag from Duluth.<br>I've been eying them obsessively since the original thread and trying to <br>decide between it and the slightly smaller Jail House.<br><br>Could you comment briefly on the quality of construction, design <br>shortcomings or successes, expected durability, etc.?<br><br>For anyone undecided about these things, I note Duluth Trading is having <br>a sale through 10/1 wherein you can enter catalog code "T27WE39AP" to <br>get 20% off all purchases of $50 or more. Might just be enough to get me <br>off the fence.<br><br>-bp<br><br><br><br><br>> <br>> <br></span><span class="q">> On 9/26/07, Tom Sivak wrote:<br>> <br>> List<br>> <br>> I have used a Genck Ultimate case for about ten years now, and I thought I'd never switch. It wasn't perfect, but it did meet my basic needs, and even if things did spill out into each other's little compartments, I did basically know where everything was. <br>> <br>> Then I read here on the list about Duluth Trading Co and their Big House tool bag, so I went to the website and checked it out: <br>> <br>> <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/97251.aspx?feature=Product_1" target="_blank"> http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/97251.aspx?feature=Product_1</a><br>> <br>> At $64.50, certainly cheaper than a Genck...<br>> <br>> So, after arguing with myself for a couple of months, I went ahead and bought it, It arrived last week. It took another week before I had the courage to empty out the old Genck and load up the Duluth. Wasn't sure if I'd like it, and inertia is a powerful force... <br>> <br>> Wow.<br>> <br>> I can't believe how much room there is in there, how many pockets there are, and how well everything I have fits in there. I can even put my Verituner in one side and have it all in one (albeit heavy) bag! And now, tools aren't rubbing against each other, ruining their wooden handles, etc. <br>> <br>> The way it's designed, there's a place for everything, and nothing falls out of its pocket and spills out into anything else. It all stays where you put it! <br>> <br>> I will be lost for awhile, searching for a tool, not sure where I put it, but eventually, this is going to improve my life. Really, it's all so visible, all the tools right there in front of your eyes, not piled on top of one another in a little compartment...it really won't take long at all to adapt to this. <br>> <br>> One bit of advice, should anyone else consider the same move...the Big House bag is almost too big. I might try the Jailhouse. It's almost the same price, so I went for the bigger bag, but I actually have a couple of dozen pockets that are empty in this new bag! I guess I'll find things to put in there... The one drawback is that the bag itself is heavier than the Genck. Putting my Verituner in there makes it even heavier, but I'm really up for just one bag. <br>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>> </span></blockquote></blockquote> <div>Hi Tom,</div> <div>I have had my Big House Bag for about 3 years now, could only be 2, I lose track. I have had no wear issues I have plenty of room for everything I need and more. Like Tom I have actually lost tools in it, things I thought I lost elsewhwere and in one case replaced(luckily it wasn't too expensive). If you did use the outer pockets for a cell phone or PDA I would pad around it as I would be concerned about the weight of the loaded bag crushing those things. I have found the outer zip pockets, the large ones on the flaps perfect for my billing materials, Dampp-chaser brochures and a few Dampp-Chaser pads for the odd surprise replacement. </div> <div>I also have empty pockets in mine, on the backside, I primarily use them for loading in extra tools I carry in my backup box in the truck, when running to the truck either isn't an option or would be a pain in the neck. I do some work in schools and with school security these days I end up "hiking" in to the music departments so I try to anticipate my needs and take some extra things in those unused pockets. I also find them useful when I have made a few trips to the truck in home situations, I can throw everything back into the bag and sort it out when I get to the truck rather than making several trips a second time and throwing my schedule behind. I still tune aurally at this writing so an ETD isn't a concern for me. </div> <div>My digital camara is missing again and I have to leave soon, will try to find it and put some pics up this evening.<br> </div>Mike<br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. <br><br>Michael Magness<br>Magness Piano Service<br>608-786-4404<br><a href="http://www.IFixPianos.com">www.IFixPianos.com</a><br>email <a href="mailto:mike@ifixpianos.com">mike@ifixpianos.com</a>