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Now I've lost my driving license due to the seizures for at least a year (booo), I thought I'd finally treat myself to a Mono case. The likelihood of me using public transport to get to band rehearsals and gigs is extremely high now, or at least squeezing myself into someone else's car for a ride, so a better solution was in order. I bought a Mono M80 and the Tick 2.0 attachment. Condensed my pedalboard onto a PT Nano. Between all the pockets and thoughtful touches Mono include I managed to fit almost everything I wanted into it. Just shy of a spot for my emergency BD-2 pedal I've managed to fit in it:

M80:

1x Jazzmaster (with strap and arm attached) - plenty of room to spare
3x 15ft Mogami Gold Cables
1x A4 lyric folder
2x packs of strings
tin of picks
several Sharpies
Multi-tool
DIY cab Impedence reader
Pack of fuses
very small roll of 1/2" gaffer (pink)

There was still a few little 'secret' pockets dotted around I didn't use

Tick 2.0:

1x PT Nano (loaded)
1x Power cable
1x Speaker cable
3x spare patch leads
1x G3 capo
more Sharpies


With all of this it's pretty heavy, but the carry handle is fat and soft and the shoulder straps are too.
9/10, would recommend. Pretty pricey though.

That’s some serious packing!
Even after 5 (?) years, I am still impressed by my mono case. It’s just well thought out and (importantly) made well. As you said, the straps are padded. The handle is passed. There are so many nice touches (card and pen holders, for example).
I’m too pedal dependent for a tick, but it’s an interesting idea. I did end up with a pedal train/mono bag and that’s equally well made.
Weird to say, but the nylon fabric is actually kind of nice to the touch. (Rugged)
Only issues I’ve had are the ends of octave strings on a Rickenbacker 12 making holes in the headstock area (solved with an iron on patch)

Sorry about the public transportation but you’ve done a good job of packing it all in.

i'm surprised you managed to find a PT nano and not just a nano+!

MechaBulletBill wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 7:02 am

i'm surprised you managed to find a PT nano and not just a nano+!

I've had it kicking around a while to be honest. Why, is there a shortage of them or something?

i could only find the nano+ when i was looking for a nano, and the regular nano's seem to be more expensive secondhand for some reason

How odd. Maybe it was a Pandemic/shortage/supply chain/brexit thing...there's been a lot of oddities like that in the last 2 years

I remember the halcyon days of taking a 50w jcm2000, PT2 & guitar on the tube.

10 minute walk to the bus, on/off, then train to soho or wherever at rush hour

sal paradise wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 9:22 am

I remember the halcyon days of taking a 50w jcm2000, PT2 & guitar on the tube.

10 minute walk to the bus, on/off, then train to soho or wherever at rush hour

Silverface Twin and a 78 Gibson Les Paul was my craziest...on and off buses twice a week in Cambridge city centre, rattling around on cobbled streets. My only pedals were a Rat and a Super Chorus back then so at least I didn't have to worry about that added aspect. Wheels on the twin were the saviour thank fuck.

Nice, I just got a Mono M80 semi hollow dual to carry my Guild Starfire and an Epiphone crestwood at the same time...getting ready to fly for a gig. Waiting on the tick 2.0 to come in but generally excited to have this kit to make it easier to get around nyc with gear. Heavy as hell tho

rbrcbr wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:56 am

Nice, I just got a Mono M80 semi hollow dual to carry my Guild Starfire and an Epiphone crestwood at the same time...getting ready to fly for a gig. Waiting on the tick 2.0 to come in but generally excited to have this kit to make it easier to get around nyc with gear. Heavy as hell tho

I almost wish I'd gotten the double one. I honestly haven't used a hard case for any shows since I got my m80.

The cases themselves are not light as well. I found a (used, demo) bass vertigo bag for Ms. Cestlamort, who promptly declined it, as it was waaaaay heavier than whatever generic padded gig bag she uses. (The poor design of which annoys me every time I use it; stupid stuff like putting your arm through one of the shoulder straps and catching it in the handle every single time, etc.)

johnnysomersett wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 9:45 am

Silverface Twin and a 78 Gibson Les Paul was my craziest...on and off buses twice a week in Cambridge city centre, rattling around on cobbled streets. My only pedals were a Rat and a Super Chorus back then so at least I didn't have to worry about that added aspect. Wheels on the twin were the saviour thank fuck.

A TWIN?!?

You are a glutton for punishment. I'm so shocked I won't even make a joke about the LP weighing more than the amp.

Well done! A very sensible gear loadout with a few ideas I hadn't thought of...

I've been on the 'walkable rig' train since I moved to Brooklyn a decade ago and have been through a few iterations. My current (and best, imo) involves the Mono M80 and a PT Nano that seems to cover me. Sounds like I'm a bit less organized than you, but it doesn't feel like a huge burden for my 36 year old frame. Helps that you don't have an 11 pound Les Paul in there, I bet!

mbene085 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 12:27 pm

johnnysomersett wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 9:45 am

A TWIN?!?

You are a glutton for punishment. I'm so shocked I won't even make a joke about the LP weighing more than the amp.

Indeed, the LP was so great a weight - classic late-70s Gibson - that I ended up getting a slight curvature of the spine (yep, a hunchback). Pushing the twin around stooped over was just a pain in the arse in comparison

stevejamsecono wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 12:54 pm

Well done! A very sensible gear loadout with a few ideas I hadn't thought of...

I've been on the 'walkable rig' train since I moved to Brooklyn a decade ago and have been through a few iterations. My current (and best, imo) involves the Mono M80 and a PT Nano that seems to cover me. Sounds like I'm a bit less organized than you, but it doesn't feel like a huge burden for my 36 year old frame. Helps that you don't have an 11 pound Les Paul in there, I bet!

Thanks! Yeah, I spent quite some time laying everything out that I usually have in my kitboxes and ran through scenarios in my head that I've experienced and how I'd get over them or be screwed without certain things. For example, I always carry a spare speaker cable...yet I've never had one die on me, I've had fuses blow though and they take up minimal space - in they go - etc etc.

At the rehearsal room we have a storage cage that I keep my cab in anyway, and I can keep the Bassman there too if I want. And I already have a backup HRD in there anyway so the amp situation is covered too.

The Tick doesn't come with any kind of shoulder strap if I want to carry it separately at any point, which I found weird, but that's easily solved as it has D rings.

cestlamort wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:09 am

rbrcbr wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:56 am

Nice, I just got a Mono M80 semi hollow dual to carry my Guild Starfire and an Epiphone crestwood at the same time...getting ready to fly for a gig. Waiting on the tick 2.0 to come in but generally excited to have this kit to make it easier to get around nyc with gear. Heavy as hell tho

I almost wish I'd gotten the double one. I honestly haven't used a hard case for any shows since I got my m80.

The cases themselves are not light as well. I found a (used, demo) bass vertigo bag for Ms. Cestlamort, who promptly declined it, as it was waaaaay heavier than whatever generic padded gig bag she uses. (The poor design of which annoys me every time I use it; stupid stuff like putting your arm through one of the shoulder straps and catching it in the handle every single time, etc.)

Yeah, I kind of foresee it being the same thing for me. Easier to carry a gig bag than a hardshell case to a gig, especially when you don't have a car. The M80 dual is great so far but definitely wears you out if you're having to walk a lot with it.

I have a Mono sleeve and it is an excellent bag.

As you say they are pricey, but they are worth the money in my book. Really built to last!