Where to find road cases?

Dave Muscato · #1 09-21-2007, 02:29 AM

Hey folks,

I'm not sure where this thread goes, but this seems like a good place for it.

My band is interested in getting road cases for our gear. We'd like to look into used cases if possible, just to save $, but if you advise against that, we'll listen.

Where can you find these? Do you have to have them made-to-order? It seems like there ought to be a lot of these floating around... you know, band starts to get big, goes on the road for a few years, things settle down, band sells off touring gear. eBay didn't turn up much. Any ideas?

We're looking for cases for a (rack-mounted) drum kit, bass cab, guitar cab, guitar head, and pedalboards (I already have a rack case for my amp, and we already have road cases for our mixer and microphones).

Thanks very much, folks!

Dave Martin · #2 09-21-2007, 07:17 AM

SOme pieces can be ordered (for instance, amps and cabinet cases, bass and guitar cases), and some need to be special ordered. Do a google search for 'tour case' and 'road case'; some of the manufacturers also have a bargain basement section, where they sell used cases.

Dave Muscato · #3 09-21-2007, 03:24 PM

Thanks for responding, Dave. I Googled & searched on eBay before I posted here, but didn't find a lot... Anvil will make anything you want to-order, but I would like to spend less if possible. We'll keep poking around.

Dave Martin · #4 09-21-2007, 04:11 PM

You might look at http://www.soundbroker.com/ROAD_CASE/ for used cases, as well as someplace like http://www.calstage.com/salesproduct.../usedcases.htm

but some options for new cases are:
http://www.cases.tv/
http://calzonedealer.com/
http://www.stagegear.com/
www.rockhardcases.com
www.macgregorroadcases.com/

And others...

The main thing to remember is that if you're going to the trouble to road case gear, a case that doesn't protect the gear is worse than useless (because loaders will see the cases and treat them in a manner that's less than gentle). And that's expensive. It's not unusual to spend more on the case than on the amp inside... But if that expensive case helps the amp to survive a tour or 10, it's less expensive than having to replace the amp a few times....

Good luck!

Dave Muscato · #5 09-21-2007, 11:15 PM

Thanks, Dave!

More $ than the amps themselves... hmm... Maybe we will have to hold off on the cases, haha.

Thanks for the links and the tip about loaders. I really appreciate it.

Hey, cool, that Soundbroker site is selling a bass trunk from a Mr. Big tour. Pretty cool

John Wentzien · #6 09-21-2007, 11:34 PM

I've found some decent cases at Music-go-round. Got my Anvil case for my Ampeg head for $40!

Loel · #7 09-22-2007, 12:24 AM

www.roadcases.com has some nice stuff!
not sure on there pricing thow..

EB/

justabass · #8 09-22-2007, 12:10 PM

Keep a watch here...I've bought several things from these guys and sometimes you can get surplus cases really cheap. You may not find exact sizes but they are easy enough to modify for your needs...Hope this helps.
http://stores.ebay.com/AVFORSALE_Roa...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Dave Muscato · #9 09-22-2007, 06:03 PM

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the info.

**iriegnome** · #10 09-24-2007, 09:53 AM

I found this great company that sells really good quality cases for pretty cheap. I have been using mine for about 7 months of on the road touring.
http://www.audiopile.net/products/products.asp
Give them a look.

need4mospd · #11 09-24-2007, 10:26 AM

www.safecases.com

I've bought a couple cases here and their prices were pretty good. When I got there to pick it up he let me know he had to make some changes to the one case since what he quoted me didn't really work on the case I wanted, which was a 5 foot long skinny keyboard case that would hold about 50lbs. He had upgraded ALL the hardware to recessed for free. He stayed at the office late to meet me since I couldn't get there til 7. He also quoted me one week for the case and it was ready the next day. I guess I don't have to tell you that's where I'd go.

jambassist · #12 09-24-2007, 10:49 AM

i ordered a case for my svt classic head from lm engineering. someone on here posted about them. i liked what the guy said so i ordered it. should be around $300 delivered with .250 plywood. make sure you buy it from a good deal. as someone else said, you don't want to buy a cheap case.

trevcda · #13 09-24-2007, 11:11 AM

+1 for http://stores.ebay.com/AVFORSALE_Roa...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Most of my bass cab cases came from here. Now is a good time to go after cab cases because as people move towards flat panel TVs their getting rid of CRT type diplays and the cases for these (foam internally modified) make great cab cases for cheap.

New York Case Company builds most of my custom cases. Just got a case for a sound craft board that was reallly reasonable. They let me know the advantages and disadvantages to was I was ordering and, although it cost more than I had intended to spend, I ended up with a case that I have complete confidence in. You know, one you can let a drummer or horn player near!

Dave Martin · #14 09-24-2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambassist

i ordered a case for my svt classic head from lm engineering. someone on here posted about them. i liked what the guy said so i ordered it. should be around $300 delivered with .250 plywood. make sure you buy it from a good deal. as someone else said, you don't want to buy a cheap case.

You got a road case made with 1/4" plywood? Why that instead of 1/2 " plywood? Was it a weight issue or a cost issue?

satchmo · #15 09-24-2007, 03:04 PM

I just bought a couple of cases off these guys.

http://stores.ebay.com/Angstrom-Cases

they do made to order as wells -- they made an excellent case for my Eden 210xst cab.

They're also reasonably priced.

derrico1 · #16 09-24-2007, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

You got a road case made with 1/4" plywood? Why that instead of 1/2 " plywood? Was it a weight issue or a cost issue?

+1 to being wary of 1/4" cases.

I just bought a used mixer that came with a road case thrown in as a lagniappe. En route to my house, USPS knocked a golf-ball sized hole through the cardboard box and clean through the 1/4" flight case.

IMO, 1/4" is reasonable if you're on a serious budget, you always load/unload your own gear, *and* you're always careful. (It's the 2nd and 3rd items that would always be stoppers for me.)

If I'm trusting my gear to someone else, I'd worry that a thin road case invites as much damage as it prevents.

jambassist · #17 09-25-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

You got a road case made with 1/4" plywood? Why that instead of 1/2 " plywood? Was it a weight issue or a cost issue?

i talked to both calzone and lm engineering regarding their recommendations on panel thickness. they'll make whatever someone wants, but recommended .250. they told me most all of their musician road cases are built with .250. .375 and above is ungodly heavy and not necessary unless you plan on touring the world. these people do this for a living and their reputation depends on satisfied customers. also lm assured me they use high quality plywood and components for their cases and have had no problems.