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where do you get flight cases?

MarkMyWordsXx

MarkMyWordsXx

May 17, 2006
1,611
3
#1
for a while ive been concidering housing my cab in a flight case to protect it an dive noticed that a few people here use em.

how much are they for a typical 4x10 case? are they custom made or uniform for popular cabs?(im asking cuz my avatar 4x10 is closer to guitar cabs then bass cabs, its skinny and tall)

thanksssss also where would i find some?
 
#2
MarkMyWordsXx said:
for a while ive been concidering housing my cab in a flight case to protect it an dive noticed that a few people here use em.

how much are they for a typical 4x10 case? are they custom made or uniform for popular cabs?(im asking cuz my avatar 4x10 is closer to guitar cabs then bass cabs, its skinny and tall)

thanksssss also where would i find some?
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I got my stuff through Jan-al. I think they kinda set the standard for flight cases. They just did mine, it was completely custom. They're not cheep though, mine was $1100, it is more oversized than most though, I think for just a 4X10 probably $600. www.janalcase.com
 
#5
getz76 said:
If you are handling your own gear, a flightcase is probably not necessary.

An adequate flightcase for a 4x10" cabinet is going to cost more than that Avatar 410 costs new.

Consider a padded cover; less weight and a lot cheaper.
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+1
However, check these guys:

http://www.affordable-cases.com/
 
#8
thanks guys, i know its a little silly to put a 400 cab in a 500+$$ case(or whatever the price is) but im planning on recovering it in blue diamond tolex and hosing my rack in the same space so

im not touring at the moment anyway lol just was curious about it
 
#9
brandonie said:
my stuff started getting smashed up in our trailer so i needed it. It gives a professional look and protection to my expensive gear!!! I really recommend it to anyone doing a lot of gigging
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I recommend against it, still. I was doing a lot of gigging. A padded cover and lashings did the trick. If stuff is moving around in the back of a trailer, find someone else to pack your trailer.

I disagree with the "professional look" thing, too. Whenever I see someone lugging a road case into a club, I assume they are a roadie.
 
#10
One nice thing about a flight case for a 410 bass cab is that you can sit the cab on top of the lid and get it up off of the floor. Much better to hear that way.

If you don't need FULL ATA-spec case protection, consider ordering the thinner, lighter component cases from the companies on Ebay. You can get one from them for about $200 and they won't be nearly has heavy to schlep around.
 
#11
getz76 said:
I recommend against it, still. I was doing a lot of gigging. A padded cover and lashings did the trick. If stuff is moving around in the back of a trailer, find someone else to pack your trailer.

I disagree with the "professional look" thing, too. Whenever I see someone lugging a road case into a club, I assume they are a roadie.
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I appreciate your opinion, but i really like my rig the way it is
and I know a lot of other guys that love their cases too!!!
 
#12
i think it would be cool to have a cab and rack in the same enclosure

btw mattq i emailed that guy, he said 400 for the cab, 200 more for the built in rack. that kind of alot but when i need one thats probably where id go
 
#13
MarkMyWordsXx said:
i think it would be cool to have a cab and rack in the same enclosure
Click to expand...

Just a reality check here; that flightcase is going to add a significant amount of weight to your 4x10" cabinet and your head. A properly built 4x10" flightcase (3/8" with 1.5" foam and proper hardware) will weigh in at 60-70 lbs. (assume 65 lbs.). That Mesa M-Pulse weight 22 lbs. and that Avatar weighs in at 65 lbs.

That combination will be over 150 lbs. That's tough for a single person to handle, so make sure you do not have any stairs in your future. ;)
 
#14
getz76 said:
Just a reality check here; that flightcase is going to add a significant amount of weight to your 4x10" cabinet and your head. A properly built 4x10" flightcase (3/8" with 1.5" foam and proper hardware) will weigh in at 60-70 lbs. (assume 65 lbs.). That Mesa M-Pulse weight 22 lbs. and that Avatar weighs in at 65 lbs.

That combination will be over 150 lbs. That's tough for a single person to handle, so make sure you do not have any stairs in your future. ;)
Click to expand...

still less then an ampeg 8x10, 6x10,4x10 pluss a head, all of the mesa big cabs, any tube head with basically any cab etc etc.. and itl be on wheels. not a bad deal
 
#15
Right. It is nearly equivalent to the weight of a Mesa Bass 400+ in a rack plus an Ampeg SVT410HE. When I get to a set of stairs for that combination, I take one piece at a time. I am by no means a weak man, either.

It will be rather difficult to do break down the flightcase for multiple trips.

Get what you want. I have humped a bunch of heavy gear. My PA rig rack is about 200 lbs. in a slant-top flight case and the PA mains are 100 lbs. each. I would never consider loading that alone, but then again, I would not be expected to load a PA alone.

I always expect the players I play with to load their own gear. Depending on the venue, I will help a drummer.

I am not telling you what to do, just be aware you might meet your match when you get to a flight of stairs.
 
#16
MarkMyWordsXx said:
still less then an ampeg 8x10, 6x10,4x10 pluss a head, all of the mesa big cabs, any tube head with basically any cab etc etc.. and itl be on wheels. not a bad deal
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Yes, but the cabs are going to be easier to get up and down stairs with the tilt back casters and rear "towel bar" handle setup. Big difference between that setup and the four bottom casters that your roadcase will have on it.
 
#19
Ryan L. said:
Yes, but the cabs are going to be easier to get up and down stairs with the tilt back casters and rear "towel bar" handle setup. Big difference between that setup and the four bottom casters that your roadcase will have on it.
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getz76 said:
Yup... meet the curb, for example. :)...Maybe I am jaded from gigging in Manhattan. ;)
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Ryan L. said:
...:) I'll take an 810 cabinet to wheel around any day over a 150+ pound rack full of power amps.
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There is something to this, IMHO. My old 135 lbs. Acoustic 310 1x18 folder horn had tilt back casters (very very strong) and 2 good recessed handles on the back top angle. It was easier to handle than a 4x10 and a 1x15 on a hand truck in that it always stayed balanced, didn't topple, and climbed stairs better. :D

However, it is possible to climb stairs with a 4x10 in a flight case on a hand truck. You just have be sure to have enough muscle and good medical insurance! ;)

But seriously, the road case with a 4x10 does not easily go up stairs. Solution? Leave the road case in the van, silly! But then, maybe you didn't really need it....oh no, here we go again.:D
 

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