Drum Cases - Bags

[k_shepard]

Hi all! I did a quick search on this and didn't find anything. I am in the market for some cases for my new drum kit. I have used only hard shell cases in the past. In shopping for new cases, I am noticing that soft cases have come a long way since the last time I shopped and are considerably cheaper. They look very durable and have very thick padding all the way around.

Also, in really considering the protection provided, it seems that an impact strong enough to damage a drum shell would likely exceed that of what your mid to average hardshell case can sustain as well. If in agreement with that notion, the only other advantage that I can think of, is the ability to stack somewhat heavy items on top of the cased drum (nothing like a heavy amp rack, but definitely more than most reasonable people would consider stacking on a bass drum in a soft case). I pay a good amount, but mainly local and in a situation where everyone pretty much hauls their own gear. I think soft cases are the thing for me. The ones that look the best online are the Protection Racket and the Beato Pro 3.

Does anyone have thoughts on the above hard vs. high end soft cases? Also, I would like to hear others experience with the two soft cases mentioned and am open to consider other options as well. Thanks in advance!

[C.r.a.p.]

If my drums travel with me in my car I use soft padded bags. When they travel in the band's bus then it's hardcases all the way.

[chrisso]

I'm a fan of Protection Racket.
Most of my drums are in PR soft cases, but then I handle my own drums most of the time.
The drums are pretty well protected, but they wont ultimately protect your gear if it's being thrown around, or sharp heavy objects are placed on or next to them.
With care taken, PR soft cases can be a good option.

[beau_mckee]

If you must go soft cases, Protection Racket will be your best bet. That's two votes for protection racket already!

[TomLykins]

PR all the way!

[k_shepard]

Yeah, I can see where if someone jammed a lose mic stand in the trailer, how a hard case could provide better protection over a soft case. I was thinking more along the lines of a catastrophic impact, say, a poorly placed amp rack falling on the broad side of a bass drum in an enduro case would probably still have the ability to crack a shell, etc.

I currently just haul my own gear in my vehicle, so I think the 200-300 difference in the cost of cases is still worth the risk. Protection Racket it is! Thanks!

[the_stigg]

a nice way to case drums that i found are truck flight cases. i'm actually making my cases. its a whole lot cheaper to make them and plus they last a really long time. im fitting a 7 piece kit with hardware and symbols in 2 trunks. the price put together for everything was somewhere around 400 bucks for both cases together.

[KickSnareHat]

As a fairly busy gigging drummer, I prefer bags over cases purely for weight and ease of carrying (you can more easily put a a few bags over your shoulder -- though I now have shoulder problems from doing that).

That said, I only use hard cases for snare drums after I broke the snare strainer on one of my drums by dropping its bag from a height of only about 3 inches. I also tend to use a hard case for cymbals for protection, too.

I've personally had good luck with Tuxedo bags. Whatever you get, make sure it has some good padding for protection. Don't cheap out with no-name bags. I made that mistake once and the bags only lasted a couple months. The higher quality bags have lasted me for 15+ years of busy gigging.

[JohnRick]

Also prefer soft case over hard case. In my case its GEWA all the way.

[Suspects]

Another soft bag worth checking out is the Drum Seeker line by Humes and Berg. In addition to being thickly padded, they have flat disks (I'm guessing plastic) sewn into the tops and bottoms of each bag for additional support...


Dave/Suspect Studios








.: Suspect Studios :.

[Sim]

PR cases are basically the standard for soft cases. i would say if your transporting them yourself soft cases are fine as your handling the drums your self and taking care of them. If anyone but you self including friends are handling the drums, transporting or loading them in for a gig get hard cases. People seem to think drums can be thrown around because they get hit with sticks. Even though a guitar, bass or keyboard is probably more rugged and less likely to break than a drum kit when in transport.