Gator Shock cases

[petermeechanuk]

Anyone used Gator shock flight cases. They use rubber shock absorbers in the corners between the rack rails and case.

I'd appreciate hearing any experiences.

Thanks
-Peter

[JayCrouch]

felt I should reply to this one after a gator experience.

a friend of mine picked up a 12 space unit because it was cheaper that a calzone or even used anvil type.

the case has pretty much started swaying side to side. it went on tour, but it just shouldn't crap out that easy.

Having a case built for your needs is always a good idea, it helps you think over everything about you setup.

[petermeechanuk]

Thanks Jay
Unfortunately I've already bought one (since originally posting). It's the cheapest looking piece of plastic I've ever seen. It looks like one knock to the catches and they'll come off. And you can't rest anything on top as it sags ! Ah well it's only being used for a one way trip and being handled by a single team all the way. Fingers crossed.


-Peter

[JayCrouch]

Is one of their "SKB" knock offs?

The only music store chain I have seen the Gator stuff for sale at is "daddy's junky music" - It's a chain mostly along the eastern US, and they do most of their business purchasing and re-selling used gear. I bought a cordura type mini bag made my Gator, just big enough to hold a few mics or a few DIs or whatever. I would suggest cruising ebay for anvil or calzone. You can often find cases that are slightly larger than 19" wide - yet with alittle construction and the purchase of some rack rails and you are in business. Cases that stay low in price often are video/photo cases. I often see cases that were meant to house some sort of video monitor, where the majority of the case would pull of the base. You can just flip those onto a side and throw some rack rails in most times...

Once you start MacGyvering cases, you probbably wont buy any more "off the shelf".

[TinderArts]

After having a bunch of gear damaged in Anvil shock cases, I've become a big fan of the case in a case style for heavy transit.

[hollywood_steve]

After having a bunch of gear damaged in Anvil shock cases, I've become a big fan of the case in a case style for heavy transit.



Ok, that's just what I don't want to hear.....
When I purchased my Genex recorder several months ago, I had Jan-Al build a custom Anvil-type shockmount case with two inches of the "good" foam between the two shells. I'm guessing that's what you mean't by "Anvil shock case."

But just to be sure, could you describe what type of "shock" case you've had problems with. What did you have mounted in them and what happened to cause the damage

And also what qualifies as "case in a case"? The type of case where a shell slides down over the inner rack case?

I thought that I had invested in the closest thing to "the best" protection available for my recorder. But if there is a better type of case (for not too much more money) I can always mount some preamps or other less expensive gear in my "good" case and buy the "right" case for the recorder.

Anybody else have comments on the best case for 4RU worth of electronics? My recorder never gets switched on without travelling someplace so I feel I need better protection that guys who take their gear out a few times per year. This is the remote forum, so what do you serious road warriors do to protect your most expensive gear that is also the most susceptible to damage?

Thanks.

[Remoteness]

A lot of roadcases look "heavy duty" But, can they deal with the everyday abuse of the road? Can the case handle a forklift guy's playtime? Can the gear (in the case) be dropped from a loading dock and still function?

I guess the best way to say it is... 1/4" plywood isn't going to do it. 5/8" Birch ply is a great start. Reinforcement, inside and outside with the proper metal fabrication is key.

Anvil, Calzone and other roadcase manufacturers build heavy duty cases. You have to special order them. IMO, many music stores only carry the lighter duty cases, because of their cheaper price point. The weekend musician (or engineer) isn't gonna notice the difference until it's too late.

Here's a quick way to tell how strong a case can be. Take the roadcase's lid and see if you can twist it with light force from your own bare hands. If it's solid and doesn't budge, it's heavy duty.

Do some additional tests -- Rack mount a box with glued eggs, bulbs and/or whatever makes sense inside the case in question, then drop it from waist high. Did anything break? If the egg and light bulb idea sounds too strange, try an old HD you're not using anymore. See if it still works after you dropkicked the sucker.

With some modifications and a little work, the right improvements can make your existing roadcase work for you.

There's no need to place your valuble gear into it's roadcase before the research & development is completed. Let the expendable stuff take all the abuse during your R&D.

[TinderArts]

Originally posted by hollywood_steve
But just to be sure, could you describe what type of "shock" case you've had problems with. What did you have mounted in them and what happened to cause the damage

And also what qualifies as "case in a case"? The type of case where a shell slides down over the inner rack case?

It was a 16 space Anvil shock case with 48 channels of pres, 2 DA78s, a distripalyzer and a rack drawer. After a gig, my gear was loaded on a freight container with backline gear. The container rolled at the airport prior to loading to the aircraft. The bolts holding the inner rack to the outer rack sheared. All of the pres were damaged as well as one of the 78s. I suspect that the shock case fell on it's back due to the way that the pres rack mounts were damaged. I also had 4 MX2424s in two of the case in case style cases. They came through the roll without any damage.

The case in case used were heavy birch racks with front and rear rail inside of an anvil style "shell" case with high quality 1 1/2" foam.

[Remoteness]

For us, even the most "heavy duty" cases get additional modifications done before they're put on the road.

We use threaded rod w/ T bolts, square tubing and/or right angle iron for additional support. Especially the rear of the equipment. I don't want to rely on the front rack screws alone!

[fifthcircle]

Originally posted by hollywood_steve


Ok, that's just what I don't want to hear.....
When I purchased my Genex recorder several months ago, I had Jan-Al build a custom Anvil-type shockmount case with two inches of the "good" foam between the two shells. I'm guessing that's what you mean't by "Anvil shock case."

I think the question you should be asking is are you going to personally be carying everything into the gig or are you shipping it via commercial means inside this case. I have pretty crappy cases (SKB, etc..) for my stuff, but then again I always personally schlep all of my gear. On the larger jobs, it is somebody I trust... Because of that, I never have problems. I unloaded a bunch of my flight case shock cases as I was killing my back at gigs humping my gear around in it.

Now, if I had to send stuff using air freight or rely on teamsters to hump my gear at a venue, I'd blow for the good foam shock-cases.

--Ben

[hollywood_steve]

I unloaded a bunch of my flight case shock cases as I was killing my back at gigs humping my gear around in it.


That makes me feel a little better, I was beginning to feel that I must have turned into an old man overnight. The Genex is in a 60lb 4 space rack (empty!) and humping it up to the balcony at the Ebell almost killed me!

But I don't think that I can completely do away with the heavy duty protection either. I spent too many years moving my huge bass amps around with my own hands and I know that even I can screw up at the end of a long night.

I think this exchange has given me a workable solution as far as cutting down the weight when maximum protection isn't needed. Some of the lightweight cases are reasonably well made, like the Anvil Forge II cases, etc. (the crap cases they sale at Guitar Center are likely to be the CAUSE of an accident - have you ever had a handle fall off in your hand so that you are left holding the handle while your gear crashes to the floor?) I think I'll get a lightweight case for the very calm gigs and just switch cases depending on the gig; it will take 2 or 3 minutes to remount the recorder and that will be worth it to me.


Especially the rear of the equipment. I don't want to rely on the front rack screws alone!


Thank you! I was beginning to think I was the only one who installs rear rack rails as soon as I buy any rack; for remote or studio use. In the past year or two, several manufacturers have started using massive 1/4 (or more) thick faceplates on the front of their gear, but 95% of the gear out there sags in the back, and that can't be good. Especially on location.