Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Davey on February 10, 2007, 12:53:54 PM

Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Davey on February 10, 2007, 12:53:54 PM
I want to take my guitar with me, when i go to the LGS and i need a case for it.
right now i got a pretty good gig bag, but even though it has pretty good padding i do not trust anyone (especially seeing how bags are being flung on airports) with it.

i went out and checked some stores and neither had what i liked. (hard universal cases with little to no padding, where the guitar moved around like crazy.. not to mention, the foam case they had was bending @ the headstock. i dont want to open the case and pick it out by pieces)

so, i need a hardshell case with GOOD! padding. form fitting if possible (jackson dinky/soloist body). able to lock the latches.
it basically needs to be bullet proof. flight cases would be ideal, if they arent too pricy (i think up to about 100€ plus shipping is good.. if it's a touch over, i wont fret)
(this is one i'd think would work.. what do you guys think? http://www.thomann.de/de/skb_route66.htm )

http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=&id=234&o=&offset=1&c=82&s=75
this is one i would like.. know any online stores that sell it?

been looking at those coffin cases online, but they look cheesy as hell.
anybody got any experience with companies, that are available in europe (links to online stores, if possible)

thanks for any info
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Dakine on February 10, 2007, 01:14:20 PM
Davey,
have flown with ALOT of guitars now.
Have NOT had a problem with those SKB's.
Although, I believe (well now know) there are cases with even better padding.
Hiscox are better (but from what I have seen ya pay some for the name). I just bought a great condition Used Fender ABS case. It is shaped and therefore smaller (making taking ONTO a plane more of a possibity. Also the padding inside is better than the SKB's I have had (and had 3 styles of SKB). Gator, IMO, are worse than SKB.
Flight cases are Huge and HEAVY. This will be a problem to carry and may illicit extra charges.
ALl my flying has been Trans Atlantic and thus far a good ABS case has NOT let me down at all.
BTW, I did'nt think you could take a guitar INTO LGS (security reasons).

For my money (at this point) a Fender ABS would be a good deal. Well made and padded and small enough for poss. of going into cabin.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-Fender-Guitar-Hard-Case-Stratocaster-Tele_W0QQitemZ130077945140QQihZ003QQcategoryZ20830QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Like this one. Has thicker padding inside than ALL my SKB cases I had.

Also, I advise AGAINST locking it. Use silver 'gaffa' style tape over the catches. Security have the right to open/break the locks to check inside.
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Davey on February 10, 2007, 01:23:57 PM
i do not think taking a guitar into the venue will be a problem, since i'll have an exhibitor pass (major thanks to big cat jonathan :D ) maybe it needs to be catalogued by jonathan prior to the show starting, so they have info about it, at the door

i am looking at extra charges anyway and am willing to pay them, but on all flights i have been so far, the overhead compartments have been to small to hold a guitar case, so i'll have to let them put it in the cargo hold.


thanks for the heads up on the locks, but i still would like to lock them, when i'm off the airport ;)
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Dakine on February 10, 2007, 01:31:31 PM
do what ya want, just trying to give ya benefit of my experience.
IF ya get a nice check-in person you can be allowed to put it in the 'forward coat/pushchair' locker (have been able to do this before if was NOT a large looking case.
I see NO reason you have to pay extra charges (but hav'nt flown European for awhile) as it is or can be counted as part of your allowed baggage.
Anyway, IMO a good ABS case is the ticket.
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Davey on February 10, 2007, 01:38:41 PM
depends on the company i'll be flying with.. some allow multiple pieces as long as it doesnt exceed the 20kg per person quota, the others only allow one one carry on and one bigger piece of luggage...
like said, depends on company.

i dont mind the charges, cos the most common ones have around 20€ upcharge for aditional pieces of luggage.


i'll see what i can find online, as local stores dont carry anything worth of interest

and thanks for the suggestions. i'll keep my eyes peeled
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Dakine on February 10, 2007, 01:45:19 PM
Well, for whats it's worth, the smaller 'looking' the better (read well thought out/streamlined, NOT cheap or badly padded) as ya have more chance of carrying it onboard. I have heard people turning up with guitars in gigbags and pleading to carry it on as it's not protected, but that IMO is a risk/chance I am not prepared to take.
SKB make for MANY major companies and not just their own branded stuff (for instance one of my MusicMan Axis was in an SKB) and seem fine. But have found the padding in the Fender (which in fact is a generic Strat/Tele case and VERY well fitting) to be much better than 'other' SKB cases I have had (I say this as I think the Fender is an SKB made case too).
I have seen Gator cases and NOT been impressed with the construction. Also know ppl. who have had them that were not satisfied either.
The Hiscox I looked at for the Fender was IMO no better than the Fender case I bought used but was more money (aka, name upcharge?).
Title: Re: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: dave_mc on February 10, 2007, 01:46:00 PM
Quote from: Davey
I want to take my guitar with me, when i go to the LGS and i need a case for it.
right now i got a pretty good gig bag, but even though it has pretty good padding i do not trust anyone (especially seeing how bags are being flung on airports) with it.


Can't give any info about cases, unfortunately, but I agree that I wouldn't trust the airport staff. When I was in London a couple of years ago (stansted, I think), this banjo (in a hard case) came flying off the conveyor belt. The guy who owned it was extremely pissed (with good cause), it may have even sustained some minor damage, and that was in a hard case!

:drink:
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: noodleplugerine on February 10, 2007, 01:49:12 PM
I fly my guitars around alot, and have 2 Hiscox cases.

They rock. Truly awesome, and you can get them in all different fittings for different guitars. Are they more expensive? Perhaps, but I guarantee top quality.

Gaffa tape over latches is an absolute definite - They fling those cases like a rattle, and you never want them to smash the locks open.

Also, make sure to slacken the strings before it gets on the plane - Unless you want a snapped neck.

PS: Those SKB cases look rather flimsy...
Title: Re: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Davey on February 10, 2007, 02:06:35 PM
Quote from: dave_mc
Quote from: Davey
I want to take my guitar with me, when i go to the LGS and i need a case for it.
right now i got a pretty good gig bag, but even though it has pretty good padding i do not trust anyone (especially seeing how bags are being flung on airports) with it.


Can't give any info about cases, unfortunately, but I agree that I wouldn't trust the airport staff. When I was in London a couple of years ago (stansted, I think), this banjo (in a hard case) came flying off the conveyor belt. The guy who owned it was extremely pissed (with good cause), it may have even sustained some minor damage, and that was in a hard case!

:drink:


dude....

it was a banjo!  :roll:  

but exactly.. i've been on my share of airports already and on all, the luggage is treated like cr@p. on some, they even threw the luggage down onto the cart from the airplane from like 3m height

i'll probably buy one of those skb ones (i am most worried about the headstock, as it is a jackson angeled headstock and they can break even in a case when they goet thrown around. fenders are MUCH more forgiving in that department)
Title: Re: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Dakine on February 10, 2007, 02:12:47 PM
Quote from: Davey
Quote from: dave_mc
Quote from: Davey
I want to take my guitar with me, when i go to the LGS and i need a case for it.
right now i got a pretty good gig bag, but even though it has pretty good padding i do not trust anyone (especially seeing how bags are being flung on airports) with it.


Can't give any info about cases, unfortunately, but I agree that I wouldn't trust the airport staff. When I was in London a couple of years ago (stansted, I think), this banjo (in a hard case) came flying off the conveyor belt. The guy who owned it was extremely pissed (with good cause), it may have even sustained some minor damage, and that was in a hard case!

:drink:


dude....

it was a banjo!  :roll:  

but exactly.. i've been on my share of airports already and on all, the luggage is treated like cr@p. on some, they even threw the luggage down onto the cart from the airplane from like 3m height

i'll probably buy one of those skb ones (i am most worried about the headstock, as it is a jackson angeled headstock and they can break even in a case when they goet thrown around. fenders are MUCH more forgiving in that department)


I would say ANY guitars weak spot is the headstock. Certainly I did'nt see any more issues with my Jackson Thru Neck than this Fender. What I usually do (just for MORE protection) on ALL of my guitars is fold a polishing cloth (I use the microfibre car detailling cloths) and place it under the gap directly behind the headstock (where it meets the neck, nut area basically) as this normally protrudes a little from the 'neck support area' in a case. Thus giving the WHOLE neck more support, IMO. Difficult to explain but should get the gist.
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Kilby on February 10, 2007, 02:26:48 PM
You could also carve some of that foam they use in camera cases to make it a better fit around the headstock area, as most cases have that huge empty area around the headstock
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Antag on February 10, 2007, 04:48:35 PM
I have the SKB-66 for both my Warmoth strats.  It's a nice case & appears to be sturdily built (though I haven't really bashed it around) & the strats fit fairly snugly.

I got it from Piedog (http://www.piedog.com/musical_instruments/guitar/guitar_accessories/guitar_hard_cases/skb-skb_66.htm) though no doubt it's cheaper at Thomann....
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Antag on February 10, 2007, 05:09:04 PM
A word of caution about the SKB66 though - if your Charvel is one of the neck-through-body ones with a pitched neck, you might need to put a towel/cloth under the neck & heel as when lying flat it's just resting on the tip of the headstock (only by a few mm) - just went & tried my recently PK'd Charvel in it.

NB: This only applies of you have a pitched neck, so if it's a bolt-on (which I understand does not have a pitched neck) you should be fine...
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Davey on February 10, 2007, 05:16:13 PM
it's a bolt on, so no worries there...

and that is primarily a problem with non recessed trems and hardtails, cos they need an angeled neck.


could you snap a pic of the interrior? the ones from the websites suck
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Antag on February 10, 2007, 07:09:27 PM
Sorry dude, wifey's camera is out of commission, so I've only got this photo I took a while ago of my alder strat:

(http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.569a3d144b.jpg) (http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?569a3d144b.jpg)

Yes, it sucks nearly as badly as the SKB webite pics :lol:

The bit where you see that bag of allen keys & yellow booklet is a recessed pocket about the same size/shape as the booklet itself

The other well where you see the strings & strap is actually L-shaped with a little thin bit where the strap is & a wider part for strings & other stuff.

The body is held fairly snugly because the body recess is shaped for the outline, but doesn't hold the "horns" on all sides (which is why it will also fit dinky/solist shapes & tele shapes.

However, with the lid shut, the guitar can't move as the neck is sitting in a little curved "trough".  At the headstock end, it's got an engled recess to accomodate angled headstocks.

Hope this helps...
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Antag on February 10, 2007, 07:14:02 PM
oops, pic was rather big, try this:

(http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.a82036084a.jpg) (http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?a82036084a.jpg)

:)
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Dakine on February 10, 2007, 07:27:56 PM
this any better

(http://img.2dehands.nl/f/normal/13332722-skb-rectangular-electric-deluxe-route-66.jpg)

Basically the one with 'reinforced bumpers'
http://img.2dehands.nl/f/normal/13332722-skb-rectangular-electric-deluxe-route-66.jpg

This is the one alot of manufacturers use inc. Ernie Ball.
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: noodleplugerine on February 10, 2007, 07:44:20 PM
Those SKBs look about half as strong as the Hiscox ones :S
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Dakine on February 10, 2007, 08:31:02 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine
Those SKBs look about half as strong as the Hiscox ones :S


Have you owned one?
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: indysmith on February 10, 2007, 08:49:34 PM
Quote from: Dakine
Quote from: noodleplugerine
Those SKBs look about half as strong as the Hiscox ones :S


Have you owned one?

oo noodles, now yu've unleashed the fury. prepare for the 'experience is everything' speech :wink:

in fairness to him dakine he did say they LOOK about half as strong, not ARE.
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on February 10, 2007, 09:11:52 PM
We use Hiscox and I can personally recommend them.
They are really good, especially as they are lightweight too.

We have ours made with our own logo - cool eh?

(http://felineguitars.com/merchandise/images/custom-hiscox-case800pixel.jpg)

Yes - Davey will be on my stand helping out - It will be a busy time so he may have to work hard but I have promised that I will let him have a wander to look at stuff at some point during the weekend, but it will be good to have him on the stand - come and say Hi if you come to the show
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Davey on February 10, 2007, 10:20:03 PM
wait.. i'll have to work?  :o


LOL. just kidding hehe
i'm glad to lend a hand and i'll do my best. :D  i just cant wait to spend some time with you folks! \m/

i'll probably go for the skb case. wait and see if someone will stock the ones with the new latches.

or if anyone knows an online store in germany or uk, that stocks the hiscox cases, i'd apretiate it
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: Dakine on February 10, 2007, 10:46:18 PM
Quote from: indysmith
Quote from: Dakine
Quote from: noodleplugerine
Those SKBs look about half as strong as the Hiscox ones :S


Have you owned one?

oo noodles, now yu've unleashed the fury. prepare for the 'experience is everything' speech :wink:

in fairness to him dakine he did say they LOOK about half as strong, not ARE.


Fury? ROFLMAO
Now now Indy ;)
I am fecking fed up with lil ppl. knowing everything by 'look'ing on the internet or in shop windows. But LIFE will sort it ALL out in the end ;) I need to do/say nothing to help Darwin :)

Davey, thomann seem cheapest on 'route'66. If SKB66 is different found french store showing 114 euro. But none showing the new TSA latches. May need to email some as probably not updating their sites spec. to show latch change.
Title: Lets talk guitar cases
Post by: noodleplugerine on February 11, 2007, 01:21:25 AM
Quote from: Dakine
Quote from: noodleplugerine
Those SKBs look about half as strong as the Hiscox ones :S


Have you owned one?

If I had I wouldn't have said "look" ;)

Anyway, surely with something like this, looking can do alot - For example, bigger cases will have more padding, and probably a thicker shell.