Gator Cases Any Good??

BettyBoo · May 2009

Hey everyone,
I'm looking at getting myself a new amp case for my Rivera Head and I'm just looking at what's on the market these days. I was just gonna go with a normal sort of flight case and I was gonna get a mate of mine who makes em to do one up for me. He's already putting together a case to fit my RP500 and Rivera Headmaster footswitch in one floor unit. Trouble is, this Knucklehead head weighs about 60lb on its own already and I'm not looking forward to adding the weight of a big chunky case as well and have to cart it about myself.... :roll: must be gettin old and lazy I think!

I've had a look at the Gator cases that have the handle and wheels so you can pull them around like a bit of luggage but I've never seen them in the flesh nor do I know anyone that uses one either. So I was wondering if any of you guys know much about them or own one maybe.

This head won't be copping any hard road abuse, but I just want to give it some sort of protection considering it cost me the price of a kidney! I love the idea of being able to tow it around but I'm not so convinced that tipping a valve head on its side is a real good idea - I'm worried about valves getting rattled when pulling the case around or unseating etc, everyone knows they can be delicate. Heres a picture:

Let me know what you think 8)

P.S. Thats a Marshall head sitting in that case - my Rivera would way 3 times that!

partch · May 2009

I've had a Gator Gig bag for like 5 years. It has held up well to transporting the GNX4 twice a week. Well since I've got the Mesa It has not been getting used at all. BUT I think there pretty goog quality from what I've heard & experienced. I think you will be fine with that BBoo.

guitar3456 · May 2009

Those cases are fine for simple gig transport. If you are worried about long term best way to protect the amp, or if you have an abusive roadie find/build a custom case.

tucopeat · May 2009

For VERY light use it may be alright but if it was my head :evil: (head envy) :evil: I would have your mate fix you up a proper road case for it, would definitely afford more protection. You could install casters if you don't want to carry it ..... partsexpress.com has all sorts of casters for road cases and racks and such...its a great resource. Don't know if they ship to Oz though, you'll have to find out.

Im with you on tipping a tube head on side...not sure it would be the best of ideas...

I cringe at the thought of a tube amp head in a glorified suitcase being dragged across a door threshold and thumping down on the other side....ouch!

BettyBoo · May 2009

Thanks for the help guys

Hmm, I agree that a proper road case will be tougher and will cop more abuse - It's a bit difficult to stick castors on one of these cases though as usually they sit flush on top of a quad once the top is removed. Looks like I might have to invest in a crane for my ute perhaps

.

One of these might be good!

tucopeat · May 2009

These may be just what you need Boo...

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=262-282

they would work much like the casters on the gator soft case.

jamminmj · May 2009

I have an 8 space gator case and while it's for the most part as good as an SKB, The pull out handle can break very easily if you have much weight in it or have to lift with it. There is an internal plastic part that is part of the latching pin that locks the handle in one of two positions. Don't know if it broke or just slipped out. The other thing is that the handle slides inside the case are just riveted through the shell without any real reinforcement. Could be a potential tear through eventually.

guitar3456 · May 2009

Yes, I once saw a band that lost a rack off the truck. SKB with the rivets and they had 3 power amps mounted in a 12spc. Thing had to weigh 200+ lbs, and they had no casters. The amazing part is even though the handles busted off and the unit fell 3-4 ft, those amps still worked!

BettyBoo · May 2009

Yeah I like the look of those recessed castors, I think they might be really good for a case of this size probably. I guess wheels won't be too bad as long as the head inside is packed really well and allows decent vibration absorption. Yesterday I was looking at a friends road case he uses for his Mesa Roadster head and it has nearly 4 inches of foam surrounding the head. Each of these foam layers had a different density, so one is hard and one is soft. He has casters on the case and he pulls it about....never had a problem with the amp either, at least from the case - the amp itself has imploded twice in the 8 months he's owned it! He's not real impressed with it which is a shame cause he saved for a year to buy the bloody thing! :roll: He pulls the head out and sits it on his cab so he doesn't worry about using the bottom of the case as a base. Problem is his case is a big sucka, but he reckons its worth it - he just rolls it up into his van and its all cosy.

I don't mind the look of this one too:

guitar3456 · May 2009

I see quite a few guys with those type cases. Very rugged

BettyBoo · August 2009

Just an update on my quest for an amp case. I was able to have a look at a few different sorts (Gator etc) and I decided to get a custom case made for me instead by a friend of mine - he makes awsome cases. With the Rivera inside this case, its going to be a mother to cart about but it'll be worth it I suppose. I've also got him to make up a roadcase to fit my Rp500 and Rivera Headmaster footswitch that can be placed on the floor with the top lid off. I've got him to sit the Headmaster just above and behind the RP and they are both a similiar width so hopefully that should work out ok. These cases probably won't be finished until November - he's building a stack of cases - but I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product!

VitoBratta · January 2010

i have one for my guitar its great

Gator Cases Any Good??

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