Does anyone use or have any experience with road cases for your drums. I am thinking about buyng some, but I think I can make them myself a lot cheaper. If anyone has any advice or opinions please throw em my way.

Thanks in advance








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Mike DeKic wrote:

Does anyone use or have any experience with road cases for your drums. I am thinking about buyng some, but I think I can make them myself a lot cheaper. If anyone has any advice or opinions please throw em my way.

Thanks in advance

I use Protechtor cases and have had ok results as these are the foam lined model but the foam doesn't hold up too well. My cymbal bag is by Impact and the last one (Impact) I had before I bought a new one, lasted 14 years - quite an investment! I tried making my own but what you going to run into is the weight, if you are thinking of wood.








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Mike

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Do you need flight cases or just hard shell cases? If it's the latter, I would say to go for the SKB's. They have a lifetime warranty and most of the parts are field replaceable. If you are going to be doing a lot of flying, they you would want to look into flight cases.








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www.myspace.com/steppinrazorreggaeband

I proudly endorse Medicine Man Drums, AZ

I have some Humes and Berg hardcases for in-town stuff and a set of Maxline custom flight cases for when we tour. We dont do a lot of flying, but its nice to have the extra protection in the trailer. It comes with a higher price tag (can be MUCH higher depending on the size of your kit), but I would always suggest flight cases if you do alot of traveling or want easier load in. My touring kit fits in 3 cases: 1 holds all hardware and pedals, 1 holds 3 toms and 2 snare drums (my main and my backup), and 1 holds my kick drum with a separate compartment that my cymbal hardcase fits into. The hardware and tom/snare cases stack up so it only takes me 2 trips to load into venues as opposed to a ton of trips for individual cases. When I was shopping for my flight cases I found that since most companies build them to fit YOUR kit, there can be some substantial lead time on the order (I waited nearly 3 months for them to arrive at my door). So if you go that route, be prepared to wait awhile. They also REQUIRE a van or trailer for transport (or maybe an extended bed pickup if you're not concerned with security), I have an '07 avalanche and with my deck sealed the kick drum case isnt even a close option. They're also quite heavy, so have a ramp or a few understanding and strong bandmates or friends. Just my 2 pennies....

thanks guys for the replys! Much appreciated! Im not worried about the weight of the cases and am mostly looking for the protection of the ply wood flight cases. I have been doing some research into making my own "custom" cases and am kind of excited about the "DIY" aspect. I love the do it yourself drummers you guys rock!








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Sweet! Good luck and have fun building. If you're not intricately familiar with flight cases before building definitely spend the extra few $$$ for recessed handles, locks on all non-hinged sides, and full length "piano style" hinges. Some of the nicest features that even some builders don't offer without request. Also don't fall for the "carpet lined for protection" bs.... go foam. my tom/snare and kick cases have 1/2" foam on all sides (inc top and bottom) and I've never gotten an abrasion on either my covered or lacquer kits.

Yes but don`t make your own it would be easier for you to buy them instead of going through the hassle of making them and cutting your self up hahah but i travel for a living and love mine!!! the are way cooler then having the plastic one!!
hope this helps

To start off with........ the touring cases. Commonly correctly referred to as Flight Cases or ATA cases, this is what you see the pros use on the road. Big Boxes, on wheels, recessed latches, recesses handles. They are exjpensive if you are buying new. They can be had for a song if you get lucky enough to find good ones used, and not all of them from the different manufacturers are the same. Theres a broad range of quality there.
I was lucky enough to pick up a set built to accomodate in Case #1 14x20, and cymbals up to 22 inches. Case #2 8x12 or 9x13, and 2@ 5x14, along with a good sized hardware area. Case #3 16x16 floor tom. In the coffin case I removed the divider between the 2 5or 6x14 compartments so that it can accomodate a 14x14 Floor tom. I use a seperate ATA hardware coffin so the small hardware compartment now houses any snare drum up to 8". I have a set of the cheap beato nylon bags for the drums so that the finish is not in contact with the foam.
If the load in is going to be rough or pretty far away, these are the cases I use. Any extended out of town trip, its these. And they mainly are used to transport my two vintage 60s Rogers sets that are in collector grade conditon.

I paid 300.00 for those three cases. It was a STEAL. You cant buy the hardware and wood for that.








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ThePloughman

ThePloughman wrote:

Duct Tape, Moongells, and Remos...... with pinstripes

Rogers Drums USA

Check this out
http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/showthread.php?t=196158

I have a set of Humes & Berg Enduro Pro cases for my good set so I don't have any experience with DIY cases. Our guitar player made cases out of 3/4" plywood with Berber carpeting glued to the outside and corner caps & casters he bought at Ace Hardware. He found plans for it online, I'll ask him for the website. They are super stong and durable but also VERY heavy. He made one for his Fender Hot Rod Deville 410 (which weights 70+ lbs alone), add to that the case he made and you're talking well over 150lbs. It takes 2 people to load his amp.

I have both hard shell and soft cases. The Road Runner line of soft cases is a great /inexpensive way to get cases for your kit in a pinch ( they sell set packages or individuals - your local GC can probably hook you up). I can guarantee will spend twice the money not to mention the time and frustration in constructing your own cases....been there done that!








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www.krisardolino.com
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Kris wrote:

I have both hard shell and soft cases. The Road Runner line of soft cases is a great /inexpensive way to get cases for your kit in a pinch ( they sell set packages or individuals - your local GC can probably hook you up). I can guarantee will spend twice the money not to mention the time and frustration in constructing your own cases....been there done that!

They can only be purchased from GC and affiliates... that's their house brand.








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Kris wrote:

I have both hard shell and soft cases. The Road Runner line of soft cases is a great /inexpensive way to get cases for your kit in a pinch ( they sell set packages or individuals - your local GC can probably hook you up). I can guarantee will spend twice the money not to mention the time and frustration in constructing your own cases....been there done that!

How well do the Road Runner's cushion the drums?

I don't need serious protection, just something to keep 'em cushioned well, and separated from stuff in the car.








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_...:::/ Jimbob2020 agrees \:::..._

They are not heavily padded, but they do enough to stop the dings and scratches and make for easy transport. Now I wouldn't load them into a loose packed trailer with a bunch of heavy gear and hope they don't get crushed in the transport, that's for shure. Just pay attention to your loading and you will be fine. I've got no complaints with them, especially for the money.








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Be Strong to Endure - Endure to be Strong !
www.krisardolino.com
http://www.myspace.com/krisardolino

As for the rest of my cases, I use Humes and Berg Enduros, unlined, and bags for each drum in the case.








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ThePloughman

ThePloughman wrote:

Duct Tape, Moongells, and Remos...... with pinstripes

Rogers Drums USA

Check this out
http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/showthread.php?t=196158

Humes and Berg Enduros are awesome, My snare flew out of the truck at 85 mph in the middle of Utah. I got to the next town before I got the balls to check and it was untouched. Only scratches on the case. Fun night, putting a camper shell back onto a truck in 130mph wind gusts, picking up pieces of gear out of the mud. One of my toms fell out too, in one of those cheap cases, it got worked.








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ON A MISSION TO SLAY THE RUSH'N DRAG'N