Hard shell 88-note keyboard cases - recommendations?

[Chuckers]

I've searched the 'net and this forum for info on keyboard cases, and so far I haven't seen one that suits all my needs, which include:

 

- snug fit; foam in contact with most/all of keyboard exterior.

- hard shell, but full ATA Flight rating not necessary.

- as light/small as possible, and priced appropriately.

 

Back in the day when I had an M1, a local company made hard shell cases (metal coated) that were slim and relatively lightweight. They were simply FILLED with medium-weight foam. You could get someone at a foam store, with the proper tools, to cut the foam in the base and the lid to the proper size, and presto, instant custom fit for your keyboard.

 

Is something like this available in a hard shell case? I'm not planning to let anyone else handle my gear, so a full ATA rating with the associated cost and weight is not needed. Just something to prevent the sharp corners of other gear from puncturing my keyboard. I have a K2500X (hopefully to be replaced by a PC3 soon), and I will never buy a case where the keyboard is held in place by straps (useless when your 74-pound keyboard gets dumped upside-down), or only by its corners and edges (I'm suspicious of the Z-lock style foam in some cases). I want my baby to be surrounded in comfy foam, or an equivalent protective measure.

 

Any info or advice much appreciated.

 

[NoahZark]

My advice would be to buy custom. I bought custom-built flight cases for my Yamaha S90ES and my Hammond XK-1 from a local case-builder, and I haven't regretted it for a minute. They fit my boards perfectly and would satisfy all of your stated requirements. In the case of my S90ES, the custom-built case replaced a stock 88-key Road Ready case that I never liked because it was just way too big for my keyboard (and, as a result, way too heavy, although the Z-lock foam actually did work pretty well).

 

I don't know if the guy I used ships to Vancouver (I doubt it because he's kind of a small shop), but my advice would be to hunt for a local guy to custom-build your cases for you (or find a company online that does it, like Calzone Case Company, A&S Case Company, or Rock Hard Cases).

 

Good luck!

 

Noah

[Dave Horne]

Back from a job, no acoustic piano - six trips to the car.

 

I agree with NoahZark. I don't know where you live but stores around here make cases as well as selling keyboards. It's not rocket science and if you have a work space you can easily make your own.

 

The great thing about custom cases - you determine the specs.

 

If your keyboard is substantial you might not want to have the hard part of the case really thick since the keyboard provides a lot of stiffness. Also, do you want the case hinged and you remove the keyboard to play ... or do you want two separate pieces held together with latches? If you go with two separate pieces will you be playing the keyboard and just leave it in the case on jobs? If so, then you'll have to take into consideration the audio, midi and electrical plugs.

 

If you plan on keeping the keyboard for any length of time and use it on jobs, spend the money and get a good case. There's a lot of competition so you won't be spending as much as you might think. Whatever you decide have your name spray painted on the case to help prevent thieves from not only stealing your keyboard but not damaging it in the process.

[MikeNZ]

Check the dimensions of the PC3 against the PC88 or PC1X. The PC3 is almost identical in dimensions to the PC1X (to within 1/4"), which I know is very, very close in dimensions to a PC88. Many companies make hardshell cases ready fitted for the PC88 and they should fit your PC3 almost perfectly. No need for a custom case.

 

There was a guy on Ebay selling hard cases for the PC88 or PC1, for about $150 I think. Protec makes a rigid foam case for the PC88. $140 from Music123. Has a metal frame and wheels, and is MUCH lighter than a hard case.

 

Michael

[burningbusch]

Yes you could easily get by with a quality soft case. Kurzweil provides a nice soft case with the PC1SE. I have an SKB hard case that protects the boards very nicely. The 88-key model weighs about 30 lbs, which isn't bad.

 

Traditional hard cases weigh a ton. The Road Ready 88 weighs 62 lbs. The new Kurzweil will likely be in the 50 lbs range so you'd be 110 lbs. That's a little less than a Rhodes but much more than a Wurly or Clavinet. So if you're going to use something like that, don't bitch about vintage boards.

 

The Anvil style cases make sense if you're touring. Otherwise...

 

Busch.

[MikeNZ]

Yeah, whatever happened to the instrument case converting to a road case by adding a lid, and having screw in legs. A modern "lightweight" stage piano plus hard case plus stand can easily weigh more than a suitcase Rhodes or Yamaha combo.

 

Michael

[eric]

Yeah, whatever happened to the instrument case converting to a road case by adding a lid, and having screw in legs. A modern "lightweight" stage piano plus hard case plus stand can easily weigh more than a suitcase Rhodes or Yamaha combo.

 

Michael

 

Not too many modern attempts have been successful. Building the instrument into the case seems to weigh it down that much more when it is time to load it onto the stand. I remember playing one of the Oberheim (might have been Doepfer, cannot remember) controllers back in the '90s that was built into a pseudo-ATA case...it was not really very pleasant. I kept smacking my palms into the lip of the case that was sitting around the keyboard and the thing was just plain HEAVY. I'm ok with a heavy flight case with thick foam...that is what protects the instrument. Trying to put the two of them together, fused for life, seems to be a paradox that does not work so well...at least in terms of the modern keyboard architecture. A Rhodes with a top that hinges onto it is a little bit different.

[Dave Horne]

Traditional hard cases weigh a ton.

 

Yes and no. I had a custom case made for my P250 (which I kept for my CP300). I spoke in person with the owner of the music store who made the case for me and we discussed the thickness of the 'particle board' material to be used. Because my keyboard is so stiffly constructed and has a long flat surface, I really only needed minimal protection. We choose 3 mm (I believe) particle board thickness just to keep the case lighter (than if we had used 5mm).

 

Also the type of 'foam' used helps in keeping the case stiff and light at the same time. Some foam 'gives' and the other type doesn't.

 

I also workout every day not only to keep in shape but to prevent lower back problems which I've had in the past (and which reoccur if I don't do my daily exercises). I'm 56 and I plan on making money (and music) until I drop. I can handle my keyboard and the case myself.

 

If you're the _only_ person moving your keyboard, if you don't drink on the job, if you take care in moving your equipment, a soft case could work. While I don't abuse my equipment, I don't 'baby' it either. I can throw my speakers on top of the hard case without having to worry about damaging the keyboard. Everything has it benefits and drawbacks - come to think of it, everything in life does as well.

[Pat Azzarello]

Maybe I missed it, but no one mentioned SKB? I have a couple of these, and although I wouldn't ship an 88-key in the belly of an airplane in one, I have shipped 61-key keyboards on planes with no issues. The SKB's are light, have wheels, and you can adjust the foam.

 

If you go SKB, make certain that you don't overbuy. My QS8 didn't need the largest SKB (which the folks at GC recommended because they saw it on a web site somewhere), though my regular sales guy (in Kenosha) new it could fit in the smaller case.

[KeysnLifeofSong]

Been down this road a few times!

 

There's an Ebay seller named "ezorderworld" that I bought a custom from recently, and It's the best combo of price/value I've seen to date. All recessed, 1/4" ply with thick laminate, BALL CORNERS (did I mention ball corners? lol), and foamed. I had it built, and it's strong AND light. I've bought others that resemble this MO, but these folks made a sweet case for a sweet price. No lie.

 

My 2 cents to all the custom case companies that want $300.00+ for a simple 61-note case....

 

 

[Chuckers]

Thanks for all of your advice. I'm most curious about the "Crazy Case Store" on EBay ("ezorderworld"); the cases look great and seem very reasonably priced. The only drawback I can see is that it may take some convincing, reassurance and/or extra cost to get a case shipped to me in Vancouver (though I'm much closer to the seller than Alaska, Hawaii and other "no ship" destinations).

 

Will post again with the results when/if I make a purchase.

 

[jimmymio]

I've never used anything but hard shell cases for my boards. I recently had a case made by Calzone/Anvil for my S90ES. I believe it was called "ultralight" and it lives up to its name. It looks like a conventional "Anvil" case but it uses some kind of polymer resin instead of plywood. I think it cost a very reasonable $300.

Highly recommended.

JP