SKB or Gator keyboard case for Kronos 61

nowtime · Post by **nowtime** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:07 am

Need a "reasonably" priced case for my baby. This will be my first and I would take whatever the salesperson wanted me to take, but for you experienced people!

Figure I'll drop around $250.

Any bad experiences with the SKB's or Gators'?

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:14 am

I've bought and returned Gator cases for different design flaws. I've NEVER had a problem with SKB (which have lifetime guarantees).

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:43 am

SKB has three different hard case keyboard cases for 61-key keyboards:
http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/ ... &c=88&s=76

Note the SKB details for each product include the INSIDE the case dimensions, which you would want to compare with the Kronos specs dimensions (to make sure these would actually fit).

The relative prices appear to be:

BEST
61 Note Roto Keyboard Case (SKU: 1R4417W) -- $315
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SKB1R4417W/

2nd BEST
ATA 61 Note Keyboard Case (SKU: 1SKB-4214W) -- $315
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SKB4214W/

3rd BEST
Roto Molded 61 Note Keyboard Case (SKU: 1SKB-R4215W) -- $240
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SKBR4215W/

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:51 am

I have #2 and #3.

If you're flying your keyboard, I'd suggest #1. If you're not, #3 is fine.

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:54 am

If you're looking at cases that are "Gig Bags" or "Light Cases" stay away from Gator. I went through 2 of them in less than a year. The Zippers are garbage!

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:57 am

McHale wrote:I have #2 and #3.

If you're flying your keyboard, I'd suggest #1. If you're not, #3 is fine.

Hey McHale, hows the WEIGHT on #3?

I've resigned myself to getting a "Real" case since I gig a lot and the light cases just can't hack it. NO roadies for me so I want something LIGHT!

nowtime · Post by **nowtime** » Wed May 25, 2011 4:14 am

#3 IS 20.3 LBS.

aron · Post by **aron** » Wed May 25, 2011 9:25 pm

>I've bought and returned Gator cases for different design flaws. I've NEVER had a problem with SKB (which have lifetime guarantees).

I've had cracked keys when traveling with my SKB cases. I'm really worried that the same will happen with the LCD panel in the Kronos.

There is a serious( to me) flaw with the #2 SKB case. The foam will start rotting and get into the key contacts etc... and cause mis-triggering on some keyboards. In addition, the TSA sometimes don't know how to unlock the latches and as a result one was broken once and another was locked (when it unlocked when shipping) and no one could open the case.

The velcro that holds the keyboard snugly (with the plastic corners) will eventually fail and the corner will go all over the place.

Finally, if you live far away - like me - shipping the case back probably doesn't make much sense to get it fixed.

That being said, who makes anything better????

Aron

aron · Post by **aron** » Wed May 25, 2011 9:27 pm

Oh BTW: #1 might be out for flying - I think it's 30 pounds. So you can't put it in luggage without paying a higher fee. With #2, at least with the PC361 it's 50 pounds and with the Kronos it will be 47.

Post by **Sharp** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:01 am

Or how about an offical one.

http://www.korg.co.jp/Product/Option/case.html#fc

Regards
Sharp.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:09 am

I've had my SKB ATA case since I bought with my Triton Classic. It's not foam like a nurf ball, it's plastic and has never rotted or cracked or anything.

As far as Gator, many of their cases use velcro straps to hold the keyboard in place and strap over the keys, depressing them. You hit one bump and you're snapping keys.

And that awesome looking Korg case looks like my original SKB ATA. And I want one for my 88 (or 61 if I go semi-weighted).

-Mc

EDIT: Does anyone from Korg USA know if those awesome cases are coming to the US?

KRONOS HC-88 (for KRONOS 88 with wheels, will be released in late June)
KRONOS HC-73 (for KRONOS 73 with wheels, will be released in late June)
HC-KRONOS sixty-one (for KRONOS 61 with casters)
Seventy-three HC-M50 (For M50-73) (sold complete)
61 HC-M50 (M50-for 61) (order product)
HC-M3 seventy-three (for M3Xp-73) (order product)
HC-M3 sixty-one (for M3Xp-61) (order product)
HC-M3M (for M3Xp-M) (completed sales)
HC-RADIAS (for RADIAS) (completed sales)
HC-CX (CX-for 3) (sold complete)
HC-R3 (for R3) (completed sales)
HC-MK1 (for microKORG)
HC-WD (for WAVEDRUM)

Post by **Sharp** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:32 am

Hi McHale.

It would be a crying shame if they didn't. Every gigging or travelling musician has to buy a keyboard case. Having to buy them from a third party is an awful lot of lost revenue by KORG in my opinion.

I love the fact that the official case has KORG moulded into it and feel they would sell very well if KORG made it easy to buy them by selling them direct online.

Just my 2 cents though....

Regards
Sharp.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:34 am

More importantly, If I buy the Kronos HC 88, I'm POSITIVE that the Kronos 88 is going to fit properly. I've looked at a few hard cases and some work and some don't. Even looking at the SKB website gives you questionable results for some keyboards.

-Mc

Post by **Sharp** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:41 am

Exactly... and you get KORG's Quality.

Regards
Sharp

Rosen Sound · Post by **Rosen Sound** » Thu May 26, 2011 7:15 am

I;ve traveled quite a bit with my korg boards... My triton PROX had a korg case with it...
It didnt last very long! The keyboard was fine.. but the case ended up cracking and you could see the insides of it... not good when the people carrying my stuff are usually drunk!

I then got an SKB, returned it after one gigs. Those things are built like s**t if you ask me. Weight is NOT an issue for me when it comes to cases.

I then built my own case from parts sold to me through A&S Case Co. (they make cases for pretty much everyone.. 100% custom)

I paid $200 instead of $500 cause i built it myself, but my triton fit perfect and the case took the heat and not the board, its built like a freaking tank and its incredible.. heavy.. yes! but it is the nicest case I have...

Then when i got my triton extreme i got an A&S case built for it, of course theyve built a million for the tritons and they have the dimensions going great...
Keyboard fits perfect, have space for the power cable. thick... THICK foam! And has a nice slit that accommodates your joystick, that is a HUGE thing you should be thinking about.

look them up on google, you can get a nice 61 key case for not very much, all custom made!

mine specifically uses 1/2" birch with black ABS over it and all the usual metal trimmings and what not.

the highest of the highest quality, truly.