Case Options for M50

candlewick · Post by **candlewick** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:13 pm

Anybody have a hard case for their M50-61 that they would recommend?

I've got a soft gig bag that I could transport it around in , but the all plastic chassy has me thinking about going for a molded or hard side case.

jpscoey · Post by **jpscoey** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:32 am

Hi there, I've got a few keyboards and various cases in which to transport them.

I don't know if this is the 'industry' way of referring to them but I would say they fall into 4 catagories:

1. Soft case - not much more than a lightly padded rain cover. Won't provide any real protection against knocks.

2. Semi-rigid - The base and sides are reinforced & the top firmly padded and will protect your keyboard from the sort of light knocks
you get all the time when going to gigs/rehearsals etc ie: loading in/out of your car & so-on.

3. Hard case - usually similar to the sort of thing your guitarist uses. Provides better protection for if, say you were to drop it (not out of a 3rd storey window!).

4. Flight case - full-blown heavy duty case designed to withstand the sort of treatment you may expect from hauliers/baggage handlers
who don't know or much care what's inside it.

I have one of each of the above cases and the one I most favour for everyday use is the semi-rigid one.
Why?... I hear you ask!
The simple answer is 'weight'.
On top of that it provides ample protection for the use I need.
Having said that, I wouldn't feel comfortable entrusting the transport of my precious keyboards to someone else in one of these - I have to keep my eye on it!

If you go for a hard or flight case be aware that this can, in effect, more than double the weight you have to lug around.

I suppose it's obvious, but the more protection you're after, the more you're going to have to spend -
I got quoted £320 UKP (approx $450 USD) for a case for my M50-88 (which weighs 21kilos / 46lbs).
The case alone weighed about 28kilos / 62lbs - that's well over 100lbs combined weight!

I think I'll stick with the semi-rigid until we sell a million & do our world tour!!!

See - http://www.gatorcases.com/productsdetai ... D=3&PID=45

FifthElement · Post by **FifthElement** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:55 pm

jpscoey wrote:Hi there, I've got a few keyboards and various cases in which to transport them.

I don't know if this is the 'industry' way of referring to them but I would say they fall into 4 catagories:

1. Soft case - not much more than a lightly padded rain cover. Won't provide any real protection against knocks.

2. Semi-rigid - The base and sides are reinforced & the top firmly padded and will protect your keyboard from the sort of light knocks
you get all the time when going to gigs/rehearsals etc ie: loading in/out of your car & so-on.

3. Hard case - usually similar to the sort of thing your guitarist uses. Provides better protection for if, say you were to drop it (not out of a 3rd storey window!).

4. Flight case - full-blown heavy duty case designed to withstand the sort of treatment you may expect from hauliers/baggage handlers
who don't know or much care what's inside it.

I have one of each of the above cases and the one I most favour for everyday use is the semi-rigid one.
Why?... I hear you ask!
The simple answer is 'weight'.
On top of that it provides ample protection for the use I need.
Having said that, I wouldn't feel comfortable entrusting the transport of my precious keyboards to someone else in one of these - I have to keep my eye on it!

If you go for a hard or flight case be aware that this can, in effect, more than double the weight you have to lug around.

I suppose it's obvious, but the more protection you're after, the more you're going to have to spend -
I got quoted £320 UKP (approx $450 USD) for a case for my M50-88 (which weighs 21kilos / 46lbs).
The case alone weighed about 28kilos / 62lbs - that's well over 100lbs combined weight!

I think I'll stick with the semi-rigid until we sell a million & do our world tour!!!

See - http://www.gatorcases.com/productsdetai ... D=3&PID=45

Thanks for the useful info. So you have the Gator GK-88 not the GK-88 SLIM?

I'm struggling with a hard case from a Fantom X8 I used to own and none of my semi-rigids fit the M50-88.

jpscoey · Post by **jpscoey** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:00 pm

Yeh - due to the height of the M50-88 (6") it fits just fine...
the slimline one wouldn't be deep enough - you have to take in to account
that there is additional padding inside the case in the form of fabric-covered
foam 'blocks' which you can position, where you see fit, with the attached velcro strips.

Those wheels are sure a bonus too!

PS - it only cost me £82.

candlewick · Post by **candlewick** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:30 pm

I owned a few hard cases in the past used mainly when gigging and having the keyboard in with the PA trailer for transport. Currently I'm hauling this gear around in my vehicle but was curious as to whether anyone had a recommendation on a semi-rigid "soft case" that the M50-61 fit nicely into. I have my triton LE76 in one of these cases and there's plenty of slop in the width area. I have two large section of foam in there to keep it from flopping around. The M50 appears to have the same slim profile........

Some of the online vendors used to give you a neat seach of cases that fit different models like a glove.

jpscoey · Post by **jpscoey** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:39 pm

Did you not bother to look at the link I included in my last reply?

On that site there is page after page of case sizes & the keyboards they fit.

If you are looking for help, then I respectfully suggest you listen to people
when they offer it.

Jugo · Post by **Jugo** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:02 pm

as someone already suggested to me, you can get a custom hard-case from Thomann

http://www.thomann.de/gb/keyboard_cases.html

candlewick · Post by **candlewick** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:08 pm

jpscoey wrote:Did you not bother to look at the link I included in my last reply?

On that site there is page after page of case sizes & the keyboards they fit.

If you are looking for help, then I respectfully suggest you listen to people
when they offer it.

I have already sourced of all the info you provided and was only inquiring as to whether anyone had found a better fit for the dimensions of the M50. As I stated, I have a gigging softside for my LE that supposedly "fits" according to the supplier and I would wish for a better fit to transport new gear. Everyones help and opinions are greatly appreciated.

pkpdjh · Post by **pkpdjh** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:43 am

I am using a MTS Products (Elkhart, IN) case that I got on Craigslist for $60.

So far it has made it on two flights with absolutely no issues to the keyboard. One of the rubber feet did come off, but it doesn't really matter too much. Again, this was a used product, so it might have been falling off when I bought it.

Dave ...

jpscoey · Post by **jpscoey** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:14 am

Ok I'm sorry if that came across a bit 'shirty' (is that just an English expression?),
but in my defence you didn't make reference to the fact you had already looked at it.

What I would say, tho', is that the case I got for my M50-88 is just the one for the job!

FifthElement · Post by **FifthElement** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:37 pm

jpscoey wrote:Ok I'm sorry if that came across a bit 'shirty' (is that just an English expression?),
but in my defence you didn't make reference to the fact you had already looked at it.

What I would say, tho', is that the case I got for my M50-88 is just the one for the job!

No problem here - after all, where would this forum be without us "shirty" Brits!

(Now, if we could just get a bit more of a sense of humor into the forum it would be just about perfect

)

By coincidence, I just received a cheapo padded gig bag by Stagg today. The dealer (PMT, Manchester) threw it in free with my M50 when I bought it, so I can't complain - it's actually OK with a bit of extra padding inside - and very light.

I think I'll still go for the Gator semi rigid you recommended, though.

Xenomorph · Post by **Xenomorph** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:54 pm

Ordering the semi rigid Gator 61 tomorrow from Sweetwater, if it seems decent enough I'll order a 76 for my Extreme. Thanks for the info fellas

jpscoey · Post by **jpscoey** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:40 pm

.

I might have to get in touch with Gator Cases & ask if I get commission for recommending them!!!
.

PianoManKD · Post by **PianoManKD** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:55 pm

Will the Gator flight case for 88 key fit the M50-88 you think?

jpscoey · Post by **jpscoey** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:52 am

PianoManKD wrote:Will the Gator flight case for 88 key fit the M50-88 you think?

Most of, if not all, the answers to questions you have posted so far have either been answered already on these forums
(as is the case here - see above) or the info you seek is in the manual.

I notice you only acquired your M50 a matter of days ago... please take the time to look for solutions yourself,
as everyone else does, before expecting to be wet-nursed by the good folks on here.

Maybe your next post could be to ask someone to come and play your keyboard for you?
Then you'd not have to worry about where to locate the on/off switch
& all the other complicated things that are part & parcel of owning a synthesiser!