Cases

I received this unit late in 2010 as the result of a trade. I needed a compact rack for a Furman PL-Plus (which I also got in the trade) and a power amp.
I currently also have a Grundorf 4 space wooden rack case that has served me well over the years, but I wanted a plastic rack for awhile now, due to the cleaner appearance and light weight and portability.

The front and rear lids attach to the rack via two small butterfly-style twist latches that are recessed to avoid getting hung up on other gear or accidentally opening or loosening. The unit also has molded carrying handles on the sides which make transporting the rack very easy, even when loaded with weighty gear. I put my old Ibanez analog delay unit in it just to test it out, and that thing's a dinosaur! (It weighs a ton). Another great feature on the SKB that my Grundorf rack doesn't have, is the addition of shock absorbing and stabilizing rubber feet, as well as indents on the top of the unit so that the rubber feet from another xrack can be stacked on top neatly and securely. This seems like a simple design feature, but it helps a lot when you don't want your expensive rack gear sliding and falling from vibrations or from your singer hitting it on stage while he's trying to kick his mic-stand like Steven Tyler!

The rack shipped with the Furman inside of it, and when I received it (it wasn't packed all that well, but then again it's a rack case so it shouldn't matter, right?) the corners on the top rack ear on either side were bent outward toward the front cover. Now, the only way this could've happened is if the courier dropped the rack case from pretty high up, causing the Furman's weight to lunge forward and bend the ears. I was a little disappointed, but I got over it quick. The rack is still functional and the Furman works just fine.

The SKB survived its first road test: UPS!! If it can survive those gear murderers (I've experienced many disheartening breaks and bad encounters with them, as have many people I know), it can surely survive gigging with my band. It's not as tough as a RoadReady or Road Runner case, but it's also much less expensive. For the occasional gigger or the bedroom player who wants to keep their gear looking great and organized, give one a try! If you have expensive gear that needs ultimate protection, get something sturdier with shock absorption.

Features:
- Impeccably durable construction
- ABS shock panels throughout
- Heavy duty zippers
- Handy pockets
- Lightweight
- Neck support
- Velcro secured
- Discrete straps
- Water resistant

Usability:
This case is the definition of usability. Every part of it has been carefully designed and constructed to make it as user friendly as possible. First and foremost, it protects your guitar. I’ve dropped it with all kinds of high end guitars in it, never been concerned. There’s a great single shot video on the reunion blues website of a cased up guitar going over a 40 foot drop without a scratch, and while I probably won’t be repeating the experiment, I believe it. The neck is supported by an internal foam block and secured down with Velcro. The entire case is covered in ABS paneling.
But aside from the protection it offers, it’s packed with some useful features. The backpack straps are housed behind a zippered panel, for when you don’t want to deal with them. You can pull out just one or both of them and snap it down pretty easily. The pockets are really conveniently placed.
The handle is beautifully designed for a very comfortable hold at a slight upward angle.
And it just looks plain awesome. It is supposed to be water resistant (never tested this) though not fully waterproof so keep it out of the pool.
I’ve heard some complaints about its weight and the rigidity of the zippers. Guess what folks, it’s a sturdy gig bag that can be thrown around. It’s going to weigh a little more, deal with it. The zippers are a little stiff, but that just comes with being a sturdier zipper. Flimsy zippers are a lot easier to use, and I don’t want them on my cases.

Sound:
Doesn’t really apply here, but the case sure does a great job of preserving the guitars I rely on for the sound I need.

Overall:
As I write this, I’m flying across the Atlantic at 10,000 meters with a $3000 Custom Shop Strat in a Reunion Blues Case. And I’m not worried. I know, I sound like I’m trying to sell you. But that’s just how good it is. You get hardshell style protection with a case that you can still through over your back. I’ve been struggling with transporting guitars for the last 10 years. Soft shell cases can be brought onto a plane, and can be carried around pretty easily. But in the event that they need to e stowed under the plane, you are in for it. I’ve had a 20 year old ovation destroyed that way. Hardshells offer quite a bit more protection, but are a pain to carry around an airport. You can check them, but nothing says “steal me” quite like a hardshell guitar case. The Reunion Blues cases pretty much bridge all of these problems into a workable solution.
While I really like these cases destroy many of the standard hardshell cases on the market (I’d love to see a fender case withstand a 40 foot drop), you’ll still get better protection with a really nice custom harshell (look into Calton cases). I’d also look at Mono cases who make a pretty similar case to the Reunion Blues one. I’ve heard great things about them, I just happened to choose the RB one.

The SKB Roto Rack is a neat looking rack designed for a budget minded traveling musician. I say this with a certain degree of hesitation because quite frankly, for many musicians that this review will pertain to, you may be buying your first rack. And the first rack is quite difficult to buy, considering how expensive they seem to be before buying them. Before you go wondering to yourself, “How is it that a rack can possibly be so expensive? It’s a piece of synthetic material molded into a shape that lets you put things in it.” Well, no one is going to joke. There is a pretty weird markup on these things, but honestly, when you find yourself moving your gear around, it becomes more of an issue of convenience than protection. People are pretty meticulous with how they take care of their equipment as it is. Having everything in one place is the first advantage, and the Roto rack, just like every other rack, does the basic part of the job perfectly. For the person who only occasionally goes to move things around and occasionally does portable recordings, this rack is sufficient. It doesn’t come with rear rack rails, although it certainly allows for you to fit them. The roto rack is not exactly something I would entrust with a power amp in its factory form; the shockmounted versions of these are far superior to these (albeit far more expensive). What strikes me as special about the Roto cases is their shape. The handles are extremely comfortable to hold, and with them being built into the case rather than attached, you never feel like the case itself will break on you. Even if it does, SKB provides a lifetime warranty for all of their products. So the truth of this case is: if you are looking for a basic thing for convenience, but don’t want to be terrified of cheap construction, these cases fit perfectly.