Is an SKB BASS SAFE good for everyday touring? Better than a case?

Fedesav

Fedesav

Jun 5, 2010
19
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4,551
Germany
www.ronjamaltzahn.de
#1
I just got myself a Limited edition Black Paisley JB Japan, and I was wondering how to protect it properly. We play around 100/150 shows a year, from big to small, most of them around Germany, travelling in our own van, with other instruments and PA and stuff.

Would you guys think it's comfortable, or mostly good to use an SKB44RW for this use? Or would you just go for a usual SKB case?

I mean, it's supposed to stand the handling of flight crew, right? But the everydayness, and rolling those wheels back and forth from the van... would it make it as a long term solution?

Greetings from a (really happy today!) Argentinian in German lands!
 
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#3
Fedesav said:
I mean, it's supposed to stand the handling of flight crew, right?
Click to expand...

LOL. No. Just... no.

Someone needs to re-design the Bass Safe from the ground up, because the concept is pretty cool, but SKB's execution -- especially with regard to how the two halves stay together (or don't)-- is a serious liability.

If I were going to use any SKB case for travel where the instrument was being loaded in a van with other instruments and PA and stuff I would get the iSeries. But I'd much rather use an Anvil or Calzone case that meets or exceeds ATA spec. Or a Calton Case.
 
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#4
Fedesav said:
I just got myself a Limited edition Black Paisley JB Japan, and I was wondering how to protect it properly. We play around 100/150 shows a year, from big to small, most of them around Germany, travelling in our own van, with other instruments and PA and stuff.

Would you guys think it's comfortable, or mostly good to use an SKB44RW for this use? Or would you just go for a usual SKB case?

I mean, it's supposed to stand the handling of flight crew, right? But the everydayness, and rolling those wheels back and forth from the van... would it make it as a long term solution?

Greetings from a (really happy today!) Argentinian in German lands!
Click to expand...
The Bass Safe (or as it’s now known, the Roto Case) is a very specific solution for musicians who do fly dates and need to have both a flight case for the trip and a gig bag when they arrive.

For ordinary touring in a van, a traditional flight case or hard case would be better, as there is little need for a gig bag in those circumstances anyway, and as @Aidil points out, finding a gig bag that fits is not as easy as it sounds.
 
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#5
Bob_Ross said:
LOL. No. Just... no.

Someone needs to re-design the Bass Safe from the ground up, because the concept is pretty cool, but SKB's execution -- especially with regard to how the two halves stay together (or don't)-- is a serious liability.

If I were going to use any SKB case for travel where the instrument was being loaded in a van with other instruments and PA and stuff I would get the iSeries. But I'd much rather use an Anvil or Calzone case that meets or exceeds ATA spec. Or a Calton Case.
Click to expand...

I think you´re right. I will go back to the idea of an SKB case.
Whats a Calzone anyways? Never heard about it! :D
Sounds cheese :p
 
#6
JakobT said:
The Bass Safe (or as it’s now known, the Roto Case) is a very specific solution for musicians who do fly dates and need to have both a flight case for the trip and a gig bag when they arrive.

For ordinary touring in a van, a traditional flight case or hard case would be better, as there is little need for a gig bag in those circumstances anyway, and as @Aidil points out, finding a gig bag that fits is not as easy as it sounds.
Click to expand...
I think also the design is like you say "for something else", therefore to open and close that thing and then take the gigbag out and then... too many thens.
Thanks for the reply. I think I´ll stick to an SKB 44
 
#8
Bob_Ross said:
LOL. No. Just... no.

Someone needs to re-design the Bass Safe from the ground up, because the concept is pretty cool, but SKB's execution -- especially with regard to how the two halves stay together (or don't)-- is a serious liability
Click to expand...
Agreed, but it can be overcome by tying the two halves together with a velcro strap or one of those twist wrap thingies that are like a giant twisty tie for bread.

Now what SKB REALLY needs to do is make it so it accommodates some of these newfangled gig bags that are longer and stiffer than most.
 
#9
As was described above, the SKB bass safe is an interesting concept and I used it to transport 15+ instruments on cross country flights without issue when I relocated to San Diego a few years ago.

Only issue is that I went through five separate gig bags before I found one that would fit inside it in such a way that it was snug without it also being a squeeze. It is also less forgiving for tilt-back headstocks.

For normal transportation that doesn't require ballistic clamshell protection, a regular hardshell case would be perfectly adequate and probably easier to live with. I seem to remember the closing and reopening process on the the SKB to take several minutes of wrestling around.
 
#10
JimmyM said:
Agreed, but it can be overcome by tying the two halves together with a velcro strap or one of those twist wrap thingies that are like a giant twisty tie for bread.

Now what SKB REALLY needs to do is make it so it accommodates some of these newfangled gig bags that are longer and stiffer than most.
Click to expand...
Indeed they do. No sign of it so far, though. :)
 
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#13
i broke my second bass safe this week (well the airport did). After i lost the bass the first time it happened i lock it now with an extra lock so this this time it stayed together fine. But it sucks. They do send a replacement case.
 
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