Finding a high-quality road case used simply by someone else is honestly one of the best methods to save a ton of cash when you're creating out the rig. In case you've ever appeared at the price of the brand-new, ATA-rated airline flight case, you understand they will can easily cost as much since the gear they're supposed to safeguard. It's a bit of a tum punch to invest five hundred dollars on a wooden box just therefore you can securely move your three hundred dollar amplifier. That's exactly why the secondhand market will be such an untapped goldmine for musicians, lighting techs, and photographers.
Why Heading Secondhand Just Makes Sense
Let's be real with regard to a second: the entire point of the road case will be to get beat up. They are usually literally designed in order to be thrown directly into the back associated with a van, piled under heavy cupboards, and pushed away loading docks. When you buy the road case used , you're basically missing the "first scratch" anxiety. It's already got some personality, perhaps a few old tour stickers, and probably some scuffs from a venue in a city you've never been to.
Beyond the particular aesthetics, the structural integrity of the issues is insane. Most pro-grade cases are built with 3/8" or 1/2" plywood laminated with AB MUSCLES plastic. Unless somebody literally drove a forklift through the particular side of this, a ten-year-old case is going in order to be just like safety as one that will rolled off the particular assembly line yesterday. You're getting that industrial-grade protection regarding a cheaper retail price, which leaves even more room in your budget for things that actually make sound or light upward.
What You Should Examine Before Handing More than the Cash
While buying used is a great move, you don't want to end up getting a "project" unless of course you're actually searching for one. There are usually a few key things I always look at before pulling the trigger upon a secondhand case.
Examine the Latches and Hinges
The hardware is the most important part. You wish to make sure those butterfly latches still "snap" shut and pull the lids small. If a latch is bent or even doesn't line upward, it's likely to end up being a constant head ache. Replacing a latch isn't the most difficult thing in the particular world—you just require some pop rivets and a drill—but it's a hassle you might like to avoid. The particular same applies to the particular hinges; ensure they aren't rusted shut or wobbly.
The "Stink" Check
This sounds weird, but rely on me on this one. If a road case used to live within a damp downstairs room or a smoky bar for a decade, that foam inside is going to bathe up every bit of the smell. Polyurethane foam is porous, and once it scents like mildew or even stale cigarettes, it's really hard to get that fragrance out. When the offer is too good to pass up and it also smells a bit funky, simply factor in the price and time of stripping the older foam out and gluing in fresh stuff.
Appear at the Casters
If the case is huge enough to have got wheels, give this a good press. Do the tires spin freely? Are the rubber treads starting to remove? Replacing a place of four heavy duty blue casters can cost you sixty to eighty bucks easily. If the particular wheels are chance, use that since a bargaining nick to drop the particular price a little.
Where to Discover the Best Deals
You won't usually find the best deals in the big-box songs stores. They have a tendency in order to overvalue used hardshell cases because they consider up so very much floor space. Instead, We usually begin with the local marketplaces.
Facebook Market and Craigslist are the particular kings of the particular used road case world. Why? Due to the fact road cases are usually heavy and costly to ship. Most people selling them just want them out of their garage or storage space unit. If you're willing to drive 20 minutes with a truck or a good SUV, you can usually find someone virtually giving away a rack case or a trunk just to get the area back.
Manufacturing Company Liquidations are an additional secret weapon. Every now and after that, big AV businesses will refresh their entire inventory. Whenever they do, they sell off dozens associated with "workhorse" cases. These types of may be a bit more "road-worn" than the usual hobbyist's case, however they are usually top-tier brand names like Anvil or even Road Ready.
Giving an Old Case a New Life
In case you find the road case used for a great price but it looks just a little rough, don't get worried. These things are usually incredibly easy to refurbish. A little bit of Goo Gone is going to take care of those crusty old duct recording residues from previous setlists. If the plywood is searching a bit grey or even faded, a quick hit of black spray paint or even even some heavy-duty furniture polish can make it look surprisingly sharp again.
The interior is where you may really ensure it is your own. Most situations use standard PE foam. You can buy sheets from it online and reduce it to fit your specific gear using an easy electric carving cutlery (the kind individuals use for Thanksgiving turkey). It's a fun Saturday task, and by the conclusion, you have the custom-fitted case regarding a third of the price of a custom order.
When Should You Actually Buy Brand new?
I'll be the first to admit that used isn't usually the answer. If you possess a very particular piece of gear—like a brand-new electronic mixing console that will just hit the market—finding an used case that suits it perfectly is going to be like finding a needle in the haystack. In those cases, the precision of a custom-cut foam interior from the particular manufacturer is worthy of the premium.
Also, if you are traveling internationally and need to meet rigid weight requirements, a few of the old "tank" cases might be too heavy. Newer flight cases frequently use honeycomb plastic material or lighter composites that save your valuable back (and your finances at the airport check-in counter). But for 90% of all of us who are just loading gear into the van for a weekend gig, that extra weight doesn't issue nearly as very much as the additional cash in our pockets.
The Professionalism and reliability Factor
There's also something to become said for the way a road case makes a person look. When you display up to the venue with your own gear inside a proper road case used or new, the sound designers and local crew treat you in a different way. It signals that you value your products and that you've done this prior to. It's a great deal more professional compared to carrying in the guitar amp covered in a moving quilt or hauling cables inside a plastic storage space bin from a big-box store.
Final Thoughts upon Buying Used
At the end of the day, a road case is a device. It's the shield for your innovative tools. Finding a road case used enables you to get professional-grade protection with out the professional-grade price. Just keep an eye on those latches, don't be afraid of a little bit of dirt, and be ready to pounce when a great deal appears regionally.
Once you start buying used cases, you'll probably never get back to buying them brand-new. There's just the certain satisfaction in knowing you saved a few hundred dollars on a piece associated with gear that's actually built to end up being stepped on. Plus, you're keeping the perfectly good tool out of a landfill, which is a nice little bonus. So, go check those nearby listings—you might simply find the perfect house for your gear in a price that feels like the steal.