This is a pointless rant.

So I have a client whos facility is not big enough for me to get my flight case in. So I had to find 2 small temporary cases and one tht I borrow was an SKB. Never used one before. But instead of standard screw holes it has big holes and a handful of little metal adapters that you put where you are going to screw gear into.

Am I crazy for finding this absolutely absurd? My hands are riped to shredds trying to pull these things out and position them and many simply broke trying to move. What possible reason do they have for not just using standard screw holes for EVERY hole? That was the worst experience ever.

End of rant, back to healing.

That's why we call them Scabies.

But seriously, mine have standard rails. I hate the ones with the nut on the back.

I thought they were cool when they first came out, but now it drives me nuts as well. That's why I got rid of every single one that I owned.

The captured nut rails are a real mixed bag. I like them, but I have learned not to hurt myself when installing them....

Once you have them in, they never have to be taken out until you strip the threads... There is where they have a huge advantage: No need to tap the rack rail out to 1/4-20 - just replace the 10-32 nut.

Of course, working for a live sound outfit for years, we traded rack equipment out a lot and usually in a rush.....



-tINY

I hate them too...I had my cases built custom here in Germany, and two of them have those damn things..ah well.

me two

I actually like the system. You can leave 1/3 rack space between your gear for ventillation. It allows you to vent the top of 3 units with only one rack space.

I have one and hate it too. Mind you, I found mine in an alley of all places (no gear in it of course) full of mud an old rotting stinky leaves but it was free and after a trip to a car wash it works fine and doesn't smell anymore.

The only thing good about is I actually found something in an alley I can use and not just another broken toaster oven or MDF shelving units. For free it is ok, but I would never buy one.

Agreed. I turned down a used rack for 20 bucks at the local guitar wank when I figured it would need racknut love. Life is too short to make rack nut maintenance a major issue for someone like me.

I own at least 12 of these things, and I've been buying them for at least 10 years. And I bought them for the exact reason you listed above -- being modular and adaptable for different situations. I love the things !!!

yes
I just use a small flathead screwdriver to pry up the clip, and that's all there is to it. That, and a pair of pliers, and you probably wouldn't have to touch the clip at all.

They are made this way because the aluminum rails are substantially lighter than the steel used in threaded rack rails.

I ended up having trunks made for the times i have to ship my gear. Each trunk holds three SKB 6 space racks, and i can manage them myself if I need to. It makes life a whole lot easier than having to deal with a 'fridge.

Embrace the case...

John

Never had a problem with mine and easy to let air in for hot units..

I'm not a fan of the SKB style of cage nuts, but I love the cage nuts, have em in all the equipment racks I use. If you're dealing with your racks ourself, i can understand using stnd rails, but when you have peeps workiing for you and you can;t trust everyone to not strip those threads, the cage nuts are a big advantage. Plus, ya can just populate those rails with the clips at the appropriate spot (holes 1 and 3) and not deal with them again unless ya F one up.

But hey - some people call it a tomato, I call it a small red fruit

I don't understand how having to move those little scabies around makes them adaptable. To me its just the opposite. If the holes were all standard screw holes, then I could put stuff wherever I wanted without having to pry these things out and playing missinglink.

The only advantage I can see, as someone mentioned is to save from having to replace a rack rail. But personally, I would rather just buy a new rail is some of the screw holes get worn out. But luckily I have never had thqat happen ever.

If it works for some poeople, then that's good. I just never experienced anything like that before, and hope never to have to again.

Look carefully guys - one of these is a good cage nut, the other is a bit of a PITA...


-tINY

but it sounds like i have a different gripe. I hate the back side lids of all but their ata cases (which i'm not willing to pay for)... why can't they just have a lid on the front and back that are the same? That stupid trap door back thing is rediculous. I really don't mind the rail though so much...

they do. you need to buy the 'standard' series. Same lid on front and back...

SKB Standard

John

these things ****ing blowwwwwwwwww in my opinion

in my years, which are probably limited compared to some of you, i've done plenty of touring. my first road case was one of these skbs...no matter how careful i was, or anyone else who i knew who had one, you'd strip these things on the first use so many times....

put a piece of gear in, get three screws in fine....put the fourth one in...it doesn't thread...screw gets stuck...you curse...

rip the whole thing out, switch it, try a screw first, works...

then you put the gear in, screw in that last one first...to make sure...and then a different one strips...

since then i've been getting cases made by hybrid cases on long island and they've all been absolutely top quality, and i've never had a single stripping problem or construction problem...short of one item not made to specs, which was quickly resolved

The only thing i find a problem with them is they can rattle when a low bass note is hit


And the good ones aren't cheep

Not the ones I've run into. They look the same but are each unique to the front or back of the particular case they were sold with. They aren't "square" and hence aren't interchangeable.

and don't get me started on their "shock mounting."

http://www.kalms-flightcase.de/

mine came from there.

Friends don't let friends buy SKB's!!!!


Lock-nuts...CRAPPY latches, those non-confroming lids...AGH!


The reason for the non-compatible lids as it was explained to me by an SKB rep years ago...is that the cases are "roto-molded" as one-piece...THEN they cut the front & rear lids off & attach the aluminum valance PER case, which is why each one ends up being a bit different.

They call it a feature.

I call it crappy.

I have two SKB cases left in my stable. One guitar case that I've had for about 15 years & is covered with stickers and has one busted latch...and one last 6-space rack case that sits around & collects dust.

If it wasn't totally toxic I'd probably burn it just to watch it die...that's the kinda love I feel for that piece 'o poo!




Paterno - You've gotta be one of the ONLY guys I know who's using SKB's on a regular basis and doesn't have a problem with them!

Must be case karma...

Don't know if that's a good promo or a bad promo for SKB. "Even mud and stinky leaves will not destroy our rack, and should you find one in an alley - don't miss your chance to own an SKB."

Friends don't let friends buy SKB's

OK, I admit that I always number the case, the lids, always note on the label which lid came from the front and which one from the back. I guess i did notice early on that the fit was specific, even though they are the same shape...

I still think they are easier to deal with than a big ol' fridge, or a collection of cases that don't stack well.
John

From the looks of this thread, I guess so!

John

You dont need more than two screws to hold in gear. I have one piece that has just one rack screw. I am planning to buy a distressor with the money I save on Rack screws and then screw it into the rack with two screws.

Not to mention the 40-80% discount over the other options with actual metal rails and lids.....



-tINY

And thus by using only two screws on your new Distressor, you'll be well on your way to buying Distressor #2! heh

John - Are you using the standard SKBs or the shockmounted SKBs. If you're using the NON-shockmount SKBs, have you ever had any issues/damage during transport?

Standard SKB's. I have had no problems at all. As I said in an earlier post, I had trunks made for when i do need to send the stuff on an airplane [3) 6sp racks per trunk]. With the stuff I use all the time, it has been put into a car countless times. With the exception of a few IC's coming loose in a Boiler one time a few years back, and the occasional rack screw loosening up, it's all been solid for me. Kind of normal, moving gear around kind of stuff. With all the moving around i do, little things are bound to come up. I think I had a loose LA-3a meter once after a trip back from Miami in the trunk, but there's no way to know how much abuse the trunk received.

Cheers,
John