Originally the hinges on this Gator model were fixed to the body of the case. Nowadays the hinges are on the lids and clamp to the box when closed. The good thing of that is that the hinges no longer stick out when you have the box in use and opened. The only disadvantage is that when you have older versions of the case you cannot mix the lids of the old version with the new ones.
These cases are pretty sturdy and will hold most pieces of rack equipment safely. The screws use a rubber disc between the screw head and the rack ears, which effectively avoids rack rash. This is also a very good thing in case you want to sell a piece of equipment as it will remain in a virgin state around the screw holes.
In the past the Gator cases used to smell very badly for a long time, before the odour would disappear. They have improved hugely in that field as well. The smell is only faint now and will not stay for a long time.
Things that could be improved:
- the fit of the moulded bumps and holes could be better, for improved stacking and slip stability there.
- the metal profile of the openings has some sharp edges around the closing strip that has been pop-nailed onto the closing seam. Normally this is no problem, but when you place the case flat on a table and moved it, it will scratch the surface. That's bad, especialy when you are a guest using someone else's table. I've put four felt stickers underneath all my gator cases on the metal rims of the openings. (Can be had from any DIY store as floor protectors for furniture.) These lift up the case by only 2mm, but this is enough to avoid any scratching of flat surfaces. I highly recommend sticking felt stickers routinely under any new Gator case that you purchase, before starting to employ it.
