SKB 44 RW ATA Bass Guitar Safe

Are you tired of carrying that same old coffin hardcase through huge airports and feel your arms die on you? This is the solution!
A hardcase is of course very comfortable for travel when it comes to packing your gear into it but let's be honest: There is always something that won't fit in there, right?
This one might not swallow your entire tour package either but to be able to pack your gigbag as usual for rehearsal and just shove it into this beauty makes it a whole lot easier to decide how to do it. Last tour I had this one and a backpack to carry, including pedal board, change of clothes for two weeks and some other crap. I put some of the clothes into this one and the pedal board in my backpack, some kind of criss-cross packing if you like, and it swallowed everything without gagging, harr harr. I highly recommend this case, the shape of it does not take up half the car interior and the three different handles makes it easy to carry up or down stairs from giving you the right angle and tipping point. Whoever decided to put wheels on it should also have the Nobel Prize, too bad though that every gigplace is either in a basement or on the third floor, forcing you to carry it no matter what...

There is very little I can say about this: it is just one of those things you have to buy if you want to travel comfortably. Just get the thing already because it works and, if you think you can lug around a 10K flight case with a bass in it, you are probably grossly overestimating your strength.

Yes, I understand some reviewers are concerned with what would happen were somebody to drop a piano on it, or the rather academic scenario of somebody running over your instruments with a tank. Fair enough, it probably won't be enough in that case. Honestly, though, this has survived a fair number of long haul and short haul flights with barely a scratch and the instruments have invariably arrived in tune. And I have seen the thing being thrown around with little affection. Once out of the baggage claim the guys and gals with flight cases will see you rollin'—and trust me, they hatin'.

Two things might be of interest: first, the strap that secures the two halves is short. This means that it is going to be tight (good) but also that it takes some effort to close it, which is annoying when you are late to get to the airport. But worry not: zip ties or just a common strap will do in a pinch—just tie it around the handles; second, I've used some bulky and well-padded gigbags in it, but a faux leather Thomann one I have is a very tight fit, mostly on account of the additional friction of the faux leather.

Now for the question you did not know you wanted to ask: will two instruments fit? I would not recommend that. If you are brave, however, you can put two of them *in a single gigbag* (I don't see how a double gigbag may fit in it) and try your luck.

Now, would I trust it with a Smith, or Fodera? Probably yes, but I would also insure any such instrument, so I think it's fairly moot. I had no qualms flying with Warwicks, Stingrays, and Fenders.

I had an earlier version of this with the flightcase latches. They were prone, despite being padlocked of coming open while in transit through airports.
I don't think I'll even try to fly with this case.
Firstly I can't close it with my Mono M80 inside (I could with the old one) - my Protec Contego doesn't fit either and the 'locking' mechanism comes open at the slightest provocation.
I dare not even think about flying with it.
Only reason i didn't return it is that I removed the glued in foam in an effort to stuff my gig bags inside...not really fit for purpose.