Customer Reviews

Gator GK261R Deluxe 61-Key Keyboard Case with Wheels

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

An excellent case and must have for any gigging musician.
Well constructed and with those all essential wheels.
I have used my Gator GK cases (GK261R and GK276R) for years and my keyboards are totally safe.

Gator's idea to have two handles on the top is a poor one; when rolling the case is not an option (e.g., over grass or gravel), using the two handles is very awkward. Plus, all three handles keep breaking apart. They are only mounted with tiny screws, and re-attaching them is a hassle. The padding is comprised of hard styrofoam and black fabric, making the shock absorption negligible. The SKB line is a much better way to go.

If you own a Karma or TR61 then this is the case for you! If you own a Motif though look for the handles breaking off and the wheels as well :(

Also those 2 handles on the top are rediculous! You only need one sturdy handle in the middle. Which is what I put in myself!

I also replaced those awful rivets holding in the wheels with some good old fashioned nuts and bolts :)

So far this case seems pretty good. I have used it once to ship my keyboard via Fed Ex and it held up okay but the material inside the case is already wearing in spots. Also there is limited padding to cushion a keyboard though mine survived okay. Be aware this case is big and though they call it a flight case airlines will charge extra due to its size and weight. Some airlines may not even accept it. Overall this item is good but a bit pricey for what it is.

I received the case on Thursday for a trip to Portugal I was taking the following Tuesday. When I got the case, I realized that my Motif XS 6 slid around a little even with the straps and wasn't adequately padded. So I went out and bought some additional foam padding and went on my trip. I had to pay extra ($150) because my synth was overweight and oversize. I can only imagine how much it'd weight and cost if I bought Gator's Tour 61 case.
When I arrived in Portugal, the case's left wheel was broken and the other one was chipped. Keep in mind that this was the first time I used the case for flight transport. One the way back, my strap was ripped from the interior board, too. Luckily, no damage was done to my synth. If I hadn't padded the case, my synth would've been damaged for sure.
I immediately called Gator and SameDayMusic for an exchange, preferably a refund. Gator agreed to replace the defective case for free and did so promptly-great customer service. However. Same Day Music was reluctant to do anything at all and gave me the run around and then many contradictory answers; they told me I had to go through another type of customer service dept. since this was an Amazon order.
Be careful who you buy this product from. If you buy directly from a online merchant rather than going to Amazon, you have a better chance of exchange or refund if there's something wrong with the product. Going through Amazon just adds an extra middleman.