Pros & cons of Pedal Jr Soft Case vs ATA Case for car-trunk-drive-to gigs

[Craftmatic]

Don't know if I should spring for a soft case PT Jr (cheap) or wait until I can afford the PT Jr w/ATA case. Looking for opinions/stories.

Look at my sig - I don't have the most expensive pedals but a PT Jr board full of 6 of the best of them could be worth at least $800 and I am concerned about their care. Never had a pedal board before.

[Turiguiliano]

I'd wait and get the hard case version. You might want to look at costs for future investments. There's probably no way of telling if you'd want to expand your rig in the future. The PT2 is just perfect. You might want to look into getting a trolley or a stroller for transport. Just like this one:



Edit: Pictured above is a heavy duty but lightweight solution for easy transport. You can also use it for amps, cabs and luggage.
The PT cases are heavy. For all models applicable. BUT... It does serve it's purpose. You've got a boatload of pedals there that cost $800 or over. And most probably more in the near future. "Protect your investment".

[guitarz1972]

If you're going to be doing a lot of gigging, including loading in and out of planes and vans, the hard case might be a good investment.

I'm happy with the soft case for my Junior, simply because I'm a weekend player and I like the weight better. Remember the hard case will protect better but also adds not only higher cost but also more weight to the load (about another 15 pounds?).

[dancehall]

If you're not touring and it's just going to be riding in your own trunk, I'd get the soft case. Unless there's a situation where things are likely to get stacked on top of your board, the hard case would be too much weight and bulk for me to justify.

[Brim]

The PT-Jr with ATA case is not that heavy as compared to the bigger PedalTrains. If you want the utmost protection, the ATA case will give it to you. The PedalTrain ATA cases are very heavy duty (I used their bass flight case to travel to South America with my band).

The difference in weight between the ATA and soft case is 10 lbs. Price difference is about $70. If you decide to get a custom ATA case later on, i think it will cost you more than $70.

The ATA case has extra space inside (in the back or front, depending where you position the PT-Jr) for cables, wah, volume etc. The soft case has a zippered pocket on the outside and was designed with breathing room on the inside so you can stow cables on top of the board etc.

Here's a few pics of the PT-Junior with ATA case:


I'm a bass player who plays in a praise and worship band at church on the weekends (3 services: get in car, drive to church, unload, play, reverse). If I needed to get a PT-junior, I'd get the soft case. If I were going on tour, then I would invest in the ATA case.

Hope this helps you.

[Craftmatic]

Originally Posted by Brim

The PT-Jr with ATA case is not that heavy as compared to the bigger PedalTrains. If you want the utmost protection, the ATA case will give it to you. The PedalTrain ATA cases are very heavy duty (I used their bass flight case to travel to South America with my band).

The difference in weight between the ATA and soft case is 10 lbs. Price difference is about $70. If you decide to get a custom ATA case later on, i think it will cost you more than $70.

The ATA case has extra space inside (in the back or front, depending where you position the PT-Jr) for cables, wah, volume etc. The soft case has a zippered pocket on the outside and was designed with breathing room on the inside so you can stow cables on top of the board etc.

Here's a few pics of the PT-Junior with ATA case:


I'm a bass player who plays in a praise and worship band at church on the weekends (3 services: get in car, drive to church, unload, play, reverse). If I needed to get a PT-junior, I'd get the soft case. If I were going on tour, then I would invest in the ATA case.

Hope this helps you.

Thanks. Yes it does. Wish I could afford one of your custom packages - but not in the cards right now. As I said in your thread it's beautiful.

[oxtone]

I play locally, mostly, and my PT2 with soft case works just fine for trunk-to-drive gigs. If I had fly dates, I'd order the ATA, as I have $2,000+ worth of pedals on my board. I also use an old Rock-N-Roller cart for all gigs, and it holds my whole rig in one trip to the stage.

[Craftmatic]

Okay, I just read the posts on here in favor of the ATA case as well as other similar threads (there were actually quite a few - sorry for the redundancy). I just pulled the trigger on a brand new PT Jr w/ATA case from a reputable seller on eBay for $134 (including shipping). So thanks for all the helpful advice. I don't fly, I will not be gigging several times a week and I don't expect anyone to carry my gear. What won me over was the "dropping" or "bumping into" scenarios. My well worn Strat in it's gig bag can take it but no one wants a relic-ed TIM, LovePedal or Mini Deja Vibe!

[62Tele]

That Junior with an ATA case is a great setup. I'm not really a fan of the soft cases - when I ran a repair shop, I fixed a lot of gig bag induced guitar damage. Whether it's a thousand dollars worth of guitar or pedals, I think a hardcase is merited. You'll like it.

[Brim]

Originally Posted by Craftmatic

Okay, I just read the posts on here in favor of the ATA case as well as other similar threads (there were actually quite a few - sorry for the redundancy). I just pulled the trigger on a brand new PT Jr w/ATA case from a reputable seller on eBay for $134 (including shipping). So thanks for all the helpful advice. I don't fly, I will not be gigging several times a week and I don't expect anyone to carry my gear. What won me over was the "dropping" or "bumping into" scenarios. My well worn Strat in it's gig bag can take it but no one wants a relic-ed TIM, LovePedal or Mini Deja Vibe!

Excellent choice. The size of the PT-Junior is perfect for the ATA case (weight / size ratio vs soft case).

[Turiguiliano]

Originally Posted by Craftmatic

Okay, I just read the posts on here in favor of the ATA case as well as other similar threads (there were actually quite a few - sorry for the redundancy). I just pulled the trigger on a brand new PT Jr w/ATA case from a reputable seller on eBay for $134 (including shipping). So thanks for all the helpful advice. I don't fly, I will not be gigging several times a week and I don't expect anyone to carry my gear. What won me over was the "dropping" or "bumping into" scenarios. My well worn Strat in it's gig bag can take it but no one wants a relic-ed TIM, LovePedal or Mini Deja Vibe!

Great choice. Congratulations on your new purchase!

[teleking36]

The ATA case is definitely worth it. Peace of mind knowing your pedals won't get crushed, cables won't break or get spliced/cut, is worth so much IMO. I gig 4-6 times a month all over the place and I like knowing my pedalboard is secure and can withstand late night load-in/load-out when i just wanna throw my gear in my car and go home.

[Geetar_Will]

I use both. The soft case rides on my shoulder and at my feet on planes and the hard case for everything else (packing with other gear in cars, also great for setting your amp on if it's a smaller one).