Thomann Rack Case 12U

Home review only, I have not gigged this yet.

First, someone commented that the case is quite flimsy... well when there is nothing in it, it's obviously not the strongest of devices. I wouldn't say it's weak though. When there are a few devices racked, it holds up fine to the point that sometimes I sit on it when playing. Probably not the best thing to do but it hardly flexes so I feel OK doing it.

I have the following devices racked
- Power conditioner
- Power distributor
- Shelf
- Lexicon reverb
- Engl e840
- Engl e530
- Peavey Rockmaster

It holds all of these devices fine, the width is perfect and the depth is more than adequate. There is plenty of room behind my e840.

The doors affix nicely to the body via four rotating butterfly catches, they have holes in so look like they can be locked..... not tried it. One of the doors has netting on it with a zip so you can keep any extra cables or bits and pieces secure while travelling.

The handles on the sides are removable so you can replace them if they get destroyed by a particularly heavy cab xD

The branding is not intrusive, just a Thomann name moulded into the doors. I'm a fan of not having huge MESA/BOOGIE - PEAVEY - MARSHALL stickers on anything so this is a plus for me.

The top and bottom are mirrored, I assume so that you can stack these things if you have a ton of equipment.

Empty, the case is very lightweight while still feeling like it provides adequate protection when devices are racked.

Oh, i nearly forgot... It's also the cheapest one that I could find ANYWHERE. If it was badly made, I would have marked it down, but it's not badly made, it's just a budget item! For the price, it's amazing.

The only downside for me is the lack of wheels, but again, it was not advertised with wheels so I didn't expect it to come with them. I will make a skateboard for it when it becomes too heavy for me to lift :)

I can see myself using this for a long time to come.

Use:
I am using this rack to transport the power amps and cross-overs etc. for the band's PA system. The reason for choosing this case was the price, but there are some issues due to the budget-build of the product.

Handles:
The main issue is the handles, they do not leave enough space to comfortably get your hand around. The doors can be a bit tricky to fit compared to more expensive cases. Finally, due to the weight of the power amps that this case carries, it could do with wheels.

Longevity:
Having used this case taking it to gigs for over a year now, I feel that for the price I paid I am willing to live with the issues the case has. I use a skid with castors to move it around venues and the doors are still working after a year of use.

Conclusion:
With everything said, we must consider the price, and for the money you get a decent quality case that keeps your equipment safe which is all you need at the end of the day. If you need something that is easier to carry and has wheels, be prepared to pay a lot more!

ps. This case includes screws for fixing your rack units to it.

Okay so in this world you get what you pay for and that is certainly the case with this rack.
I bought this rack for a church installation knowing that once it was installed it would never be moved and for this purpose it is great. If you need a road case do not buy this product.
The ABS is very thin and flexible, the quality of workmanship is poor, some rivets are not fully in. (a bit of quality control wouldn't go amiss here), the corners aren't well cut or lined up but non of that affects the functionality I needed. Once you get a couple of pieces of gear installed it becomes a good ridged unit. The butterfly catches are very nice and the lids are nice and deep meaning there is lots of room to leave things patched or plugged in to a power strip.
The case is also nice and wide leaving plenty of room for airflow down the sides of your gear.
The handles are nice and wide and more comfortable than some.
My favourite feature is the threaded rack strips, no messing about trying to line up up bolts. Every rack should feature these.
Another nice feature is the mouldings on the top of the rack match mouldings on the bottom allowing theses units to be securely stacked.
There are also a couple of nice mouldings along the side to provide extra impact protection.compressors in this rack

I have a power amp, induction loop amp, EQ, reverb and 3 compressors in this rack as well as a power strip. It keeps all my gear and cables neat and tidy and protected from accidental knocks and bumps.
It would be nice if there were a couple of vents in the side.

All in all I am happy with these for the job I choose them for. For my road gear I would always choose a wooden rack case.

A good case for the price. Quality is a little lacking in places and I would suggest buying a few more U than you need since the width at the bottom of the case isn't always quite enough for some rack equipment ears. It's not as rigid as some flight cases, but once equipment is in it it's good and stiff. I don't think I'd want to use it on the road lots, but as an equipment case that is semi static it's a very compelling choice (given the price). Features threaded rack strips, so no need for any nuts which does make installation nice and simple. Moldings on the top and bottom allow the units to be stacked, although I've not personally tried this.