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Road Cases for Bands, DJs & Live Production: Amps, Mixers, Cables and More

Open DJ controller road case beside a guitar amp road case and a cable trunk backstage at a club

The best road case for a band or DJ is the one built around a specific job: a padded case sized to your amp, a rack case for wireless and processing, a trunk for cables and stands, and a workstation case for the mixer or DJ controller. Matching each case to its job keeps load-in fast and stops the expensive gear from riding loose in a van.

Which Road Case Does Each Piece of Gear Need?

Amp road cases

Guitar and bass amps are heavy, top-loaded with tubes or speakers, and get stacked. A 3/8″ fabricated case with foam on all six sides and a lift-off lid is the standard. Combos and cabinets usually ride on casters; heads can go in a smaller handle case. Because amp sizes vary by model, the best fit is a custom Rampart road case built from your amp’s exact dimensions.

DJ and mixer cases

Controllers, mixers and turntables need a case that protects the knobs and faders and opens straight into a work surface. Options include:

  • Workstation road cases that open into a desk at the gig: see workstation road cases.
  • Molded fly racks that hold a rackmount mixer, wireless receivers and power in one lightweight shell: see SKB fly racks.
  • Waterproof hard cases with custom foam for small controllers and laptops that fly as baggage, such as the Pelican 1510.

Rack cases for wireless, effects and amps

Anything 19″ rackmount belongs in a rack case. Shock-mounted racks float the rails on isolators, which protects processors and wireless receivers from truck vibration. See our guide to rack case sizes to pick the right U height and depth.

Cable trunks and utility trunks

Cable trunks are open-interior road cases for cables, stands, drapes, tools and spares. They take the most abuse on any tour, so choose 3/8″ or 1/2″ panels, heavy casters and removable dividers or trays to keep XLR, power and snakes separate.

See every size in general trunk road cases.

What to Look for Before You Buy

ATA Spec 300 build

Category I cases are designed for 100+ trips. Learn more in road case vs. flight case.

The right foam

Closed-cell polyethylene or cross-link foam holds shape after hundreds of load-ins.

Casters you can trust

Locking casters on large cases; consider a ramp road case for heavy loads.

Truck-pack sizing

Standardize footprints so cases stack and fill the truck width with no gaps.

Custom or off the shelf?

Stock trunk and rack cases cover cables, stands and standard 19″ gear. Amps, consoles, controllers and anything with an odd shape are better served by a custom case: you get exact-fit foam, the hardware layout you want, and your logo stenciled on the lid.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best case for a guitar amp?

A 3/8″ ATA road case with foam cut to the amp’s exact size, a lift-off lid and casters for combos or cabinets. Custom builds give the best fit.

What case do DJs use for controllers?

Most use a workstation-style road case that opens into a playing surface, or a molded hard case with custom foam for gear that flies.

What is a cable trunk?

A cable trunk is an open-interior road case used to haul cables, stands and accessories, usually with casters and optional dividers.

Are rack cases good for DJ gear?

Yes. Any rackmount mixer, wireless system or power conditioner should travel in a rack case, ideally shock-mounted.

Build your tour pack with AllCases.

From cable trunks to custom amp cases, AllCases builds road cases for bands, DJs and production companies nationwide from Oldsmar, FL. Browse road cases or request a custom quote.

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