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Forum Home » Sound Reinforcement » Product Reviews: Sound Reinforcement » EWI Mic Box Failure Thread
| EWI Mic Box Failure Thread [message #322818] |
Wed, 14 May 2008 15:15  |
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Evan Kirkendall
Messages: 5243
Registered: November 2004
Location: Abingdon, MD |
Has No Life |
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After countless good things to say about EWI cases, finally, a failure that was quite disappointing...
I took my mic box out on tour with ATL for 8 weeks. It lived in the back of the trailer on top of all the cases. It was in a rather safe position and didnt have anything on top of it.
Well, after being dropped once and someone stepping on it, the case was completely destroyed...
One guy stepped on top of it to get up to the stage and did this damage:
He was only around 160lbs, and it was just one step. It was the second to last show of the tour...
But, the case in general just did not stand up to the abuse of tour. There are many various cracks in the case just from living in the trailer...
So, if you ever plan on buying the EWI cases to tour, dont do it. They are great for local production companies, and small companies, but they are just not tough enough to handle the road...
I'll be buying a much heavier duty case for future tours...
Evan
[Updated on: Sat, 17 May 2008 22:41]
HarfordSound
ATL Tour Blog
"This rig needs some finesse to get rid of the excessive spectral buildup." -Tom M.
Member of the Maryland EV QRx Mafia
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #322826 is a reply to message #322818 ] |
Wed, 14 May 2008 15:35  |
 Jordan Wolf
Messages: 774
Registered: November 2006
Location: Huntington, IN (College) ... |
Has No Life |
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That's good to know. I've heard others say that a few other times on this forum, as well. They are great cases for the money, but not what I'd trust to get seriously bounced around in a trailer or cargo container.
[Updated on: Wed, 14 May 2008 15:36]
Wolf
<><
A lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
"With that much comb filtering you could probably part your hair just by walking through the room." - Dick Rees
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #322829 is a reply to message #322818 ] |
Wed, 14 May 2008 15:48 |
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Still zero problems with mine after plenty of abuse... maybe I just pack my trucks reasonably.
Surprised that one guy did so much damage to your mic case, but I use my cable trunks as the floor walking around inside a truck all the time, and have yet to go through one. Perhaps the mic case is built lighter as it is intended to be hand carried?
-- Bennett Prescott
Director of North American Sales
EONA ADRaudio d.o.o.
Cell: (518) 488-7190
An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices until they can't get it wrong.
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #322903 is a reply to message #322818 ] |
Wed, 14 May 2008 19:19 |
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| Evan Kirkendall wrote on Wed, 14 May 2008 15:15 |
After countless good things to say about EWI cases, finally, a failure that was quite disappointing...
I took my mic box out on tour with ATL for 8 weeks. It lived in the back of the trailer on top of all the cases. It was in a rather safe position and didnt have anything on top of it.
Well, after being dropped once and someone stepping on it, the case was completely destroyed...
One guy stepped on top of it to get up to the stage and did this damage:
He was only around 160lbs, and it was just one step. It was the second to last show of the tour...
But, the case in general just did not stand up to the abuse of tour. There are many various cracks in the case just from living in the trailer...
So, if you ever plan on buying the EWI cases to tour, dont do it. They are great for local production companies, and small companies, but they are just not tough enough to handle the road...
I'll be buying a much heavier duty case for future tours...
Evan
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It was $75 - Buy a New One.
If it was a R&R case then you could be mad.
Trailer tours are hard on the gear.
I had a brand new EWI rack that got trashed.
It wasn't the racks falt.
The fact that the trailer didn't have E track was the problem.
However my R&R cases fared better.
We straped things down to the one bar the trailer had.
It sucked.
Welcome to touring. Your gear will never be the same.
db
Dan Brown
REACH Communications
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #322925 is a reply to message #322818 ] |
Wed, 14 May 2008 20:09 |
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| Evan Kirkendall wrote on Wed, 14 May 2008 16:15 |
He was only around 160lbs, and it was just one step. It was the second to last show of the tour...
But, the case in general just did not stand up to the abuse of tour. There are many various cracks in the case just from living in the trailer...
So, if you ever plan on buying the EWI cases to tour, dont do it. They are great for local production companies, and small companies, but they are just not tough enough to handle the road...
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Are the mic cases made out of lesser materials? So they are more easily carried?
This really surprises me. I beat the living shit out of my EWI cases. We walk on top of them when they are packed in the truck, they get thrown over bumps, the truck they ride in leaks water though the roof, and has no air shocks. Like seriously, I don't think anyone abuses them as much as we do, short of pushing them down steps.
One of the 18U pullovers I have fell off the back of our lift gate flat onto the road... nuthin. Everything was safe and sound inside. I weigh about 200, but last year I was closer to 280-290. I walked on them then and I still do now and I don't think twice about it.
The only damage I've seen with mine is one of the front covers took a steel dolly to the front and it punched a small hole. My only guess as to how it happened was that while en route the driver hit the brakes a littler harder than usual, launching the dolly into the front cover. Oh, and on one of my road trunks, I left a latch undone and it caught an edge and ripped it off. Easy fix though. Good as new.
Ryan Lantzy
"In the beginner's mind the possibilities are many, in the expert's mind there are few."
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #322947 is a reply to message #322818 ] |
Wed, 14 May 2008 21:24 |
Jordan Wolf
Messages: 774
Registered: November 2006
Location: Huntington, IN (College) ... |
Has No Life |
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It should be noted that the medium-size mic cases from EWI use 1/4" plywood, whereas the amp racks, large mic case, et. al. use 3/8" plywood - a whole 'nother 1/8" to add support. There are also "double-walled aluminum edges" in most of their other racks.
The mic case is just not made like the other cases, as was said before, because it's a carried container and not on casters.
Also, it looks like the top of the mic case broke on a seam in the plywood...unlike the bottom where the feet are pushed in and made jagged punctures in the ply and ABS.
I'd just buy another one, if possible, and make sure to treat it a bit more nicely than your other cases. I know you're (Evan) looking to replace some other gear as it is...
Wolf
<><
A lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
"With that much comb filtering you could probably part your hair just by walking through the room." - Dick Rees
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #322959 is a reply to message #322947 ] |
Wed, 14 May 2008 22:06 |
Steve kneprath
Messages: 53
Registered: September 2007
Location: Willmar, MN |
Should Get Out More |
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I am a local sound provider. I had a rack built to house my splitter snake on 1 side and 5 rack drawers on the other side for all mics (and adapters, DI's, etc). The case was built by Slamhammer (http://www.slamhammercases.com/) here in MN. It was more than $75, but well worth it. I have never regretted doing things right the first time. On smaller gigs when I don't need the whole rack, I just throw what mics I need into a Pelican case. Notice the EWI work box next to the mic/splitter rack in the top picture. I push the scale at 230lbs and have used it for a platform several times. I would not put out bad words on a company based on 1 obscure instance, just my opinion.
Attachment: kps_rack.jpg
(Size: 406.78KB, Downloaded 186 time(s))
[Updated on: Wed, 14 May 2008 22:24]
Steve Kneprath
Owner - KPS Media
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #323032 is a reply to message #322964 ] |
Thu, 15 May 2008 08:37 |
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Evan... I think its time to buy a true work box now.
One that has a drawer that house all your mics and such.
I on the web at: meerkatsound.com
I'm a member of the Maryland EV QRx Mafia
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #323045 is a reply to message #323032 ] |
Thu, 15 May 2008 09:09 |
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RYAN LOUDMUSIC JENKINS
Messages: 2088
Registered: August 2005
Location: Surface of the Sun, It's ... |
Has No Life |
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I think it is obvious that the mic case was not being used for it's designed application when the foot that was on it broke it.
You may want to consider touring with one of these. I think it will work better for having people step up onto stage with.
Oh, yeah....Those small hairline cracks that you show. Just about every case from every manufacturer that I have ever seen here in Phoenix has cracks like that from the heat. I have a couple that already have cracks from the heat and I am sure they all will eventually.
[Updated on: Thu, 15 May 2008 09:12]
Ryan Jenkins
"Two days until the end of when I don't know what to think. Three days until I start the cycle all over again!"
Please visit my website at http://www.murphygirl.com
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| Re: Dont tour with EWI cases... [message #323050 is a reply to message #322925 ] |
Thu, 15 May 2008 09:27 |
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Jim Duyck
Messages: 333
Registered: July 2005
Location: San Angelo, TX |
Has No Life |
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that mic case definitely used 1/4" ply (worthless to me in the past) and 3 rivet ball corners. Weighing in at only 13.2 lbs., when compared to the other cases with the tougher components (3/8" & 6 rivet ball corners), it seems rather...well, like a lightweight.
i've yet to meet a 1/4" ply ATA case, regardless of how small the panels were, that didn't flex enough to make me glad I bought mine in 3/8" (from different manufacturers over time). i'll haul the extra weight around.
imo, all of the damage pattern that box shows lines up with 1/4" ply usage rather than EWI, but I will agree you can pay more and get a better case - we did just that with our console case from Rock Hard. but we also bought an EWI 6 space effects-depth shock rack for dates when production is being provided and we want take our wireless IEM's and effects. that thing is a tank!!!
[Updated on: Thu, 15 May 2008 09:33]
~jim~
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 It isn't an EWI case problem... [message #323101 is a reply to message #322818 ] |
Thu, 15 May 2008 12:39 |
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Tony "T" Tissot
Messages: 2393
Registered: June 2006
Location: Northern California |
Has No Life |
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It's not EWI per se, but the rating of the case.
I've had equal, decent experience with EWI, RR, R&R and Anvil for my own stuff.
I had an Anvil take a 10 pound batten pig from on high. It did not survive. At 3/8 - I would not expect any thin ply case to.
In the corporate world - when it absolutely has to survive - like trade show custom built booths - we've always used 1" ply custom cases, with 1X2 outer stringers. Wins a pitched battle against forklifts. Solid, indestructible, ugly, heavy, effective.
For the big screens and projectors (and the electronic gear we were demoing), there are Mil Spec fiber shipping containers that will beat a steamroller. But they cost almost as much as what they are protecting.
ProSoundWeb - Home of 50,000 audio professionals - and two or three curmudgeonly SOBs.
http://www.youtube.com/loshightops
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