First of all, it is a much better case than the SKB 1SKB-66, which costs more but is rather flimsy. This Gator feels noticably firmer, and it closes properly: there is no need whatsoever to fiddle with the lid, trying to align it with the bottom. Also, unlike on cheaper alternatives, the hinges and the latches on this Gator are chrome- rather than nickel-plated, so, in theory, they should more effectively resist the oxidation process. Despite the over 4 kg weight, the size-to-weight ratio makes it feel quite light and easy to carry. The only drawback in that area is the hard plastic handle, which, to those of us who carry our guitars long distances, might lead to blisters (I always generously wrap these types of handles with electrical tape to prevent this). Inside, we find a pleasant surprise — no bad odors! I have a very keen sense of smell, yet I could not, for the life of me, detect any odors. The black plush interior is soft and cosy, and the material seemed well applied. I did not notice any shedding either. Having closed the case again, I noticed a very smart detail: the perimeter of the ridge on the top of the case is slightly larger than that of the ridge on the bottom, which means that these cases are stackable. In other words, if you placed two or more of them on top of each other, they would interlock, and the upper ones would not slide around in your home or vehicle. However, despite all the praise I have given it, when it comes to quality, I would have still rated the case 4.5 stars because the badge on the lid was crooked, and there were some scratches on the sides as well as on the aluminum trim. To sum up, if Gator tightened their quality control just a bit more, this case would be a no-brainer. In the end, I decided to return it, but I would still recommend it to those who do not mind small cosmetic defects as much as I do.
