I’ve been on the hunt for a sturdy, robust and portable table for quite a while now – I was needed a new one to use on KC Guitar Works house calls as I was dissatisfied with my current option. I have pretty specific needs, and after doing a lot of research, I finally decided to make my move.
Road Ready Cases
Enter Road Ready Cases. I first came across Road Ready cases a few years back at the NAMM show in Anaheim, CA. They primarily make DJ related cases, but they also build backline related cases, and also offer custom builds. They have some unique ideas and and cool solutions, and they think outside the box, which I really like.
FOLDED RRSTAND1
When I first ran across them at NAMM, they were showing a new folding table, the RRSTANDT1, which sells for $234.99. It’s based on the Intellistage System, which Road Ready also makes. Those are ultra portable stages and risers, which consist of interlocking platforms and expanding support legs. It’s an innovative approach to an old idea, and their low weight and ease of assembly make them a great choice for bands on a tight budget.
Road Ready makes the RRSTAND1 in several different dimensions. I chose the 30″ height because my workbox lays on top and gives me an additional 6 inches of height. The table top is made up of four 6″ slats that are about 4′ long, and are attached together by piano hinges. The whole table top folds into a square tube that houses the folded legs, which are made of aluminum, and accordion out to support the entire work surface. Once folded, the table, with legs inside, can be carried via shoulder strap wherever I need. I can get in and out in one trip, rather than having to go back for a large table or stand.
While you can buy their products from Guitar Center, I am allergic to most noisy Guitar Departments. Plus, this particular product would have been a special order, so I bought via roadreadycases.com. Ordering was quick and easy thanks to their simple checkout process, and before I knew it I was waving goodbye to my money. The table arrived right on time a few short days later. Upon close inspection, the whole thing seemed to be made very well, and I was impressed by the simple design.
My RRSTAND1, Unfolded
On the under side of the table there are several dense foam blocks which, when folded, hold the legs firmly in place. They are glued in, but upon arrival I found two of the blocks had been dislodged – Probably due to a rough ride during shipping. Not a huge deal, they were easy to glue back – but that could be an indication that they will be troublesome in the long term. I will likely bring this on tour with me, and that means many bumpy rides. Only time will tell… Other than that my table arrived very much in tact.
Set up is super easy. You simply unfold the table, remove the legs, expand them, then plop the
Legs Open, Top On
top onto the support legs – which have posts that meet up with holes in the table top to keep it from sliding around. There are 6 latches that swing into place to hold the table to the legs at each point of contact. They do seem a little flimsy, but they aren’t actually supporting anything.
My only real complaint so far are the straps that hold the table top together in it’s tube form – they were REALLY hard to get undone, and it took me about 8 mins just to get them off. I can see that as being an issue for me, as I need to be able to set up fast, otherwise I’m spinning my wheels and wasting valuable time. I replaced them with better straps.
The best part about this table is the Road Ready Lifetime Warranty, which pretty much covers the table as far as defects goes. They will replace it or repair it as long as it hasn’t been misused. I don’t plan on dropping out of an airplane for my next house call, but who knows… I’ve worked in some strange places before.
All in all I love the table – a great concept, good implementation, solid customer service. The price is a little high for a “table”, but given the super portability of the design, I think it’ll be well worth it for my particular purposes. I’ll try it out for now, and if I have any issues, I’ll report them here.
Aww... One Big Happy Family
