Sax on the Web

Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Walt Johnson Selmer Low A bari case FS

BrianA
User ID: 1564944 Aug 17th 11:20 AM
Hi,
I am selling a like new, only used two times Walt. Johnson Selmer low A bari case.. what can I tell you, they are supposed to be the best.. I just have to raise cash..
price is $280.00 plus ups
saxy@mindspring.com

Linda
User ID: 0645514 Oct 2nd 6:28 PM
I'm assuming that Brian already sold this, but... is the Walt Johnson the best case to use when flying? I've got a Selmer hard case from the mid 80's. Is that good enough, or should I buy yet another?

CURT
User ID: 1613614 Oct 2nd 7:57 PM
I think the Walt. Johnson cases are some of the finest. But those guys that take your horn when you fly can be really hard on your instrument.

If you fly a lot, I guess the best thing to do would be to put your case in a Anvil Flight case. I do know that Mulligan used a Anvil case for his Bari. His horn just sat in the molded interior.

I have heard stories about BAM cases taking a lot of abuse but they don't make Bari cases.

I personally just never check my case. I always try to fly on big planes and I never let them have my horn. Once I even pretended that I didn't speak English and I couldn't understand what they were saying when they told me I had to check the case. If I get to the plane with it and they they want me to check it at the gate, I say something like, "The lady at the baggage claim told me to see if it would fit. She said you should call her if there is a problem." -That works!

With the new security at the airlines however, I don't know what us Bari Guys are going to do...

www.MusicMedic.com

Bootman Oct 2nd 8:03 PM
Anvil cases for the bari is the safest way. Less damage to the horn too. I got stiffed with excess baggage when I carted the Bari around on planes last time.

Randall
User ID: 8722703 Oct 3rd 3:35 AM
Linda, I have one for sale with the Cavallero case cover. I don't recommend this case for airline abuse. It is just not strong enough on the neck end to protect a strong sharp blow. If you could carry it onboard, you'd definitely not have any trouble with it.
I want $200.00 plus shipping.

Linda
User ID: 0645514 Oct 3rd 7:33 AM
Curt: If you carry your horn on the plane (assuming it can still be done), where do you put it? The overhead bin wouldn't be an option for me, since my horn is almost as big as I am, and the kindness of strangers doesn't always extend very far. I'm thinking of taking my bari to Vegas for a music librarians' convention in February, and if I have to buy a ticket for it, I might as well invest in a sturdy case.

Randall: How much does your case weigh?

Helen
User ID: 9955583 Oct 3rd 1:59 PM
It is unlikely that they will sell you a ticket for it right now. I have bought a ticket for a bass last year. At the time, Delta was the only ones that had a clear policy on selling tickets for musical instruments. I was talking to my travel agent a couple of weeks ago and she advised me that they are not allowed to do that anymore.

An anvil case would be must at this point for any horn.

Adam
User ID: 9050343 Oct 3rd 3:45 PM
I haven't had to fly with my bari recently, but in the past, it would go in the overhead (in the WJ case) without a hitch except on DC-9's and very old 747's (where it could go in a closet instead). I have had a couple of flights where a seat had to be purchased. A bari player friend of mine here in Las Vegas recently (about two weeks ago)flew to New Orleans and back with a group of musicians, and they were all allowed to bring their instuments onto the plane with them.

I'm sure that all of the airlines have different policies, but I am pretty sure that if you contact the airline (directly), they would be more than happy to sell you a seat for your horn on one of their half empty planes.

CURT
User ID: 8325843 Oct 3rd 5:11 PM
Linda,
What Adam Said... I just put it in the overhead bin. I don't know what I would do if I were too small myself to get it in the bin. That's a real problem. I guess an Anvil or WJ Flight Cases might be the way to go for you.

www.MusicMedic.com

BrianA
User ID: 1564944 Oct 3rd 6:01 PM
I never have had a bit of trouble carrying my bari on to flights using a gig bag and putting it into and overhead, just have to be careful about some dolt coming along and trying to stuff things into the overhead afterwards. I ususally try to fill the overhead with stuff and put the horn in last so there is no room left. If you are sitting near the front of the plane you can sometimes ask a flight attendant to put it into one of their own closets to protect it and they usually are only to glad to get it out of the way by doing this for you. I have used the Walt J. and just stuck some extra bubble wrap on the small end and never had any trouble with the luggage dept. just had to purchase and added $10.00 in insurance for it. Lastly the Anvil case when you get them with wheels are good but they will not usually allow you to check them with the wheels sticking out , this can be a problem. Oh yeah, my Walt. J. Case has been sold..

Linda
User ID: 0645514 Oct 3rd 10:51 PM
Thanks for the advice, everyone. Curt: what's with the MusicMedic site? I can't get it to load properly. Randall: I might be interested in your case if it's not too heavy. Right now I use a Pro-Tec contoured case that weighs about 13 pounds. Add my 12-pound horn and it's already a lot for me to handle. I guess I should have taken up alto instead.

Randall
User ID: 1689844 Oct 4th 12:08 AM
Hi Linda..to tell you the truth, I don't know how much it weighs exactly..but I put it on my house scales and it says 4 1/2 kl. which is right around 11 pounds. THe case itself is relatively light.

BrianA
User ID: 1564944 Oct 4th 9:35 AM
I don't think there is a more poorly planned case than the contoured pro tec bari case. No end handle and the strap configuration, where they have the shoulder strap attached is as stupid as it can be. It just shows you that a company like this does not have a clue about real world use of it's product. You cannot manuever this case between the missing end handle and the dumb strap config. making you have to keep the case horizontal on your shoulder it is impossible to walk this way without destroying all around you and virtually no way to manipulate around doors etc. at least with the type of strap configurations that a company like Reunion Blues uses (although the bags do not protect your horn very well) you can carry a bari vertically over your shoulder and even keep the horn against your side to make it easy to manipulate and they do have end straps, just a pity they do not want to put any stiffeners into the sides like they do with thier trombone bags, to make the sax bags more desirable.. again for a good sax gig bag, and the owner is one of my least favorite people to deal with, Altieri makes about the best except for her also not attaching the straps at the ends of the bag for better manuevering.

MBushaw
User ID: 1167284 Oct 4th 4:03 PM
Linda, a cheaper alternative to buying a ticket for your horn is using the airlines air freight. Pack your bari well in its case. Put it in a box with more packing. The day before your flight take it to the air freight counter (call and ask where it is!) and tell them where you are going, when, and what's in the box. It will be placed in a container with other freight and loaded into an airplane. You pick it up when you land at the air freight counter. The air freight guys really do take pride in being able to ship stuff without breaking it, but they do offer real insurance too, not the general baggage insurance you get with luggage. (Try explaining to an airline that they lost a mint condition MkVI bari and the $50 they want to give you will not cover replacement cost!)

Linda
User ID: 0645514 Oct 4th 10:02 PM
Brian: Gee, I thought I was the only one who finds the Pro Tec case impossible to carry! It really is a pain. I think I'm going to get an old-lady cart to dump it in.

MBushaw: Great suggestion! Do you have a ballpark idea of what it would cost to ship a bari from NYC to Vegas? Is it comparable to, say, UPS rates?

BrianA
User ID: 1564944 Oct 17th 10:39 AM
Back to the original post. My Walt J. Case has been sold, thank to all of you that inquired..
Brian

Linda
User ID: 6723573 Oct 17th 1:26 PM
Sorry, Brian, I guess it's my fault for resurrecting this thread a month and a half after you first posted it.

BrianA User ID: 1564944	Aug 17th 11:20 AM Hi, I am selling a like new, only used two times Walt. Johnson Selmer low A bari case.. what can I tell you, they are supposed to be the best.. I just have to raise cash.. price is $280.00 plus ups saxy@mindspring.com
Linda User ID: 0645514	Oct 2nd 6:28 PM I'm assuming that Brian already sold this, but... is the Walt Johnson the best case to use when flying? I've got a Selmer hard case from the mid 80's. Is that good enough, or should I buy yet another?
CURT User ID: 1613614	Oct 2nd 7:57 PM I think the Walt. Johnson cases are some of the finest. But those guys that take your horn when you fly can be really hard on your instrument. If you fly a lot, I guess the best thing to do would be to put your case in a Anvil Flight case. I do know that Mulligan used a Anvil case for his Bari. His horn just sat in the molded interior. I have heard stories about BAM cases taking a lot of abuse but they don't make Bari cases. I personally just never check my case. I always try to fly on big planes and I never let them have my horn. Once I even pretended that I didn't speak English and I couldn't understand what they were saying when they told me I had to check the case. If I get to the plane with it and they they want me to check it at the gate, I say something like, "The lady at the baggage claim told me to see if it would fit. She said you should call her if there is a problem." -That works! With the new security at the airlines however, I don't know what us Bari Guys are going to do... www.MusicMedic.com
Bootman	Oct 2nd 8:03 PM Anvil cases for the bari is the safest way. Less damage to the horn too. I got stiffed with excess baggage when I carted the Bari around on planes last time.
Randall User ID: 8722703	Oct 3rd 3:35 AM Linda, I have one for sale with the Cavallero case cover. I don't recommend this case for airline abuse. It is just not strong enough on the neck end to protect a strong sharp blow. If you could carry it onboard, you'd definitely not have any trouble with it. I want $200.00 plus shipping.
Linda User ID: 0645514	Oct 3rd 7:33 AM Curt: If you carry your horn on the plane (assuming it can still be done), where do you put it? The overhead bin wouldn't be an option for me, since my horn is almost as big as I am, and the kindness of strangers doesn't always extend very far. I'm thinking of taking my bari to Vegas for a music librarians' convention in February, and if I have to buy a ticket for it, I might as well invest in a sturdy case. Randall: How much does your case weigh?
Helen User ID: 9955583	Oct 3rd 1:59 PM It is unlikely that they will sell you a ticket for it right now. I have bought a ticket for a bass last year. At the time, Delta was the only ones that had a clear policy on selling tickets for musical instruments. I was talking to my travel agent a couple of weeks ago and she advised me that they are not allowed to do that anymore. An anvil case would be must at this point for any horn.
Adam User ID: 9050343	Oct 3rd 3:45 PM I haven't had to fly with my bari recently, but in the past, it would go in the overhead (in the WJ case) without a hitch except on DC-9's and very old 747's (where it could go in a closet instead). I have had a couple of flights where a seat had to be purchased. A bari player friend of mine here in Las Vegas recently (about two weeks ago)flew to New Orleans and back with a group of musicians, and they were all allowed to bring their instuments onto the plane with them. I'm sure that all of the airlines have different policies, but I am pretty sure that if you contact the airline (directly), they would be more than happy to sell you a seat for your horn on one of their half empty planes.
CURT User ID: 8325843	Oct 3rd 5:11 PM Linda, What Adam Said... I just put it in the overhead bin. I don't know what I would do if I were too small myself to get it in the bin. That's a real problem. I guess an Anvil or WJ Flight Cases might be the way to go for you. www.MusicMedic.com
BrianA User ID: 1564944	Oct 3rd 6:01 PM I never have had a bit of trouble carrying my bari on to flights using a gig bag and putting it into and overhead, just have to be careful about some dolt coming along and trying to stuff things into the overhead afterwards. I ususally try to fill the overhead with stuff and put the horn in last so there is no room left. If you are sitting near the front of the plane you can sometimes ask a flight attendant to put it into one of their own closets to protect it and they usually are only to glad to get it out of the way by doing this for you. I have used the Walt J. and just stuck some extra bubble wrap on the small end and never had any trouble with the luggage dept. just had to purchase and added $10.00 in insurance for it. Lastly the Anvil case when you get them with wheels are good but they will not usually allow you to check them with the wheels sticking out , this can be a problem. Oh yeah, my Walt. J. Case has been sold..
Linda User ID: 0645514	Oct 3rd 10:51 PM Thanks for the advice, everyone. Curt: what's with the MusicMedic site? I can't get it to load properly. Randall: I might be interested in your case if it's not too heavy. Right now I use a Pro-Tec contoured case that weighs about 13 pounds. Add my 12-pound horn and it's already a lot for me to handle. I guess I should have taken up alto instead.
Randall User ID: 1689844	Oct 4th 12:08 AM Hi Linda..to tell you the truth, I don't know how much it weighs exactly..but I put it on my house scales and it says 4 1/2 kl. which is right around 11 pounds. THe case itself is relatively light.
BrianA User ID: 1564944	Oct 4th 9:35 AM I don't think there is a more poorly planned case than the contoured pro tec bari case. No end handle and the strap configuration, where they have the shoulder strap attached is as stupid as it can be. It just shows you that a company like this does not have a clue about real world use of it's product. You cannot manuever this case between the missing end handle and the dumb strap config. making you have to keep the case horizontal on your shoulder it is impossible to walk this way without destroying all around you and virtually no way to manipulate around doors etc. at least with the type of strap configurations that a company like Reunion Blues uses (although the bags do not protect your horn very well) you can carry a bari vertically over your shoulder and even keep the horn against your side to make it easy to manipulate and they do have end straps, just a pity they do not want to put any stiffeners into the sides like they do with thier trombone bags, to make the sax bags more desirable.. again for a good sax gig bag, and the owner is one of my least favorite people to deal with, Altieri makes about the best except for her also not attaching the straps at the ends of the bag for better manuevering.
MBushaw User ID: 1167284	Oct 4th 4:03 PM Linda, a cheaper alternative to buying a ticket for your horn is using the airlines air freight. Pack your bari well in its case. Put it in a box with more packing. The day before your flight take it to the air freight counter (call and ask where it is!) and tell them where you are going, when, and what's in the box. It will be placed in a container with other freight and loaded into an airplane. You pick it up when you land at the air freight counter. The air freight guys really do take pride in being able to ship stuff without breaking it, but they do offer real insurance too, not the general baggage insurance you get with luggage. (Try explaining to an airline that they lost a mint condition MkVI bari and the $50 they want to give you will not cover replacement cost!)
Linda User ID: 0645514	Oct 4th 10:02 PM Brian: Gee, I thought I was the only one who finds the Pro Tec case impossible to carry! It really is a pain. I think I'm going to get an old-lady cart to dump it in. MBushaw: Great suggestion! Do you have a ballpark idea of what it would cost to ship a bari from NYC to Vegas? Is it comparable to, say, UPS rates?
BrianA User ID: 1564944	Oct 17th 10:39 AM Back to the original post. My Walt J. Case has been sold, thank to all of you that inquired.. Brian
Linda User ID: 6723573	Oct 17th 1:26 PM Sorry, Brian, I guess it's my fault for resurrecting this thread a month and a half after you first posted it.