[mcudahy]

I wondered what sort of case people use for Buescher True Tone sopranos? I bought a new ProTec case for my 1928 TT, and I'm not satisfied with the way the instrument fits in it. I have ProTec cases for my tenor and alto (and I used to use the tenor case with a 1928 Buescher TT tenor, coincidentally) and I'm happy with those. The tenor case was a little awkward for the Buescher, compared to how it holds my current tenor, a Yani 902, but it was okay. Both the tenor and alto cases are molded around the instrument, and they hold it firmly in place. But the soprano case lets the instrument roll around--the horn is supported only by moveable cloth-covered foam dividers. And the instrument is always resting on keys or rods.

Are there better-fitting cases for these horns?

 

[bruce bailey]

The problem seems to be that most cases are for 2-neck horns which are shorter. If you see a Selmer Vanguard older (VI type) case, it is pretty good.

 

[mcudahy]

I wonder if it would fit nicely in a Yanagisawa S901 case.

 

[Dave Dolson]

Yes it would - I've e-mailed directly to Mike about this. DAVE

 

[Paul B]

I agree about the ProTec cases: terrible for soprano. You may also wish to consider a case made by Mike Manning in New York; similar to a Walt Johnson, but better. I also have a BAM Trekking case, which fits older straight-neck horns and has lots of room for accessories.

 

[mike_s]

you can stick bubble wrap in the protec to block the horn better... doesn't look the coolest but it will work effectively, especially until you find a better option.

 

[mcudahy]

Good suggestion, Mike... thanks. And thanks to everyone who replied!

 

[maddenma]

Good suggestion, Mike... thanks. And thanks to everyone who replied!

I have the same question. Please post when you find a good solution!

 

[mcudahy]

You may also wish to consider a case made by Mike Manning in New York; similar to a Walt Johnson, but better. I also have a BAM Trekking case, which fits older straight-neck horns and has lots of room for accessories.

I'm still working on this. Price is a factor for me, unfortunately. I found Mike Manning's phone number, so I'll try calling tomorrow, but I think his cases are going to be too expensive for my current bank account. I saw a thread on a trombone forum that said he customizes them for the individual instrument: http://tromboneforum.org/index.php?topic=55611.0. Maybe he has some standard ones, too. Or maybe he could retrofit my Pro-Tec case. Or maybe someone closer to home could do that. Hmm.

I found a BAM case (by phone) at Union Music up in San Francisco that would cost $320, and would probably fit the instrument nicely. They also told me that a new S901 case from Yanagisawa would cost almost $500. But I was hoping to spend around what I paid for the Pro-Tec ($150). Maybe I'll end up paying more. Right now, bubble wrap is looking pretty good. (If I can just keep my kids from popping all the bubbles...)

 

[Paul B]

I bought my soprano case from Manning about four years ago, and it was not customized to fit my horn. He may well be doing that now for soprano cases, as he apparently does for alto, tenor, and baritone, but his logic (at least as he expressed it to me then) for the soprano was that form fitted cases weren't as effective as ones that used foam in a few key positions to hold the horn, and that's what I have in my case. I think that approach can work for soprano, but perhaps not for the other horns. I use this case when I fly, because it's the same size as a Walt Johnson, and fits easily in an overhead bin. I'm very happy with it, and if I recall it was not overly-expensive, about $175, I think. But his prices have probably gone up since then.

The BAM Trekking case is probably a little less solid, though I tend to use it more because I can carry all my accessories in it, and wear it like a backpack, which helps when carrying it around NYC. But I think the BAM cases are way overpriced, so I can understand your hesitancy to dive in.

I'd guess it shouldn't be to hard to have somebody locally re-do the inside of a ProTec case with good foam. That may be the best approach...

 

[Kritavi]

I had mine in a Reunion Bag for many years and traveled with it that way and somehow never had any problems but now I have my TT in a Walt and its great. You can sometimes find them used on ebay.

 

[mcudahy]

I read through the six customer reviews of the Pro-Tec soprano sax case on Amazon, and was surprised to see that nearly every reviewer was delighted with the excellent fit between the instrument and the case. Then I noticed that every review was written by someone using it to hold an AKAI EWI 4000. (And those don't seem nearly as delicate as a soprano sax.)

There's even a picture of the AKAI EWI 4000 in "its case" (a Pro-Tec soprano sax case) near the bottom of this page:
http://www.ninestonering.com/craig/#horn
Yep, looks like it fits quite nicely in there!

Sort of funny.

-Mike

 

[KenK]

The thing I don't like about the Pro-Tec case is that it doesn't sit flat when the lid is open. The lid is so heavy that it causes the case to tilt over.

 

[maddenma]

The thing I don't like about the Pro-Tec case is that it doesn't sit flat when the lid is open. The lid is so heavy that it causes the case to tilt over.

That's true of all my Protec cases, regardless of horn. Doesn't bother me though.

 

[Little Sax]

Protec sop cases are better than gig bags, and they support the horn fine when left on a shelf, but that's about it. I had one of my horns in one and it was dropped by FedEx. The horn ended up getting bent because of how the supports were laid out in the case. ...I was not a happy camper.

 

[davsoprano]

I made a copy of my S6 yana case. Fits great!

 

[mcudahy]

In case anyone cares, I bought a BAM Trekking case, and it's a great fit for the Buescher TT. I'm sending the Pro-Tec case back to Amazon. It's too bad, because the Pro-Tec case is smaller, lighter and, most important, cooler looking, and there's still plenty of storage space. But the BAM case will protect the horn better.

 

[maddenma]

FWIW, I had the Calzone Flight Case for mine for about a year. If heavy doesn't bother you and you want a case you can throw off a truck at 30MPH, this is your case.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/wood...-i-series-straight-one-piece-soprano-sax-case

Sold it to AhCheung. Just too much and too heavy. I don't see the BAM case as adding anything to the argument -- it's just as heavy as the Calzone but doesn't protect as well. I'm not prone to flinging instruments, don't like carrying extra weight, so I guess I'll stick with the Protec unless I start flying with the Sop again.

Was hoping you'd found the miracle case, but you didn't and it's just a personal preference thing. Nothing wrong with that, just saying.

 

[mcudahy]

Maddenma, my concern was that the TT rolled around in the Pro-Tec. I would open the case and the sax would be in a ****-eyed position, and it was always resting on keys and rods. In the BAM case, the horn doesn't move at all when the case is closed, and it's supported in three good places: the inside of the bell, a place just below the thumb rest where there are no keys or rods, and just below the cork. That's exactly what I wanted. I don't know what you mean by "just a personal preference thing." Yes, my preference is to have my horn remain perfectly still inside its case, and not have the keywork bent or knocked out of adjustment when I carry it from place to place. Maybe you have a Pro-Tec from a couple years ago? Dave Dolson tells me his TT fits better in the Pro-Tec of a few years back than mine did in the new one.

Edit: I said in a post above that the Pro-Tec case was $150 from Amazon; don't where I got that idea--actually, it was only $73. And the BAM Trekking case was $300 (and that was a great deal; they're usually more). I guess everything's a trade-off.

 

[maddenma]

Yeah, I haven't noticed it moving around it the case at all. I think mine is about a year old.

Placing it in the case with the key touches up, the movable blocks are placed so that they contact the G# hinge tube just under the spatula and the low Bb rod on the bottom end. At the top I have the 3rd movable block just above the palm keys, holding the F3 key on one side and the top octave rod on the other side. The last foam block (permanent mount) is making sure that octave rod doesn't move downward towards the inside of the case. Bottom permanent mount block just keeps the bell lip from sliding upward.

I see impressions of the rods on the upper lid. At least with mine that horn isn't going anywhere. Certainly isn't taking a spin inside the case.

I can understand why you'd be concerned if it's moving around in the case. I'm not crazy about the movable foam blocks, but they're working in mine.

I wonder what the difference was?

I took some pics of mine. Maybe we have them set up differently -- or not. I am curious though.