[blaine hoopes]

I just picked up an inexpensive curved soprano, Lazarro is the brand. I had to do a few things get it to play well but overall I'm pretty impressed with it. Total copy of Yanagisawa. The case would be just fine in terms of protecting the horn but the case stinks so badly of that Chinese toxic chemical that seems to be in everything these days. (I can't go into the dollar store because the whole place smells of whatever that toxic chemical is - smells like instant cancer). The horn itself doesn't have that smell (if it did I would have returned it).

Past experience is that items with that smell this strong will never lose the smell. I've had mic cables where that smell was so strong I've had to just throw them away after leaving them outside for years to off gas the fumes and they still smelled. This case (and all the accessories) are outside and I expect even the raccoons wouldn't dare come close to them to pi$$ on them.

Anyway .. I'm going to need a case. Anyone have any suggestions? Or a sure fire way to get the smell out? (I think it's the chemicals used in the materials, the foam and glue and I doubt it will fade).

Does anyone know if the current Pro-Tec cases are made in China and if they have that same toxic smell? I ask because so many brands that used to be made in USA are now selling Chinese crap. Ultimate Supports for example - they used to make high quality stuff in USA now they just slap their brand name on the worst Chinese stuff - I bought an Ultimate Supports branded guitar case and it had this same toxic smell and was made in China. Had to return it.

Anyone have any interest in seeing the horn and the fixes I did to it to get it to play better? I was really wanting to buy a curved Yanagisawa but they keep getting more and more expensive and this horn plays well enough that it has scratched that itch -- and cost less than I would have paid in sales tax on a Yanagisawa.

 

[soybean]

I know the smell you are talking about. Hate it. None of my pro tec cases have that smell.

 

[milandro]

Protec is the way to go, great case.

I had bought a Walstein Bauhaus AI curved and it came with a case with a potent smell, replaced it with Protec and lived happily with it.

we have spoken about this several times before, by the way

Eastern music makes a nice case too

 

[Lambros]

I too have a Taiwanese (?) copy of the Yani SC-991; it's the International Woodwinds 551. It came with a decent hard shell case that thankfully doesn't reek of the toxic smell described above. I've considered another case but this one will do I think. It seats the horn well and the dugouts and accessories compartment is fairly roomy.

View attachment 267370

View attachment 267372

 

[blaine hoopes]

I too have a Taiwanese (?) copy of the Yani SC-991; it's the International Woodwinds 551.

That looks really nice, how does it play? Are you sure of the model number? I googled it and only found pictures of a model with bell keys on the left side of the bell like the older Yani copies (like my old Unison).

 

[blaine hoopes]

thanks @soybean and @milandro for giving me confidence that the Protec case will be without the funky smell. The smelly case that came with this horn looks very much like the Protec - a copy of it I guess but that's why I had to ask just to make sure Protec hadn't resorted to rebranding the cheap stuff. This place is great to get answers so quickly!

EDIT: hmmm ... looks like @name doesn't tag here. I probably need to read some forum tips about how to do it properly

 

[milandro]

I was never sure of why some of these cheap cases have that smell, the place they come from is not the reason though, because other brands don’t have it and a lot of these prime cases are made in China.

Protec is a great product and so is Eastman.

 

[blaine hoopes]

I started noticing that smell in products around 2005. Particularly things with plastic or rubbery parts like power cords and mic cords and things with a rubbery coating. I bought a Rode mic pop filter on a flexible arm - and that is a Australian company -- and it had that smell. It is all metal but was sprayed with a rubbery coating and my guess is that rubbery coating had the chemical in it. Some people don't notice smells and some people are really sensitive to smells. I'm one of those that is very sensitive to smells. In fact febreze is one of the worst smells you could subject me to - I have to throw away anything that has febreze in it or on it which is sort of ironic because febreze is what most people suggest I use to get rid of that other toxic smell.

 

[Lambros]

That looks really nice, how does it play? Are you sure of the model number? I googled it and only found pictures of a model with bell keys on the left side of the bell like the older Yani copies (like my old Unison).

Yes it's the IW-551 and I'm guessing it's the same as the Kessler, RS Berkeley, Unison, etc. She plays beautifully and the build quality is very well done. Aside from how nicely balanced the upper and lower stacks were setup, the incredible feel of the RH Eb/C key work, there was quite a bit of setup needed on improving the LH table key positions and some work on better syncing the octave mechanism and lower half of the C/C# movement. Normal stuff basically that was done to improve the default setup everywhere else. I wanted something different from my SA-80 II sop and this horn filled that void.

 

[adamk]

I started noticing that smell in products around 2005. Particularly things with plastic or rubbery parts like power cords and mic cords and things with a rubbery coating. I bought a Rode mic pop filter on a flexible arm - and that is a Australian company -- and it had that smell. It is all metal but was sprayed with a rubbery coating and my guess is that rubbery coating had the chemical in it. Some people don't notice smells and some people are really sensitive to smells. I'm one of those that is very sensitive to smells. In fact febreze is one of the worst smells you could subject me to - I have to throw away anything that has febreze in it or on it which is sort of ironic because febreze is what most people suggest I use to get rid of that other toxic smell.

I'm burdened by smells also and what's behind them.
Most times it's toxic if it smells bad.
Severely allergic to many bug sprays.

 

[turf3]

I've seen pictures of people taking a briefcase of generous depth and filling it with foam and cutting the foam to fit the horn.

 

[milandro]

I've seen pictures of people taking a briefcase of generous depth and filling it with foam and cutting the foam to fit the horn.

I have done that with a low Eb bass clarinet with no case. I bought a medium sized Samsonite suitcase ( nobody uses them anymore, if it has no wheels it doesn't exist) one of those popular in the '80.
I glued on both sides some of that sound absorbing grey foam, you don't even need to cut the shape out since it will compress but only gently the instrument inside.

It did the trick.

On the other hand, when it came to the soprano I bought the Protec and was very happy, comes with many accessories.

 

[Guto]

Eastern music makes a nice case too

a case with less then 3 latches is no-no IMO. especially this type of latches that are prone to easily opening when bumped.
seriously, I lost count of how many times I've seen musicians (or I found myself) carrying a case with this style of latches with one open. it happened at gigs, in airports, everywhere.

 

[blaine hoopes]

a case with less then 3 latches is no-no IMO. specially this type of latches that are prone to easily opening when bumped.
seriously, I lost count of how many times I've seen musicians (or I found myself) carrying a case with this style of latches with one open. it happened at gigs, in airports, everywhere.

I've seen cases open up, while being carried, and the sax spill out onto the ground. When I was travelling (vintage case weak latches) I would always run a nylon strap around the case and underneath the handle and cinch it up to hold the lid closed no matter what the latches might do.

But if you're referring to that shaped case that milandro posted - those latches are very good latches. Those are the kind I used to buy to replace flimsy latches - I've never seen that type latch let go and I'd feel totally safe with two of those latches holding a soprano lid closed. Heck I'd feel safe with two of those holding a bari case. I put two of those latches on a heavy Hohner Clavinet and it was very secure.

 

[Guto]

I've seen cases open up, while being carried, and the sax spill out onto the ground. When I was travelling (vintage case weak latches) I would always run a nylon strap around the case and underneath the handle and cinch it up to hold the lid closed no matter what the latches might do.

But if you're referring to that shaped case that milandro posted - those latches are very good latches. Those are the kind I used to buy to replace flimsy latches - I've never seen that type latch let go and I'd feel totally safe with two of those latches holding a soprano lid closed. Heck I'd feel safe with two of those holding a bari case. I put two of those latches on a heavy Hohner Clavinet and it was very secure.

I do that too. I run a velcro strap with ring around my Cabine case (3-latches), through its handle when traveling. One like these: