[MM]

Looking for such a thing. Leaning towards the Gard wheelie bag for which I've gotten a couple personal recommendations. The Gard low A model is getting popular and currently on back order just about everywhere. That may be why it costs more than a bass sax wheelie bag at wwbw. Just yesterday I discovered Protec sells a similar wheeled soft case. The Protec has a few less exterior pockets which is not a shop-stopper. A nice thing about the Gard is that the instrument can be loaded/unloaded with the case upright. This requires much less floor space with no need for squatting. Not sure if the Protec will do this as it doesn't seem the have a "kickstand" to hold it upright as does the Gard.

A more conventional wheeled hard case is the MTS sold by Kessler Music which a custom design for Yani baris. There are also affordable wheeled hard cases by SKB, J. Winter and MTS. I have seen reviews that a Yani bari does NOT fit snug into the first two; not sure about the MTS. Probably not, since the Kessler custom case is also made by MTS. I wonder how much additional padding would be require to get these to securely hold a Yanagisawa bari. Another option might be a used Selmer flight case, though again I'm not sure how well it fits a Yani. Does anyone know how the dimensions of the Yani and Selmer Mk VI baris compare?

I have gotten a few comments that cases or bags with small wheels (the wheels on pretty much all of the wheeled cases and bags are small) tend to vibrate when the instrument is wheeled on a hard surface such as a parking lot or sidewalk. Some folks say this vibration will knock the pads out of alignment over time and cause low-end leaks. Others say this is not a problem.

Comments about any of these bags and cases, pro and con, are welcome, especially by anyone who has tried to get them to work for a Yani bari! Some factors besides fit include weight, padding, storage, mobility, protection. Thanks.

 

[Dr G]

Why not go with the Kessler Custom MTS for the Yanagisawa?

https://www.kesslerandsons.com/product/custom-made-case-for-yanagisawa-bari-saxes/

I learned about them at SotW when they first came out, told my band mate about it, and she has been happy with it for years (B-992).

 

[400VI62]

MM,

I have used the Gard wheelie bag for a Yamaha and for a SML Low A and I found no problem with vibrations causing any problems with keywork going out of alignment. I would walk 15 mins to and back from band rehearsals, walk to the train station, 20 mins, take it on a 2 hour journey for a weekend workshop. I never had any problems.

The Gard is good as it does not have to be laid down to be unpacked, the pockets are good I think that I even put a spare dress shirt in one of them.

Regards Peter

 

[Taragot]

I have the gard for alto+tenor and like the fact, that I can use it as a stand for both instruments on stage (neck turned around 180°) if I don't want to carry a proper stand around.

 

[nigeld]

I have a Winter case with wheels. It needs a bit of extra padding to keep my Yani sax snug, but I prefer it to the Yani case.

 

[MM]

Thanks. Keep them coming.

Dr. G, I did mention the Kessler MTS Custom. Not quite as convenient as the Gard and possibly a little heavier. I hadn't seen any reviews or mention of it until yours, and just stumbled upon it on Kessler's website. When did they come out? I just now found the short thread on this forum. The reviews were mixed so looking for updates and comparisons with Gard and wheeled Protec. The Protec must be very new, as I haven't seem any mention on sotw.

 

[Dr G]

Thanks. Keep them coming.

Dr. G, I did mention the Kessler MTS Custom. Not quite as convenient as the Gard and possibly a little heavier. I hadn't seen any reviews or mention of it until yours, and just stumbled upon it on Kessler's website. When did they come out? I just now found the short thread on this forum. The reviews were mixed so looking for updates and comparisons with Gard and wheeled Protec. The Protec must be very new, as I haven't seem any mention on sotw.

MM, I don't recall when they came out. It has been several years (>5?), and I just don't remember. My friend has been playing bari for 30+ years, moved from a MkVI to the B-992. She used the stock Yanagisawa case for many years, then bought the Kessler Custom case. She has been happy with the change as that is her main horn and she transports it a lot. I am confident that I would have heard about any case-related issues. That's my datum on the issue.

 

[MM]

Thanks, Doc. Funny, I thought I edited my previous post but it didn't take. Anyway I did find the (short) sotw thread on the Kessler MTS custom Yani bari sax case. I am very interested in comments on the wheeled Protec especially with the Gard being sold out and its price increase.

 

[KeithL]

I have the Kessler MTS case custom made for their Yani B901 copy and it fits my B992 much better than any other aftermarket case I've seen. I own a couple of Protecs and have checked a few others for fit over the years but for my needs the MTS is the best I've found.

The +'s; fits really well no extra padding or fitting required, well made, very sturdy, not too expensive, reasonable internal space for accessories

The -'s:; very heavy, will not fit other brands/models as well, wheels are small and on the wrong end of the case

Overall I like this case a lot. It fits the horn nearly as well as the Yani OEM case and stands up to real-world getting to gig/rehearsal travel, like riding in car trunks or the back of vans and SUVs, better.

In the end it really comes down to your specific circumstance as to what the best choice will be for you. This discussion always reminds me of Keith Bontrager's famous quote in cycling circles concerning mountain bike components; "cheap, strong, light - pick two". When applied to bari sax cases it's really; price, protection, portability - pick two.

 

[Fader]

The SKB case will hold a Yani Low A Bari - Since it is a "universal" case, you may need to add a small block of foam here or there. Somewhen / where I ended up with a dozen or so 2" cubes of foam. I use them in just about every sax case I have - usually between the endplug and top of the case or to keep the upper stack from wiggling side to side.

 

[BH9]

The MTS Kessler sells for their Yani copy was a no-go for me because, as Keith said, the wheels are on the wrong end of the case. I thought that was a serious flaw. Ultimately got a BAM which is expensive and also not perfect, but it has been doing the job for a few years now without problems. And if I decide to take my Conn instead of the Yani, it fits that one too.

 

[cymru97]

I have the "new" Protec bullet case for my Low Bb MKVI, but I'm fairly positive I did a test fit with my B6 and it was good. I'll try to remember to test fit it again since I am not 100% positive...

 

[MM]

I have the "new" Protec bullet case for my Low Bb MKVI, but I'm fairly positive I did a test fit with my B6 and it was good. I'll try to remember to test fit it again since I am not 100% positive...

Thanks and looking forward to your test with the B6. Is the "new" Protect the one with wheels? Will that allow packing and unpacking with the case standing upright similar to the Gard? (I suspect not.) I ordered a Gard and was expecting it today. Yesterday I received an "oops" phone call saying it is NOT in stock and I can expect it by MAY 15!

 

[saxoclese]

I play a YBS-52 bari with low A and I really like the Cannonball Bari Case that Tevis Laukat demonstrates in the video below. The main selling point for me was how light it is. I can lift mine with one finger. Baris are heavy enough as it is without adding the weight of a case IMO. You can have your local Cannonball dealer order one for you. They are not cheap, but I figure my back is worth the investment.

[video]http://www.cannonballmusic.com/cases.php[/video]

 

[cymru97]

So I have both the SKB and Protec at home. If I had to choose one, it would be the Protec. I feel like the fit is better overall and it is both lighter and more compact. Both have nice rolling wheels. I prefer latches to zippers so the SKB wins there. It's probably also a bit more rigid overall, not that I think the Protec has any issues. The SKB will stand on end by itself, the Protec does NOT. That is not a big deal to me, I never leave a case standing on its own.

Both are reasonable, but when you lay a B6 in the SKB it can rotate a bit on its vertical axis. It's weird. When the case is closed, I believe the horn is secure (it doesn't rattle around anyway) but just laying in the case it has that weird rotation. Perhaps to accommodate horns with bigger bell flares? A King Zephyr doesn't come close to fitting in it.

The Protec has a small amount of play inside, but I would (and do) trust my horn in it. I used to have a Winter case and it had a LOT more play inside.

Just to be clear, this is the Protec case I'm referring to:

https://pmwoodwind.com/product/protec-baritone-saxophone-bullet-case/

 

[KeithL]

I play a YBS-52 bari with low A and I really like the Cannonball Bari Case that Tevis Laukat demonstrates in the video below. The main selling point for me was how light it is. I can lift mine with one finger. Baris are heavy enough as it is without adding the weight of a case IMO. You can have your local Cannonball dealer order one for you. They are not cheap, but I figure my back is worth the investment.

[video]http://www.cannonballmusic.com/cases.php[/video]

How well does your 62 fit in there? I agree with you about the weight but I've found most cases designed to fit a lot of horns typically require a bunch of extra padding and customizing. Cases designed for specific horns, the Cannonball in this case, often won't take other horns at all.

It's nice to see someone design a case that doesn't weigh a ton just because it has wheels. Most manufactures seem to think adding wheels gives them license to build a case that weighs a ton cause, hey, nobody is carrying it. The problem is stairs exist in the real world not to mention they put these tiny crappy wheels on these cases with a complete lack of understanding of how much shock the horn feels every time you roll over a crack or expansion joint. I'm still waiting for somebody to design a case with lightweight 4 or 5 inch wheels that fold into the case so you can roll over uneven ground or imperfect pavement when it makes sense and still carry it easily when necessary.