[Woosax]

I think the primary advantage of Yamaha cases is the form fitting design. In particular there is case material that comes up between the bell and body, lessening the likelihood of bending of the horn is ever dropped. Hiscox, Walt Johnson, and Protec don't seem to provide the same type of protection.

Selmer horns fit in the Yamaha Cases perfectly. I'm thinking of moving from a Hiscox to a Custom Z case for my SBA alto. I realize that if it were run over by a car, the Hiscox is a better choice, but for more common mishaps, I think the internal support favors the Yamaha case.

Am I missing something?

 

[Call Me Rockstar]

Woosax,

The big sax companies, though they do spend some time crafting designs for the cases they use, most are still made with degrees of leeway so that they can be used with other horn models of the same voicing from their company. It makes it easier for them to use an initial interior design over and over without paying for more engineers to design one for each horn- unless the horn has been radically redesigned, which is not that often. However, enough thought is put into cases from the more reputable companies that they will usually hold the horn better than an aftermarket maker.

Cases from aftermarket case companies, however, are made fairly generic. They must fit horns of as many different makers as possible! The supports will be generalized to protect the points that run the gamut and are similar in all horns. Some with the padding style that is remeniscent of memory foam (not exactly) such as the older BAM cases and the like, are cool but still don't seem to offer as much internal support.

The exception that I have seen would be Manning cases- whose cases are made 1 at a time and are molded for the exact form of your personal horn, not just that model. The protection is 2nd to none, however they come at a fairly hefty pricetag comparatively! I own a tenor/ soprano Manning and I absolutely love it. I never worry when I travel with it, and I am on the road or in the air at least once a week with my horns!

However, others can work well. Yamaha put their hand in the contoured case biz as well, but I believe that the case is simply an SKB case with "Yamaha" printed on the outer storage area rather than SKB. I very much doubt that the inner molding is any different from the stock SKB which, once again, is aftermarket and made relatively general for accomodation of multiple lines.

I hope this helps!

 

[DTExpress]

Walt Johnson cases dont offer the same type of protection?!?!?!? Are you kidding? You could park a bus on a Walt Johnson!!!

 

[Woosax]

The exterior of the Walt Johnson (as well as Hiscox) cases is of course strong and spectacular. At issue is the lack of internal support, specifically support between the bell and body. If you drop a horn in a WJ or Hiscox case, the weight of the horn pushing against itself can bend it. As Rockstar points out, you can't make a "General" case that has this type of support, unless you customize it for each horn.

Also, I do agree that Yamaha's "new" flight case is simply an SKB 450 with "Yamaha" printed on the outside. It does not offer the internal support of a Custom Z case (or any of the older Yamaha horns).

 

[Call Me Rockstar]

^^ Hey- that's one way to move a halfway decent case: Slap an even more reputable name on it!

 

[Saxlicker]

I think the primary advantage of Yamaha cases is the form fitting design. In particular there is case material that comes up between the bell and body, lessening the likelihood of bending of the horn is ever dropped. Hiscox, Walt Johnson, and Protec don't seem to provide the same type of protection.

Selmer horns fit in the Yamaha Cases perfectly. I think the internal support favors the Yamaha case.

Am I missing something?

No, I think you are right on all counts they are generally really good.
But....
Going back awhile, regarding construction, there were a fair amount of YAS 62 cases from the 'purple logo' era that split in one corner of the case (at least here in the south of England).
When I was buying my 62 there were a fair number in the shop where the case had already split. Mine went shortly after buying the horn and was replaced only to split again. I didn't bother asking for another replacement and the split hasn't got any worse. It stress relieved its self I suppose.
Any one else had this?

 

[Stephen Howard]

Going back awhile, regarding construction, there were a fair amount of YAS 62 cases from the 'purple logo' era that split in one corner of the case (at least here in the south of England).

Any one else had this?

Mine did. I screwed brass corner plates to the case - sorted.

Regards,

 

[minous]

Mine too. Thinking of the same solution as SH.

 

[manningcustom]

www.manningcustom.com