Hiscox case drop test?

[Ken]

I am thinking of getting one of these for tenor, as I dropped my case the other day. But I was wondering how a hiscox case would fare in a similar situation.

I got out of the car and started walking to rehearsal with the case slung over my shoulder and got halfway across the road when the next thing I knew the shoulder strap broke and the case dropped bow first onto the road. The only damage that I could see was the octave pin that protrudes out above the top of the horn was bent out of vertical. The octave mechanism also no longer worked but all that needed was a bit of regulating, a 1/2 hour job by the tech.

Anyway I was wondering whether anyone had a similar situation with a hiscox case and how did the horn fare in your case. My current case is a Selmer Flight case from the mid 80's which basically seems to be an ABS shell with polystyrene interior.

[Saxaholic]

I watched an old teacher of mine, years ago, throw his prized Mark VI on a hard concrete ground in a Walt Johnson case. Not a ding, dent, scratch, or bend on the horn. I was terrified but later amazed. His advice: "Don't try that at home." :shock::shock::shock:

Saxaholic

[Thomas]

I witnessed my 79xxx VI tenor in a Hiscox case, hit, knocked over and pushed along about 30 feet by a small forklift on the tarmac of Heathrow airport. No damage to either the case or the horn. Does that convince you?

[Sigmund451]

I dont know about drops but I know Dave at Junkdude used to stand on them with a vintage horn inside. He is no small man.

[ZenBen]

I witnessed my 79xxx VI tenor in a Hiscox case, hit, knocked over and pushed along about 30 feet by a small forklift on the tarmac of Heathrow airport. No damage to either the case or the horn. Does that convince you?

How long did you have to wait to find out? Was it at the beginning or the end of your flight?

[gary]

Ken, something similar happened to me with a Johnson and my sax survived without needing even the slightest adjustment. Presently I have a Hiscox and I suspect it would protect the case similarly but I just don't know for certain.

I like this Hiscox, but just an observation. The much touted standing on the case test is one thing, having the horn and case go bouncing down a set of stairs end on end (which also happened in my Johnson without damage to my sax) is quite another.

Take your pick. Hiscox or my Johnson. :D

[saxophrenic]

Take your pick. Hiscox or my Johnson. :D

Oh, you can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me Johnny, or you can call me Ray Jay, but you don't has to buy a Johnson!

I'll pass on the other, cruder, Johnson meme

8-)8-)

[JB4sax]

Take your pick. Hiscox or my Johnson. :D

That's the PERFECT line to go along with your signature!!
:headbang:

[Swampcabbage]

My Johnson dropped and skidded along Boylston street for a good 20 feet. No issues with the horn (the case lost a couple of it's feet though).

Hiscox has not been dropped yet but judging by similarity in internal supports I assume it would fair similarly.

[Jazz House]

Take your pick. Hiscox or my Johnson. :D

Actually I might have a shovel.

[Thomas]

How long did you have to wait to find out? Was it at the beginning or the end of your flight?

i didn't have to wait. I was doing a rapid transfer between connecting flights and was right there. Opened it up-saw the horn was fine ,carried aboard and flew on.

[Chris Peryagh]

How about the jump test - lay the case down on the ground and jump on it. I've heard they stand up to this too.

If you're worried about the precious contents of the case, put a cheap Chinese sax in there as a crash test dummy.

[Brian]

I have done both .... dropped and jumped ... with instruments inside, as a test. It's all true, believe me. I actually have a video of one of my dealers who wanted to prove this fact to his customers. In this video, he slides a guitar case off the roof of his vehicle in free fall to the ground. Than he opens the case and pulls out his prize Martin guitar (acoustic).

There are also MANY such testimonials on my website, but the video is first hand witness. The Hiscox video on the site, also, shows 5 grown men standing on an acoustic guitar case with instrument inside. (The other video is a personal one and not on my site... I could find it and forward to anyone that was really that interested).
All the best,
Brian

[rashorn]

I now have a drop test to add (n=1) from an experience last week.

Take one Walter Johnson case (probably 15 years old), insert circa 1936 Beuscher Aristocrat, place horn in back of full size SUV, then have teenager open the lift gate blissfully unaware that horn can shift during drive home from concert so when lift gate is lifted horn flies out and drops 3' -4' onto asphalt driveway- crash.

Sure enough, no damage to the horn, just a scratch on the case. The teenager and I were surprised and relieved. While back of an SUV to the asphalt is not a big time torture test, it is at least one WJ case success story.

(Ironically, I usually use a softer Pro-tec case my my MIV tenor).

[F4UCorsair]

saxophrenic, very witty !!

[Hewhois]

I hate straps on cases. They are the debil :evil:

[Turnaround]

I watched an old teacher of mine, years ago, throw his prized Mark VI on a hard concrete ground in a Walt Johnson case. Not a ding, dent, scratch, or bend on the horn. I was terrified but later amazed. His advice: "Don't try that at home." :shock::shock::shock:

Saxaholic

I've done this many times with my Walt Johnson. The case was great. Every strap I put on the case failed. Now I just made a strap with a sling of leather and permanently fixed it.