Berkeley cases?

[MandoPaul]

How do they compare to the Walt Johnson cases and does anyone stock them in the USA?

[saxomophone]

Don't know how they compare, but Weiner music has them
http://www.weinermusic.com/angelica/Frame1.html

[Keith]

Anyone had used Berkeley on a Super 20 alto? Please share your experience.

[Buster]

Berkely cases are fairly solid, quite compact and easy to carry. They have internal padding but have little internal support - your sax can move about inside if you do not use some sort of foam blocks. My experience is only with Selmertenors.

[Thomas]

I'll be posting a Berkeley of London contoured case for alto in the Marketplace shortly-look for it there

[gary]

I use Berkeley and like them. They're compact, relatively light and are made of fibre-glass, so the shell is hard. They are extremely bad-weather friendly, which I need in this wonderful German weather =:o.

Some folks won't like the lack of storage space, but I carry the mouthpiece and neck in a Kiwi bag that goes into the horn bell, the strap and reed holder in another felt bag that lies alongside the horn in the case, as does my cleaning swab. I need the compactness for air travel. Also, if its pertinent to you, they come in a wide choice of colors and finishes.

When I have rehearsals and gigs and need to carry other stuff, I just put them into a back pack. Gotta do it anyway for my sax stand.

By the way, if you deal directly with Don Macrill (sp?) in England (who make the case) you might get a better price than the US firm listed above.

I have researched Johnson cases, never used one. I know that they come highly recommended and you can send them a stencil of your present horn and they'll make sure the case fits your horn perfectly. I also believe they're much more expensive than the Berkeleys.

Also, check out the Hiscox, which also get really good press on this forum. Not as compact or "cool" looking (LOL) as the Berkeleys, though.

[MandoPaul]

I'm assuming the Hiscox horn cases are the same basic construction as the guitar cases. They are plastic, not fiberglass and the latches snag and open way too easily. They are not very sturdy. They're the equivalent of the cheaper SKB cases.

I keep hearing that Johnson's are way more expensive. However, the Berkeleys are about $200 for a tenor and I can get a Johnson for $270.

If I order direct from Berkeley, it seems to be about $300 US... It would be fun to have a case in some unique, easy to spot color but I can get a Johnson for less, I'll probably go that way.

[singlereed]

I disagree with the last post about Hiscox cases, I have been using them for guitars for 16 years and more recently, the sax ones too and I cannot fault them. Whatever they make them out of, you can stand on them with an instrument inside - you can't say that for many other makes. The catches are as good as most other makes, if not better. I like the fact that they have a compartment for the neck and other bits and pieces. I recommend them, and they are great value here in the UK at least. Bear in mind the UK based distributor of Berkeley cases has had quite a bit of bad press on this forum previously for poor customer care serving US based customers. Hiscox, on the contrary, is outstanding, a handle recently broke on my 15-year old guitar case, and a new handle kit was with me in 48 hours, no questions asked, no charge. I have no connection with the business, but am a loyal and happy customer!

[MandoPaul]

Hiscox guitar cases are indeed a good buy in the UK. They are also as good as the standard TKL, etc. plywood cases that Martin and most other use. However, they are useless as shipping cases, checking with airlines, etc. They also don't stand up well to roadies and will melt/shift in high heat and direct sunlight.

It's the difference between a standard case and a flight case. Hiscox and SKB are a standard case. Neither are flight cases. Johnsons are flight cases. I'm curious if the Berkeleys are in the same quality range.

[max]

Johnsons are flight cases.

You can check yours if you want to, but I'd NEVER check a horn in one. I have both the Johnson and Hiscox, and I wouldn't consider either one of them to be a flight case.

[MandoPaul]

OK. I guess I need to be more explicit. There are really several qualities of cases. Gig bags are great ways to make work for repair folks and make money for gig bag vendors.

Then there are "standard" hard cases. These are things like Yamaha's stock plywood case, what folks like Hiscox, Presto, TKL, etc make. They're fine for hauling around town but don't really protect against hard blows, severe temperature or moisture, etc.

Then there are the "pro" level cases. For guitars, it's ones like Calton, Mark Leaf, Pegasus, etc. They have real hinges and latches that don't just pop open, are made of fiberglass and have high resistance to severe temperature and moinsture. In a pinch, if I could pad the inside in critical spots and use a case cover, I would check them, though not willingly. I've even had someone ship me a mandolin in a Calton case with one layer of bubble wrap taped around it all the way from Italy. It did make it just fine.

Pro cases work very well but are much heavier than standard cases. They tend to weigh (and cost) about twice what a standard case does.

Then there are "real" flight cases. These are massive plywood foot lockers with inches of foam padding and real ATA rated latches and hinges. They are safe to check because the luggage gorillas can't throw them; they're too heavy :)

From what I've seen, Johnsons are about the same level as Caltons and that's fine for what I want.

[max]

Fair enough.

I still think that Hiscoxes are far better than SKB. I had a tenor shipped across the continent in a Hiscox, packed well in a carboard box. It came through in perfect condition. Not a single microleak.

I have a friend who had a tenor shipped in an SKB from one state to the next. Also packed well. It wasn't in terrible shape, but it needed the usual trip to the tech to get the shipping shifts removed.

Also, just because the Johnson is made of fiberglass and has anvil-style latches doesn't mean it is automatically in the same league as the guitar cases you mentioned (which I honestly know nothing about).

I've heard all sorts of horror stories about the Johnson bari cases flexing with an impact, damaging the horn, and popping right back into shape, making it look like nothing happened.

I personally once dropped my soprano in its Johnson case (I have both tenor and soprano Johnsons) from a height of about 2.5'-3' - it was bent so badly that it was unusable on the gig.

Fiberglass does have its advantages over plastic, but I still use my Hiscox more than my Johnson...

[gary]

MandoPaul - "...the Berkeleys are about $200 for a tenor and I can get a Johnson for $270. If I order direct from Berkeley, it seems to be about $300 US."

Makes no difference to me what you order, but I'm curious about where the extra $100.00 comes from (the difference between $200.00 and $300.00 quoted above)?

The list prices in England include Value Added Tax (16% here) which you wouldn't pay. Also, Don Mackrill Music (England) can give a deep discount if he wants to. I bought an alto and tenor case directly from Don Mackrill last summer and darn near got them 2-for-1 price.

[singlereed]

I would say Berkeleys are not as well made as Hiscox. They are not flight cases, but just good quality gig-worthy cases to sling over your shoulder or int he trunk of a car or back of a van. Hiscoxes won't melt they are made of ABS. For a true flight case, have one made or refer to those available from Saxgourmet and get your wallet out.

[gary]

Hey singlereed -

"Hiscoxes won't melt they are made of ABS".

Oh man, LOL. If my sax case melts in the hold compartment of an airplane then I suppose, at that point, the sax's condition is somewhat irrelevant to me, WOT!? :shock:


By the way. Would you mind contrasting the quality differences between the Hiscoxs and Berkeleys? Thank you.

[Aaron]

Hey Gary,

Can you give us the information for Don Macrill. I'm looking for a Bb bari case and I could use any kind of discount available. BTW, how long did it take for the case to get here (assuming you are in the US) Thanks.

[gary]

Hi Aaron! Go to: http://www.donmack.com/

When I bought my cases from him, I dealt directly over the phone and got a deep discount. However, you should know that I am in Germany, not the US.

An observation for anyone interested: I just got back from a few weeks in Italy and there was a British sax player there who wanted to trade his Hiscox for my Berkley. He seemed to think the protectiveness was the same of both cases and that his case looked a little cheesey in comparison; his opinion. I did not make the trade.

[Aaron]

oops, thanks Gary. I guess I would've known you were in Germany if I had bothered to read. Thanks for the reply.