keilwerth

[luckyace1111]

I was just wondering if the skb cases,pro tec and walt johnson cases fit keilwerth saxes, mainly alto and tenor.

[Randall]

SKB..no, unless you break some of the foam under the fur.
Pro tec, depends on the case, so maybe.
WJ....makes a case to fit Keilwerths (you'll have to specify that you want a Keilwerth case), but don't go there.
My personal favorite for a Keilwerth is the "aluminum" rectangular cases. They are light, sturdy and have huge accessory compartments. Plus they are pretty sharp looking too.

[Morry]

Man, I really like the "sax mover" cases that my JKs came in. They are lightweight yet sturdy, have tons of storage, a full zipper closure, backpack straps, and pockets on the outside for lots of music, etc. Of course, they are not intended as flight cases, by any means.

[Randall]

Morry, I like the sax mover too, but I don't like the zipper so much. Although I am very careful with my horns, I have seen TOO many people trash their horns in similar zip up cases because they forgot to zip it up, or didn't get it fully zipped and the horn decided to escape.
Last Friday, I saw a guy who came into the shop for a little minor maintenance do just this with his BAM manufactured B&S Codera case. He only partially zipped it up, grabbed it by one handle instead of both, the weight of the sax pushed against the lid of the case causing the zipper to disengage and....
He REALLY did a number on the horn when it dropped. Talk about cringing... :(
I really felt bad for the guy. My former student who has a Codera tenor (in the same kind of case) did the exact same thing.
:cry:

[luckyace1111]

I think the "sax mover" case is what I have right now. It is a gray color and has full zip. I'm looking into cases for flight and I want the best hopefully for not more than $300.

[mostly alto guy]

Last time I checked, WJ indeed has a special case for Keilwerths, but only tenor--no alto offered. In my experience, JK altos and tenors don't fit in SKB, BAM, Pro-tec, or Hiscox without alteration. If you don't mind removing the thumbhook every time, you can make them fit into a Hiscox pro with some minor (if using a hammer can be called minor) adjustment to the hard foam padding around the front of the bow and bell area.

JKs do fit in Jakob Winter cases, but that figures since B&H owns both companies. For travel by plane I use Winter Greenline contoured cases for my SX90R alto and tenor, helping ensure a no-hassle carry-on. These afford reasonable protection and have adequate storage for neck, mpc, a few reeds and a strap. They are exceptionally light, and they look good. They are NOT suitable for backage check (is any case really?), and have suspect latches. I always secure them with an extra strap around the middle.

As for zippered cases, which both my JKs came in, I have this simple rule: never close the case without zipping it fully and snapping the little flap under the handle. Since the cases can get knocked shut accidentally, that boils down to either leaving the horn on a stand or inside the case with the zippers zipped. Not a hard habit to form, and way better then the alternative. It's the same concept as my motorcycle rule: never get on unless the helmet is already properly in place on your head. It's automatic now; horn goes in, hands reach for zippers.

[luckyace1111]

thanks for the tips guys. It'll definitely help me in finding the right case for my keilwerth

[Kosma]

I use a WJ case for my SX90. It has very little storage but otherwise is a great case. I don't know why Randall says "don't go there". What gives?
Until Hiscox makes one to fit, I think it's the best you can get.

I did manage to "wedge" my SX90 in my Hiscox liteflite, but it was tight enough to make me nervous so I wouldn't recommend it.

[Randall]

Kos,
look at the thread on bari sax BAM vs WJ cases and you'll see exactly why.
Also, I have heard of two different posters (at different times- one on the old board and now this new board) on this forum having their sops damaged in WJ's too.
Don't go there.... :roll:

[Kosma]

Randall, Sorry to hear about your bari getting trashed. I haven't had any problems with mine so far (it's a tenor case) but I will continue to be careful. The fact is though that you can't "expect" any case to protect your horn from even a one or two foot drop. Not to say that you will always get damage, but it's a possibility in any case. (pun?) I've had cases knocked over while sitting on the floor (not on the end) and got minor damage. I don't trust ANY case to protect my horns from anything more than a bump against a door jamb as I stumble in at 3 in the morning.

So Randall I have an idea: Since you have so much gear, why don't you put one of your horns in each brand of case and throw 'em all out the window; and put some spin on it. Then we'll know for sure which one is the best!

[gary]

Lucky - I don't the availability or cost of where you are, but Berkeley of London make a case for the Keilwerth tenor sax.

Afterthought. Concerning the zippered cases being unsafer than latched ones: seems to me anyone who would forget to zip up his case (or anything else LOL), might be just as likely to forget to latch his case.

[Randall]

Kos,
I already know which case is the best and it is a Hiscox. Protection vs space vs cost vs features (lightness, latches, lock, strap), the Hiscox outclasses all cases of it's type.
The runner up is the older form fitted SKB. Of course I am talking about portability here with these two cases- If I were not, it would be the Anvil case for ultimate protection.
Also, part of my beef with the WJ, is their advertisement of it being the the best protection money can buy, etc....simply not true, and they won't back it up either. Been there, did that. So have quite a few other people.
As for putting a horn in each type and throwing them out a window- I'll consider it if you'll volunteer to follow them (via the same path) out to check on the horns after the fall... :twisted:
One final thing....I am over 200 lbs and I can stand on my Hiscox case with the horn inside it and it will not be damaged. Would you allow me to stand on your WJ tenor case withthe horn inside it? :!: :?:

[gary]

Kos,
I already know which case is the best and it is a Hiscox.

Great. Then you can help me out, Randall. I am not able to get my hands on a Hiscox for a comparison, so can you do that for me? Would you please contrast the Berkeley cases with the Hiscox? Thanks.

[Randall]

Gary, first, I think you need to know that the Hiscox won't fit your Keilwerth as it is. You'll have to bust up of some of the inner foam under the lining and I don't know if you want to to do that, or even if you do, if it will provide enough protection.
The Berkeley cases are generally nice cases, but basically made of the same type of shell material as the Walt Johnson cases (which I do NOT trust). They seem to be a little trimmer/ sleeker and they have virtually no room inside except for the sax itself. They also seem to be prefered by a lot of guys who fly often because of their thin profile- getting them onto planes seems to not be such a hassle. You would NOT want to put a Berkeley in the baggage hold.
The Hiscox, conversely has ample storage space, has a thin profile and has never been a problem (thank God) to get on a plane...yet. The case shell is tough due to the material under it, will not absorb a shock , bend inward and trash your horn, then pop out as the WJ will (and perhaps the Berkeley- although I have never heard any reports of this problem from Berkeley owners). I dropped my alto out of the SUV (a 4 foot drop) in a Hiscox and it was absolutely fine. The case itself showed only a minor scar.
I could put my Hiscox in the baggage hold if I HAD to and be fairly confident about getting my sax back unhurt, although I wouldn't do it voluntarily, nor would I advise anyone to do that with anything less than an Anvil case.
Since you are looking for a Keilwerth case, I recommend you get a Winter form fitted case, buy your self a couple of good locking latches and rivet those babies on in place of the latched that come with it. Be sure to rivet them onto the metal edge of the case if possible. You could just rivet the existing latches if you wanted to....
I used a Winter for many years and it protected my horn just fine, but the latches can become separated from the case material because of the way they are attached to it (ie: without rivets).
Hope this helps. :)

[gary]

Domo arigato for the detailed answer, O-Henna-Gaijinsan. :wink:

I already have a Berkeley but keep hearing so many good things about the Hiscox that I'm tempted to get one, but not unless I'm convinced it is a marked improvement over my Berkeley, which I like.

Funny, but many folks put a lot of stock in their Johnsons and if the Berkeley is made of the same material as them, then I would feel comfortable with the Berkeley, then. Did you have a bad experience with cases made of the same material?

[Randall]

gary, at least I am not a hentai gaijinsan! :P
I am fairly sure that you will like the Hiscox over the Berkley...there is more room inside, the latches are great and lock and it is the best protection in it's class, bar none.
Look at the WJ vs BAM bari sax case thread for a detailed explanation of the case shell material problems of the WJ.
Trust me, the material that the WJ is made of is an accident waiting to happen.
Why risk it when the Hiscox is available and can be had for much less?
As for people putting so much stock in the WJ's....not an unusual phenomenon. First is the company advertising of "the best protection money can buy", then you have dealers touting them as the best thing since sliced bread. They are nice looking too and certainly are trim and light compared to many.
At first appearance they DO seem very good, but due to the pliability of the shell material, they can trash your horn with the right kind of impact at the wrong place.
As I said before, why risk it?
:roll:

[gary]

Thanks, again, Randall!

[Subtone Sam]

I've said this before but my JK Ponzol and SX90R tenors do fit in my Hiscox pro-case.But now when I think about it,the first time I tried to fit my Ponzol tenor into Hiscox,I thought it didn't fit either.But its really the way HOW you put it in there.1) make sure that your neck end of the horn is in the proper place in the case (where the padding is,not too low) 2) Put the neck end in first,then body tube,after that gently push the bell to its place.The case is tight fit to JK but thats the way I like it since its not too tight.

[freerdr88]

I had the same problem with my keilwerth tenor, walt johnson makes a caes only for keilwerth, and keilwerth makes one