Worried about my Pro Tec

[saxymanzach]

Hey!
A few months ago, when i bought my new tenor, I upgraded the case to a Protec (Propack model, I think). My problem is, I am moving to Los Angeles next week and I am worried that with all of the exposure (having to carry it everywhere, people bumping into it, ect.) ascociated with my new sorroundings that the case may not last as long. I mean, this thing is no sax bomb shelter...:)

So, do you yhink I am too worked up over nothing or should I look into investing in something more protective?

[odsum25]

I've never had a problem just getting around with the Protec cases. I wouldn't exactly want to fly with my horn in one, but getting around town, as long as you're careful, isn't bad.

[jacobeid]

I too had a protec case but ended up returning it. It felt kind of iffy and it put a lot of extra pressure on my octave vent on my neck.

[paulwl]

The shaped Pro Tecs are a lot sturdier than the square kind. The shallow sides on the shaped cases are plywood; on the square cases, they're just styrofoam.

[Dave Dolson]

Zach: I have my favorite soprano and alto in Protek cases (alto is a shaped model). I don't allow others to handle them and I always take care of them. Unless you have to give it up, I see no problem in handling your saxophone inside a Protek case. DAVE

[Razzy]

Unless people in LA have a particular fondness for body-checking strangers on the street, (I dunno, never been there) I think you should be fine. I've had my alto and bari in Protec's for about 2 years and they've been fine. Just exercise caution as you would with any other case.

[Jaared]

I was an avid Pro-Tec user for close to 12 years when I had a mishap at the security checkpoint at Reagan National Airport one morning going to Guantanamo Bay Cuba to perform for our troops. I had a T.S.A. agent pick up my Mark VI alto, (in the pro-tec case at the time), and accidently drop it off of the conveyor belt...(about 3 feet or so). I had Pro-Tec's "top of the line" contoured leather case and when I opened the case, the body of my alto was bent. I had to have it straightened, (which took about 5+ hours), and change my flight to a later one in the evening. Once I got to GTMO, another sax player showed me his Walt Johnson Alto and Soprano cases. He had Mark VI's for both horns and he placed them in the cases, latched them up, then proceeded to STAND ON THEM! I freaked out....until he calmly, (with a smile I might add!), opened the cases and played his saxes perfectly.

I now have a Walt Johnson case for my Alto, and one of his rare double cases for my Alto and Straight Soprano. I'm now looking for Walt's Straight Soprano flight case.

My suggestion....if you love your sax....ditch the Pro-Tec and get a Walt Johnson "styled" case. Walt's cases are hard to come by now, but I know that there are other companies out there such as Berkeley, Hiscox, SKB, etc.

Just my opinion...

All the best.