Buescher TH&C Tenor Case (Bootman, can you help?)

[tophatsax]

I have been waiting for more than 3 months now to get a Walt Johnson case for my Top Hat & Cane Tenor. Since I'm no longer confident I will receive it (or that it will fit any better than the first one, which I had to return) I'm looking for alternatives.

Are there any other options?

Bootman has mentioned on this forum that Hiscox cases are best for Bueschers, but I had Dave at Junkdude.com, try one with a TH&C and it didn't fit. Are there any good alternatives to the WJ.

While I'm asking, I may be in the market soon for a new case for my Buescher Big B Bari too. What are my options here?

Thanks in advance.

tophatsax@hotmail.com

[Lovayne]

Who did you order your's through? I've had one on order for about a month now through Theo at Saxophone Mouthpiece Heaven. He emailed me to say they had been having some slight delays from Walt Johnson but thinks they have things straightened out now. Hope mine fits when it gets here. I've been told some Winter cases and Keilwerth cases work with top hats but decided to go with Johnson because they are custom made to each model sax.

[tophatsax]

Lovayne,

I ordered mine through SaxQuest and they have been following up on it regularly, but get little response from WJ. The first case must have been for an Aristocrat because it couldn't handle the bell. When I sent it back, I sent a tracing of my sax, so they could get the angle right. I'm still waiting because there really are few options for the TH&C. Love the horn though!

Thanks for the reply and let me know when your case comes and how you like it.

tophatsax@hotmail.com

[MusicMan]

I love the WJ I have for my Aristocrat tenor, but I can see how the bell of a TH&C wouldn't fit in this case.

WJ seems to be having some customer service and delivery issues right now. I had bought my case used and wanted to replace the worn handles. After I contacted WJ by email about a replacement, it took two weeks and a couple of phone calls to get a response...I know the Steve Goodson dropped WJ because of major delivery problems.

I heard somewhere that a Berkeley case is a nice fit for a TH&C and the cost is comparable.

[tophatsax]

MusicMan,

Thanks. I'll check out Berkeley

[Bill Mecca]

Phil Barone is now marketing some nice contoured cases, prices are comparable as well.

[Bootman]

Hiscox.

[tophatsax]

Bootman,

I had Dave at Junkdude try one out for me and he said it did't fit the TH&C correctly. Are there different sizes of Hiscox Tenor Cases? Do you have any experience with the Berkeley cases?

Thanks

Tophatsax

[Randall]

HISCOX will NOT work for a TH&C tenor....I have one and I tried it. But the Keilwerth (Winter) aluminum case is a perfect fit and that is what I use for my TH&C.
I haven't tried the Winter gig case for older Keilwerths (The older JK's had bigger bells than the current ones), but I would still recommend the aluminum case over the gig case. It is really fine.

[tophatsax]

Randall,

Thanks! I'll check into the winter cases.

I'm still interested in other possibilities, so any other comments from folks familiar with TH&C Tenors will be appreciated. Please let me know if anyone has had success with a Berkeley. I have a connection at Selmer, but am assuming that non of their cases will handle the big bell.

Also interested in ideas about a case for my "Big B" Bari

Thanks

tophatsax

[MusicMan]

The ProTec cases, both the contoured and coffin (rectangular) cases fit the Buescher 'crats beautifully. I had been keeping my Big B in a coffin case until I had the original case fully restored to new condition. Sold that case to max for his Big B to live in.

[tophatsax]

MusicMan,

Thanks!

TopHatSax

[Randall]

I just thought of it, but maybe one of the new Cannonball Big Bell sax cases would also fit your TH&C....I am fairly sure the bell size will be similar. The question would be the bow area.
Maybe Cashsax can tell us as I know he has a Big Bell tenor....

[tophatsax]

...I had the original case fully restored to new condition.

Where do you have a case restored, and is that expensive?

TopHatSax

[MusicMan]

Upholstery shop...not too bad...just under $100 in this case (pun intended) :D

[tophatsax]

Upholstery shop...

What all did they do to it? Did they reinforce the hinges & latches? Was the inside restored to original or did you modify the padding. What about the outside? (Mine has a kind of tan fabric).

The reason I'm asking is that I have had a Walt Johnson case that's been on order for more than 3 months. I never really thought about restoring my original case, but that sounds like a cool (and cheaper) alternative.

TopHatSax

[CashSax]

I've found the Pro-Tec Contoured works with my TH&C Tenor just fine.. 8)

[tophatsax]

Thanks for the replies. I have cancelled my WJ and have a Berkeley King Size case on order from England. I'll post my impression of the case once it arrives.

TopHatSax

[tophatsax]

The Berkeley case has arrived.

It's not quite as nice as the Walt Johnson, but was almost $100 cheaper and arrived from England in two weeks. The main difference in quality is the hinges, which are not as nice as the piano hinge on the WJ.

The inside is a red velour, as opposed to the black fur-like stuff of the WJ. There are 5 spring latches on the Berkely - one with a built in lock (the WJ has heavy duty latches with a ring to put a padlock through). The Berkeley has no storage compartments, but plenty of space to strategically place well padded pouches.

There are some small square patches of velour that cover the hinges on the inside of the case, and they are falling off, so I'll have to re-attach them (the heat from the journey across the ocean must have melted the glue).

Overhaul, it will serve my purposes well, but I can see the need for the WJ if you were going to a lot of gigs or traveling.

If anyone is interested, I can send you some pictures of the TH&C in the case, just email me.

TopHatSax
tophatsax@hotmail.com

[Troy]

Didn't see this until now. I got a WJ through Steve Goodson. It was for an Aristocrat, but they custom made it, so they could fix one up for a TH&C. Steve was a big help. Sent a very specific drawing to Walt so the dimensions were just right.

It took a while, and I had to ride herd on the order myself. Steve was busy and professionals who needed their horns took priority. WJ was behind (and distracted by a new baby).

However, since I'm a Project Manager, politely nagging is almost second nature to me. :) I had to place a few calls to Steve and a few to Walt...but, my WJ contoured is great!!