Contoured versus rectangular

[SteveS]

Ok, 'splain something -- How come a ProTec contoured case costs several bucks MORE than a rectangular case? Seems to me the rectangular case is bigger and uses more material, so why isn't is more expensive?

Also, seems the ProTec contoured cases are more popular than the recangular ones, even though the rectangular ones hold more stuff inside. Why is that?

[saxtub]

They look cool, and the're small enough to be used as carry-on for plane travel, and the pros do a lot of traveling. I use an SKB rectangular case myself. But, I don't fly anymore. I live in the northeast and most of my gigs can be reached by car.

[MusicMan]

SteveS...The contoured cases are more expensive because they are contoured, not straight. The standard shells are made of stock plywood, which is readily available and comparitively cheap. To make a contoured shell, you must laminate thin strips of veneer around a form to build up to the desired thickness. You just can't bend a stock piece of plywood...it would delaminate. So there's much more labor involved in making a contoured case...hence the higher price.

[Paul Coats]

Size has nothing to do with cost.

For example, the Chrylser 273, 318, 340, and 360 cubic in engines were all the same size block. Their cranks were very similar, except for the longer stroke on the 360. There was approximately the same amount of metal in each. It is certainly no more expensive to make pistons of various slightly different diameters. All of the parts start with more metal than needed, and are machined down to size. It is NOT a matter of cost of materials. Yet, because one engine was 273 cubic inches, it cost the buyer less for his car than if he ordered the 360 (yes, there were other parts that were different, too).

Take mouthpieces... a soprano sax mouthpiece is one price, alto a little more, tenor more, and bari a lot more. The clarinet mouthpiece is usually somewhat cheaper than the similar alto sax mouthpiece. Why? The amount of materials, and cost, is only pennies difference. It is much harder to make a soprano sax mouthpiece, which takes more precision, is harder to work with because of its size, and there are more rejects.

And the clarinet should cost most of all. A groove has to be machined for the cork to go in. Strips of cork must be cut, and painted with contact cement. The mouthpiece groove has to be coated with contact cement. The cork has to be applied, then sanded to shape. All of this is much more work than it takes to make a sax mouthpiece.

Yet a small clarinet mouthpiece sells for less than an alto sax mouthpiece. Why? Because that is what the general public expects!

It has always been that way, so the industry undercharges slighly for clarinet mouthpieces, and the soprano sax mouthpiece, and makes up for it with the price of the larger sax mouthpieces.

If price in that field were strictly due to cost of manufacturing, the the alto, tenor and bari mouthpieces would all be one equal price, the soprano cost slightly more, and the clarinet even more.

But the present price structures are not a plot against tenor and bari players, it is just a response to market forces.

MusicMan is exactly correct.

[SteveS]

Many thanks, everyone. Ended up getting a good deal on a blue contoured Protec tenor case. Fits like a glove, is sturdy, light, and relatively inexpensive.

[Scottysax73]

I like my Protec contoured for my Mark VI, ive never had a problem. Everyone else agree?

[sessionsax]

I have had good luck with my contoured pro tec alto and tenor case. I wouldn't put them on a plane though.

[MattC]

I carry mine on a plane regularly. Never had a problem bringing it on or storing it in the overhead.

[saxmanjack]

I checked out a Protec contoured alto case in a local music store the other day. Disappointing...

[Scottysax73]

why? They are very protective

[saxmanjack]

Just looked cheaply made to me. $100 is too much for that fine Chinese product...

[Scottysax73]

personally, ive used protec for many years. Never had a problem. They protect very well!!!!

[MattC]

I fine mine to be made VERY well for what it is. I find case discussion here a bit amusing though....

I spent more than a few years on the road with a string bass and at least two electric basses. The string bass flew with me, I bought a ticked for the bass every time I flew (or a ticket was purchased for me) the electric basses, a fretless Fender jazz bass and a 5 string Alembic went in Anvil cases which were checked. I've seen many people put many instruments through bagage, in all kinds of cases and I've seen many get destroyed (including a cello that was reduced to splinters and this thing was in a case that made a WJ sax case look like a gig bag. Bottom line is, there really is only one "flight" case - and that is Anvil (or Calzone which is owned by Anvil). Either carry it on or put it in a real road case. That being said, as far as an everyday, to the gig, walking around the streets of New York with a ton of stuff, all-purpose case, most work fine, and the Protec is particularly well suited for it, especially at that price point.

To my mind buying a WJ case, for what it costs is stupid if you're buying it for any reason other than "hey, I think it's cool." IMHO, a cat would be better off buying a less expensive (but probably equally protective) every day case, and then investing in an Avil road case for when real protection was needed.

All that being said, I'm in the process of getting a MVI and will probably get a new selmer flight case for it - but only becasue I think the maroon one is cool...

8)

[gary]

Just looked cheaply made to me. $100 is too much for that fine Chinese product...
Is the adjective "Chinese" supposed to somehow imply inferiority? Much quality clothing, shoes, gig bags, yes, even musical instruments, are chinese made. Why don't we leave the subtile racism out?

[saxmanjack]

Nothing to do with racism; I'm talking about price vs. value of labor content.
I can spend $100 for a case with $5 worth of labor, or $200 for a case with
$50 worth of labor. Which is the better "value", socio-economically speaking?
Back in the '70's, everyone wore Converse 'All-Star' athletic shoes -- cost
about 12 bucks, union made in USA. Now we pay closer to $100 for name-brands which are imported. What have we gained? When I lived in Germany, and on numerous visits to Europe since, it was tough to find anything in a store that WASN'T made in Europe. Still that way? If "protectionist" means "racist" to you, then who are the real racists in this world? Those of us whose parents grew up during the depression and lived through WWII have a different outlook on life...

[Mel]

Music knows no gender nor race. It's a shame we have to deal with it here.

[gary]

Those of us whose parents grew up during the depression and lived through WWII have a different outlook on life...
LOL. Well, thanks for the compliment. You just took at least a decade off of my age. Too bad the mirror doesn't reflect the same :roll:

[MattC]

Interesting.

Now what if, due to different labor rates, $5 actually bought you more man-hours than the $50 labor cost product did?

8)

[saxmanjack]

The example assumes that the same amount of manpower is required to
produce a case; The $5 and $50 figures reflect the differing labor
rates. Anyway, Matt, I tend to agree with your post questioning
the actual safety/durability of any of the available cases. I almost
bought a Selmer Paris flight case for my 64K tenor, simply because its
the coolest looking case out there, but decided to order one of Phil's
cases instead. It should arrive tomorrow...

[MattC]

I expect a review of it when you get it!