Bass Sax Cases

[LouisXIV]

Where's the best place to get a new case for a bass sax. I have a Conn 1920s version.

[SOTSDO]

Your local cabinet maker?

Seriously, every bass sax that I have ever seen was in a custom crafted Plywood box, with the dimensions of the outside parameters of the horn plus an inch or two. Aside from being relatively heavy (and not cradling the horn within the case all that well), they were chiefly notable for not fitting into most sedan vehicles without causing damage.

All of these were either Conns or stencils that were produced by the good colonel.

With an outline of the horn (best produced by placing the horn on some paper, lighting it from above, and then more or less tracing the shadow), a deep block of HDPE "Styrofoam" (I'd look for a block that was at least one foot thick, with length and width dimensions to suit the horn) and a hot wire cutter (made from a model railroad transformer, some Nichrome wire, a wooden handle and some circuit wire), you could excavate the appropriately shaped cavity.

Then, have a case maker fabricate the box around your foam block, adding the plush and the top cushion in the process. There's a company up in Kenosha WI that will do just that for you (they make cases for Leblanc), giving a "genuine" instrument case in the process.

The big problem with cases is the construction/fabrication/"excavation" of the innards. Solve that and you're home free...

[Gandalfe]

Louis, I think you posted this on the Bass Sax forum and there's a fellow who will contact you shortly about a bass sax case that Lee Mason has made. You can see a picture of it in my blog (http://gandalfe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!51AA828BCB20646!915.entry#comment). Lee Mason has cases made in two form factors, the antique with basically fuzzy thick cloth protection and a foam lined big box for your soft case.

Unfortunately, as beautiful as this case is, it isn't well padded at all. Terry is right, if I had it to do over again, I would have sprung for a box with much more protection. So I purchased some eggshell crate stuff and use bubble wrap when I take this baby anywhere.

I've heard that if you call the Americase guys (http://www.americase.com/) you can get a custom case. Can't see a bass sax case on the site though.

Fortunately my next bass sax will come with super high protection ratings in both a soft and a hard case.

[Carl H.]

Just spotted this on craigslist minneapolis.New bass sax case for sale. (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/msg/302149938.html)

[Randall]

Carl, I had this same case with my JK bass and it is a good one.
If you put some casters on the bottom and a pull-handle on one end, you can roll the thing just about anywhere.

[Carl H.]

I value my life too much to even contemplate such a purchase for myself!

[Gandalfe]

Just spotted this on craigslist minneapolis.New bass sax case for sale. (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/msg/302149938.html)Yup, this is the case I am talking about. It is beautiful but has very skimpy padding for the instrument. If you drop a tenor in a Walt Johnson case, 9 out 10 times, there will be no damage. If you drop a bass sax in this case, I don't think you'd want to look inside... :shock:

I have a picture at home that I keep forgetting to post of the two cases that come with the Eppelsheim bass sax. The whole instrument is shrouded in foam! I'll try to remember to post that this weekend.

[Carl H.]

How about a modified wagon setup for a case? Large pneumatic wheels and weight wouldn't be as much of an issue. You'd still need a van to move it.

Trade offs are an unfortunate reality with big instruments. I'd like to have a hard case for my string bass, but I'd never use it and don't have room to keep it either. I think the safer a bass case is the more likely it is to be left at home because it is such a nuisance to lug the darned thing around.

[Bar-Ron]

I picked up a Lee Mason case also, but I wouldn't send it to a baggage department at an airport in it without extra bubble wrap.
It is a classic styled case almost exactly like my 1931 buescher bari case. The only thing different with the Mason case as it lacks a bell strap. In the buescher case there is a leather strap that holds the bell from sliding around. Other than that it has good padding along the body tube and neck.

I would feel a little more comfortable with a blob of padding around the bell so I am going to make two apposing cushions cover in soft fabric to accommodate that and then I'll be happy with it.

The mason sax case would be improved with just some Bell padding and some wheels and another handle, though I may make a simple dolly that folds up for storage and be all set there too.

[Theinflatedtear]

Hi,

My dad also has a 20's Conn bass and he has a Walt Johnson case. We travel a lot with it and the sax has never been damaged. Hope this helps you out!

Alek

www.myspace.com/alekrazdan

[saxtek]

The case from Mason is the Allied Supply case, which is widely available from almost any music store, especially if it has a repair shop. Why have the case sent to Mason, and then sent to you, when it can be sent to your local music store. If something goes wrong in shipping, it isn't your problem if you order it locally, and prices are competitive, if not better.

[Gandalfe]

The case from Mason is the Allied Supply case, which is widely available from almost any music store, especially if it has a repair shop. Why have the case sent to Mason, and then sent to you, when it can be sent to your local music store. If something goes wrong in shipping, it isn't your problem if you order it locally, and prices are competitive, if not better.You are right of course. But look on the bass coop forum and elsewhere and you will most likely see someone trying to find a case. Mason made it easy to find using an Internet search and by frequenting the forums where bass saxes are talked about. Still I love this case, even though it will not be available for my custom bass sax.

[tmonster]

What about getting a custom "anvil" style flight case maker? You know, the road ready black with aluminum trim, similar to the music racks you see? They can be made custom, and some are somewhat lightweight. I see people hocking them for mixing consoles and guitars and all sorts of other devices. You can get a custom made anvil box to the outer dimensions you need, then fill the inside. They can do wheels on them, handles all around, butterfly latches, etc.

You would still need to come up with a solution for foaming the inside... you would want to be very careful doing this, but there are several types of foam setups where the foam will expand after activated... it's set off chemically or something and squirted in, then it would need to be covered with something good to isolate it from the instrument, then perhaps put sax in, then let foam continue to expand around the instrument to contour it (once again, covered so there is an isolation barrier... then once it's done, cover the huge foam booger with the felty furry stuff, and come up with a solution for the top of the case.

[saxtek]

I've seen a new bass sax case for the International Woodwinds Asian bass sax on ebay. It looks to be more compact than the usual wood shell bass saxophone case. Has anyone tried to put an old Conn bass into one of these cases?

My Myspace music page:

http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis