The new Phil Barone shaped gig case

[baribri]

I just took a flyer after seeing one of Phil Barones new shaped gig cases. I bought it and it came in just two days.
It is just great, especially for a guy like me that always has to double and carry a few horns. It is very much like the old Selmer sax pacs but this is the way they should have been made. Some kind of really strong light weight material with a nice tough vinyl type coverning, a heavy duty zipper all around it and to show you how serious they are they have thrown on a huge extra heavy trunk style latch! Talk about safety backups!
There is even a pocket for storage on the outside also and a great shoulder strap. On top of all of this they put in some really serious padding to cradle your horn also.
The whole case is a really small profile and is amazingly light. Now if he could make one like this for bari I would be the most thrilled guy on the bus. Sorry to sound like I am shilling for anybody but I am also the first guy to scream blooody murder when something sucks. This is just the reverse, I am crazy about this case and really suggest any of you that need to carry your sax around town to check it out.
BrianA

[Selmer's_glu]

I totally agree!!!

My sax carrying life has changed for the better, due to Phil's new gig cases.

I went over last nite to get a new sax case. Phil's case's are really
great. Extremely well made, very compact & light & protective. Also
they're very classy & cool looking. If you live in an area like NYC,
where you primarily rely on the Mass Transit System to get around, you
cant be messin with some big clunky case, esp. during rush hour!

Phil's cases are about as small as you can get, to put a tenor in &
still have ample padding & protection. I'd liken them to a better
made & designed version of the old Selmer Saxpack of the 1970s, but
with much better protection & made from finer materials.

Flying with our horns has always been a big source of anxiety for
musicians. My girlfriend is a flight attendent, for a major airline,
doing the International flight line & honestly thinks that anyone
flying with Phil's case wouldn't have the slightest problem bringing
it on board the cabin---how's that for an endorsement & she doesnt even play saxophone!

[Thomas]

Does Phil actually have the tenor cases now? How much is he getting for them? I recall hearing some time past that he'd scrubbed the idea of the cases-something about availability from the manufacturer-who is the manufacturer? All info appreciated

[Selmer's_glu]

Yes, he has a bunch. I just got one Sunday nite & saw about 10 more lying around, wrapped in plastic. He also sells real nice covers for them to, that are well worth it too. I think you could email him for exact price & availability, I dont think its my place to go into the $$$ part, but they are reasonably priced, compared to what else is out there.

[Morry]

How about someone posting a picture of one?

[Smokin' Joe]

Yes, I would like to see a pic of one. How about a link to a website with pics ??? Come on Phil, help us out !!! You da man !!!

[Thomas]

well i've been trying to buy one of these cases but i guess phil doesn't want my money....requested a couple of simple pics.......was asked if i was serious about buying because he's busy moving,not to request pics if not,told him i am serious,no response,no pics, i guess no sale.

[paulwl]

The new Phil Barone shaped gig case

Wouldn't you rather have a saxophone shaped gig case? How many of us have to carry Phil around all the time? :wink:

[Thomas]

Ha! good one!(wish I'd thought of it)

[Morry]

Well, he's now selling necks and cases, neither of which are shown on his web site. He can't find a web guy in all of NY to update his site. Come on, any 12 year old can do it. I don't understand why people don't realize that an outdated web site is worse than none at all.

[Thomas]

Hey paulwl,
let's just be thankful it isn't a Joe Lovano shaped gig case!

[Selmer's_glu]

Phil is in the middle of a major move, moving his entire operations to upstate NY & setting up a whole new shop, with all new equipment. I was stressed out just moving 7 blocks away, last year, so I can imagine that this is a HUGE undertaking---Im sure you all could see that.

Im sure that once he gets up & running in his new spot, he'll have the time to get some nice pictures of all his new stuff up on his website.

[Selmer's_glu]

Hey,

It looks like Phil has posted picture up on eBay.

[Andres]

Here it is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2543502472&category=16 234

Looks kinda like the Selmer Sax-Pak from days gone by.....

[Dirty Dave]

That's pretty cool. I wonder if you can get the little name tag changed if your name doesn't happen to be "Phil Barone".

[saxtub]

At the bottom of the ebay page, it says you can buy it now for $265.00. I'd have to inspect one close up, but from what I see its worth the bread. 8)

[mrCrumbSnatcher]

I'm thinking about purchasing one of these cases, so anyone who has one please post. :D I was just curious how weather proof they are, without purchasing the case cover. How heavy duty are the rivets that are holding the rings for the strap to connect (these gave out on my old case pretty quickly)? It sure looks nice, but I was just wondering how it's holding up for the peolpe who have had them for awhile. Is this the smallest, most protective case you can buy, or is there a smaller flight case out there that is NOT a gig bag?

Thanks

[Nefertiti]

I just ordered a Walt Johnson tenor case. Looks about the same size as Phils case from the picture.

[mrCrumbSnatcher]

One more thing, what material is the case cover made of? Is worth it to spend the extra money and get it (for the people who have it)?

[gary]

Let the case wars begin! How does it's construction compare with the indominable Hiscox?

[Nefertiti]

I don't like the the look of the Hiscox cases. Seems like there bigger than they need to be. I've had a winter case for the last 15 years and never had a problem until a year ago when the strap ripped out of the case wall. Phil's case does look nice. I went with the WJ because they have more of a reputation and track record.

[Thomas]

Though Phil's case looks nice it has what I consider a fatal flaw,especially if you travel a lot--it closes with a zipper. We all know the many things that can go wrong with a zipper. That would be less of a concern if it had two handles then at least when the zipper failed you could tie the handles together and limp home. I used WJ's for tenor till recently when some blahing blahole walked off with it-empty fortunately and still have them for alto and soprano but I did replace the tenor case with a Hiscox which Nef, appears bigger than a WJ because of the shape but is a bit lighter and every bit as strong and portable and a few bucks cheaper too.

[BobD]

There's no room in that case for anything but the horn and neck(in the bell). I have an SKB450 that is a profile case that has a place for the neck and a small compartment for mouthpieces. I put the neck in the bell and then put 2 mouthpieces, a metronome, a tuner, neckstrap and 2 LaVoz reed holders inside the case. There's an outside pocket for a few boxes of reeds. It also comes with a shoulder strap. All that for 115 bucks. Plus Paul Coates recommended it as he has been traveling with it and has had no problems.

[Nefertiti]

I never put anything in the case besides the sax, a neckstrap and a reed holder. I carry a bag to every gig. It has assorted mouthpieces in it. More reeds. 2 Real books jazz and pop. My wireless mic. My sax stand. Assorted things for repairs if needed. My earplugs. Change for parking meters. A tuner and metronome. Hair Gel ,deoderent, toothbrush and toothpaste,dental floss. My daytimer with pictures of my family. When they make a sax case that will fit all this, be no bigger than the size of the sax and be lightweight, that's when I'll only cary one case to my gigs.

[baribri]

well, just wanted to check back with a 9 month report.
First let me say there is NO design flaw because first of all the zipper is much heavier and made far better then the old Selmer sax-pac zipper not only this but Phil had the foresight to add one of the biggest safety locking latches I have ever seen off of a camp trunk, makes it really hard to forget to lock it.
I have used my case extensively and by the way my alto is a vintage Couf Superba with the same oversized bell as the Keilwerths and it fits just fine, this case is so smartly padded. It has given me great service and still looks like new.. My only mistake and it was mine not Phils is that I selected one of the prototype cover materials.. he no longer has them, luckily.. it's a black paisly pattern kind of a Peter Max nightmare but the good side is that it reminds me to keep away from Paote buttons.
Keep Truckin Phil.. (back to the 60's for that one)...

[saxmanjack]

Are these still available?

[Randall]

You mean paote buttons? :a-run

[saxmanjack]

Hey, you can't carry just anything into an acid jazz gig...

[FJODan]

Hi Guys & Gals,

I recently emailed Phil about a case for my Yamaha 62II tenor, and he said that while he knew that his case would fit Selmers, he had no idea whether or not a yamaha would fit. Is anyone out there using a Yamaha with one of Phil's cases?

Thanks!

[Phil Barone]

The cases are available and they should be on my site in about two weeks. I'm sorry for any inconvience but it's been difficult getting everything up on the site with so much going on. Necks, neck bags, resonators, and cases.

So far. everyone loves the cases amd Mike Brecker, Bob Mintzer, and Bob Malach are using them with no difficulity. The tenor's are $269.00 and the alto's are $249.00. They are nothing like a Hicox or Johnson in that they are much lighter and very compact. Phil

[daahoud]

Will these cases fit most modern saxes? I also play a YTS62II, and am interested in one of these cases. Surely a yts62's dimensions arent all that different from a selmer's? i dont think they have an oversized bell but i'm not really sure. Also, are they more protective than a gig bag? Can anyone help?

P.S. Sorry if i've asked some stupid questions, but i'm new to this whole thing.

Thankyou

[Phil Barone]

It fit's most Yamaha's, some Keilerth's, and all Selmer's.

[john]

I love my Phil Barone case BUT it won't fit my T991. The left hand pinky table sticks out too far and the horn rests on it. My 10M, Selmer M7 and buffet SDA all fit nicely.

Keep up the great work Phil and let us know when the bari cases are available.

john

[gary]

Many cases look nice and are compact. My biggest question would be how strong they are compared to a Hiscox, WJ or Berkeley.