protection and protec cases?

[Alto Saxy]

I'm looking for a lighter case (i have the selmer vanguard case right now and its too heavy for my liking) and i'm leaning toward the protec xtreme alto case. however, based on some research it seems that people do not like the protec cases because they do not trust it as far as protection. i was wondering how it compares with the vanguard cases (as far as protection) and if its good enough for school use.

[Lovano1239]

Okay, now I don't have a Protec case but I did look into getting one. In the long run, nothing beats a good hard case and Selmer Vanguards are some of the toughest. I know exactly what you mean when you say you want something lighter, but why substitute protection for less weight? Now if you're still wanting something lighter, Walt Johnson is a good contoured hard case, but the quality has been decreasing over the years. Selmer has the hard contoured case which is pretty good that they give with the Reference series and I know some retailers sell this, but you just have to be consistant in lokking for one.

[Alto Saxy]

aren't protec considered hard cases? i heard they have a wood frame, it's just that ouside is soft.

[Lovano1239]

Yes, but the are "soft" on the outside so therefore they are soft cases. Take a look at the Walt Johnson cases and you'll see what I mean. Compare the two...

[soybean]

There's nothing wrong with the Pro Tec unless you're travelling on planes and trains, etc. I have a Walt Johnson but i never use it around town.

[sxmix]

I have never had any problems with protec cases which resulted in my horns being damaged. A couple of times, the stitching has come undone around the zippers, which is a separate concern. But they are protective enough, as long as you're reasonably careful.

[BigHunk]

I have a Protec extreme alto case that i carry my Ref54 in and i love it,i wouldnt take it on a plane or anywhere I couldnt keep my eyes on the horn but its a great carry case,with the back pak straps and plenty of storage.Fair price and so far its held up great.

[milandro]

Protec are great and hard enough to resist as much punishment as most hard cases, the material outside is not to everyone's liking but that's because it gets dirty if you put a protec in dirty places (like at a some gigs). If I have to carry a saxophone on a plane I demand to take it with me in the overhead compartment and I've never had troubles with carrying it with me even with much lighter gig bags like a Gewa (which I use for my alto).

[kjetil_bari]

I'm looking for a lighter case

You don't write where you live, so I can only point you to their web site: Hiscox cases (http://www.hiscoxcases.com/products_hiscox.htm). These cases are solid enough for whatever you choose to put them through, they are light weight and compact. Highly recommended.

[gary]

Yes, but the are "soft" on the outside so therefore they are soft cases.

I have never read or heard of a ProTec being categorised a soft case. They are not soft on the outside; they have pockets on the outside over a hard shell.

[milandro]

they are most definitely not soft cases.....:shock:

[Othello3]

Yes, but the are "soft" on the outside so therefore they are soft cases. Take a look at the Walt Johnson cases and you'll see what I mean. Compare the two...

A Protec case is many things, such as awesome, but it is most certainly not a soft case. I love my Protec cases. I don't think I would drop them out of a plane or run them over with my car, but I trust them for almost everything else. They are not the absolute strongest cases by any stretch of the imagination and I don't use mine if I'm traveling in a way such that I cannot keep my eyes on the case at all times, but for general utility use they are perfect.

[Kelpie]

I keep my Chu alto in a Protec contoured. It's a very nice case and the price is right. WWBW has the best price that I know of. It was 89 bucks at the time I bought mine (about 6 months ago). Sam Ash matched the price when I printed their page. It has mouthpiece and neck storage inside, but you have to keep your reeds and cleaning stuff in the outside pockets.

[garyinla]

I use protecs for alto and tenor. They work fine for me for around town. I think they are a good combination of light weight, reasonable protection if youare careful (no baggage compartment of plane, no sitting on them). I have had these problems with them--

- once i picked up my tenor protec case without zipping it up and the sax fell out and got damaged. Other people have done the same thing which is why Protec put the velcro flap on newer models (mine was older).

- more than once i have lost items that were in the outside side pockets because i forgot to zip it up or maybe it unzipped. I dont use the side pockets anymore. I think if you put somethign expensive in the outside side pocket (like a $200 mouthpiece or an mp3 player or somethign) youare asking for trouble. I dont like outside side pockets with zippers anymore.

[bjornblomberg]

Check out Barone cases, www.philbarone.com . I have one for my tenor, really great and exceptionally compact and light.
Bjorn

[EZ]

There are some older rectangular ProTec cases that are soft without wooden reinforcement, but I don't think they make them that way anymore. For a lighter case, I think you can't go wrong with the ProPac Extreme. I have one for alto and it's perfect for school use - though I might recommend the ProPac Countoured if you need something that fits into a smaller space. Walt Johnson are hard-sided and very durable - especially for alto. Can't get a protective case any smaller than a WJ. What's great about the ProPac Extreme is all the storage space. Plenty of room for the neck, extra mouthpieces, external pockets for music and folders, a folding stand, your cell phone.

I'd say the ProPac Extreme is perfect for school if you have sufficient space for storing it.

The only caveat is that the Extreme is a tight fit with left-handed bell keys. I used to keep a Selmer largebore in mine and it fit with a little bit of a squeeze - not enough to risk damaging the horn, but a modern horn with right handed bell keys fits absolutely perfectly.

[Kelpie]

Oh, keep in mind that a large bell horn like a Buescher 400 (and probably Keilwerth too) won't fit in the Protec contoured.

[frankwilliams977]

check this out

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=130250618399&Category=16234&_trksid=p3907.m29

[wersax]

check this out

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=130250618399&Category=16234&_trksid=p3907.m29

The ProTec cases are not soft, but they are not entirely hard either. I had a bevy of students use them in the 90's and some of the horns didn't fare so well. The cases don't provide enough protection for marching band students throwing them on the bus and going to competitions with, but plenty enough for carrying horns to gigs around town.
I am paranoid on horn safety though, and use an old Walt Johnson gig case to take my tenor anywhere as well as hard shell cases for my soprano and WX5........

[KennyD]

You don't write where you live, so I can only point you to their web site: Hiscox cases (http://www.hiscoxcases.com/products_hiscox.htm). These cases are solid enough for whatever you choose to put them through, they are light weight and compact. Highly recommended.

Second that. I've stood on my Hiscox LiteFlite Pro II alto case to confirm its strength - plus it fits the vintage Conn horns with bell keys on either side.

[SaxxMan]

- once i picked up my tenor protec case without zipping it up and the sax fell out and got damaged.

Yeah, but almost any case will spill the sax if you forget to close it...I once forgot to latch a hard case and spilled my sax onto the ground :D

I use the Protec Contoured tenor case, and love it.

That case will protect your sax from falls off tables and chairs, dings in the car etc. but I would not trust it on airplanes or trains or anywhere out of my sight. And so far, I haven't lost anything out of the pockets.

It really depends on where you are going with your sax, and how much protection you feel you need.

I think the best set-up is to have two cases - one for local gigs/practice and a separate case for long-distance travel.

[Bluej]

Many of you are probably familiar with Dillon Music, I'll provide the Link to their OnLine Store.
The Eastman case was recommended to me. I love it. Extremely compact and light weight. It is molded composite (likely fiberglass) and available in several colors. Rugged and well constructed inside. They cost more than a Protec case, but much less than a Selmer or Barone case.
http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/ProductCategory/Eastman+Cases(887).aspx
Give them a call. I believe they are the oldest music store in the country, since 1776, literally. They are close to NYC, just in New Jersey, I believe. I've only delt with then over the phone and OnLine. I recommend having a relationship with both Dillons and Roberto's in Manhattan.
A photo of the Eastman Alto Case:
http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/Images/Products/Large/eastman_sax.jpg

[kjetil_bari]

Second that. I've stood on my Hiscox LiteFlite Pro II alto case to confirm its strength

Yeah, I've done the same thing. Today, I met someone who had checked his SBA in a LF Pro II case (by necessity, mind you) twice, and his horn remains undamaged to this day.

[frankwilliams977]

Protect your Horn and Case with this Padded Case cover

[whaler]

Do you make those for soprano cases also?

[frankwilliams977]

Yes! they are great case covers you can also use as a back pack and they are padded so they preserve the beuty of your case as well as offering additional shock protection for your horn. I really love them, I have a Buffet SDA in my selmer case and they all work perfectly together .