And now something different - a negative

[DixieSax]

This will be a mini rant on the cases included with the Kessler saxes.

These cases are sturdy, look good, and are easily portable, but they have two flaws in my opinion. Now that I have seen both the alto and the tenor cases, I'll raise these as cautions to anyone who gets one of these horns.

1. The fabric strap that prevents the cases from opening too far. It's stitched just inside the zipper closure for the case. This allows the zippers to drag over (or catch on) the strap and snag it or tear it. The strap on the tenor case I received is about halfway torn through from this. Fortunately the closure is a double zipper, so I'm preventing this problem from becoming worse by closing the zippers from each end of the case up to the point where the strap attaches but not running the zippers over the strap attachment area. This is more of a cautionary note.

2. This is a more serious issue in my opinion. The accessory compartment inside the cases does not have a lid that closes. I assume the case designer felt that the padding inside the cover would serve to hold all accessories in the compartment, but when I picked up the tenor case and set it on end, I heard a ping from inside the case. A tube of cork grease had fallen from the pocket into the bell of the sax. No harm done, but the same could not be said if the offending item had been, say, a heavy metal mouthpiece, or a metal lavoz style reedguard. The alto case has the same problem - on arrival, my alto had a couple of reeds in their vandoren slipcovers wedged in the body of the horn - they had apparently fallen from the accessory compartment in transit, and found their way down and around the bow into the horn body. (as an aside, the accessory compartment in the alto case is much too small. A box of 10 reeds and a neotech strap, and you are pretty much full here.

Bottom line and moral, before these saxes do any serious travelling with me, I'll be going out to get some plastic boxes with lids that close that are big enough not to fall out of the accessory compartment to stash small loose items like mouthpieces, reeds, etc. in for transport.

[Xulld]

I agree, this is a negative.

I used some spare bubble wrap to wrap my stuff to prevent it from coming out of the compartment, works on the temp, but I was also thinking along the same lines as you for finding a small case to fit inside there.

[Kermit]

I can see how this would happen (and be a problem). I'm thinking you could go to your nearest Wal-Mart, Target, or other similar store, go to the women's make-up area, and look at their zippered rectangular make-up "bags." Many of them aren't overly feminine-looking, and they come in different shapes & sizes... one is sure to do the trick. (Just don't forget to zip it back up before you close your case!)

[Xulld]

sounds like a good idea, THANKS!:)

[Rackety Sax]

It sounds like this may be the same or similar case to one that came with a sax I bought here on the forum. Concerning 1), I noticed this problem and was able to overcome it by carefully tucking the fabric "guard" inside the case before zipping the case closed.

[ratracer]

I haven't had any issues with the lid straps on my tenor case. They seem to fold into the case automatically, away from the zippers, when ever I shut the top so I've never had a problem catching them with the zipper. However, given your post, I'll pay a bit more attention for insurance.

Haven't had any issues with the inner storage compartment either though I do remember wishing it had a lid when it first came in. Perhaps I've hit upon an ideal solution unconsciously. :shock: In that inner compartment I keep my cork grease, a couple Rico 4-reed reed holders, the neck strap, two swabs, and the bottom half of an old cotton t-shirt. Guess I've got enough stuff in it that nothing can move, eh? The old t-shirt always goes in last and lays over the rest of the stuff so maybe it provides enough filler to keep everything else from getting away?