Anvil, huh?

[gemini]

As a ham operator, I know a great many guys who rely on these products as the most reliable means of transporting sensitive communications equipment into some of the most inhospitable enviornments you can think of.

Now I'm hearing about them here on this forum. So, I gotta ask. Can anyone give me some specific model numbers that will be suitable for a JK tenor? How much modification will be required, etc.?

tnx

g

[jpciii]

I have an Anvil tenor case. There is more than enough room to fit ANY tenor saxophone. Too much room, really. I added lots of foam in order to secure my horn inside. For even GREATER protection: get a Walt Johnson case (if they make these for your JK?) and place that case inside an Anvil made to hold and cushion the Walt Johnson case. This is the airline-proof setup.

[saxgourmet]

I've got two different styles of Anvils: my "old" one, which is form fitted for a Mk VI (an exact fit) and my new one which holds a Pro Tec contoured case. We're using the case with the insert for the Steve Goodson Model Unison. I don't believe that there is a model number. Any Anvil dealer will be able to assist you. Anvil has templates for most horns on file. I've used the form fitted Anvil since the mid 70's, and have NEVER had any case related damage.

[Morry]

If you choose not to do the Pro Tec insert like SG is talking about, and Anvil doesn't have a template for your particular horn, they will accept a drawn or cut out template for you for just about anything that you want put in a case. If you can draw an outline of your house cat, they can make a case for it. But it will be one heavy mutha of a cat case.

[saxgourmet]

They have a lot of horn templates on file. Morry is right about the cases being heavy. At the NAMM show this year, Anvil showed a syntheic material that was as strong as the plywood previously used for the case exteriors but about half the weight. That's what I ordered for the Steve Goodson Model cases, and I'm very happy with it. The new case weighs about a third less than my old one. Shun Hwa suggested that I order the next one with wheels on one end (given my advanced age, according to him) and I think I will. BTW, I've got pictures of the cases if anyone would like to see them. Email me privately.

[gemini]

Thanks to ALL who have replied 8) I spent a good bit of time on the Anvil website last night and it looks like this is gonna be the way to go. Especially if I ever want/need to travel with *both* horns!

[saxgourmet]

They are very nice folks to deal with on custom orders. I got some good suggestions from them. Nobody has more experience than they do.

[Troy]

The cases with wheels are definitely the way to go. A friend of mine has a keyboard case done up this way. MUCH better than lugging that monster. Just do it. Tell 'em it's because you're smarter, not older. :-)

[Morry]

Back when I played with a band and traveled with alto and tenor, I was going to have a bombo case made for them until I actually drew a template of each and laid it out with enough room for adequate padding. It was gonna be huge, so I gave up on it. If you are lucky enough to have roadies, go for it. We were a poor Contemporary Christian band who had to lug all of our own junk, so I gave up on it.

[gemini]

And one more question: What is the best latching scheme now that we've been banned from locking OUR case, which house OUR belongings. And yes, it's fair to say we're asking them to transport them on THEIR planes;)