Case for Martin Baritone

[Tim Nightingale]

My "new" 1940 Martin Handcraft Baritone (to low Bb) needs a better case - it's got an old beaten up wooden coffin style case, which doesn't offer much in the way of protection in key areas, and is uncomfortable to carry.

The horn has a big bell, and the BAM case wouldn't close around it.

Any other suggestions, or links to a company who would custom make me an anvil style flight case for it?

[Martin Williams]

Protec Contoured works great for these horns

[hgrail]

The Reunion Blues gig bags fit these as well (if a bag will do what you need).

[Tim Nightingale]

Has anyone tried the new SKB case with these horns?

[cymru97]

Has anyone tried the new SKB case with these horns?

I'm in a similar situation with a King Zephyr, the bell angle and size is very different from most modern horns. I don't care for the protecs (hate zippers) and really like the look of the SKB. I'm just afraid it won't fit our vintage horns...

Anyone?

[hgrail]

The BAM case would fit a low Bb bari if you've got the coin. Has anyone tried the SKB?

[super20dan]

i hate the protec bari case too! its the size . its way too big and is actually the same size as a reg stock case. i too am very interested in the new skb bari case but for now my coelacanth like berkley bari case will have to do

[Tim Nightingale]

The BAM case would fit a low Bb bari if you've got the coin. Has anyone tried the SKB?

Unfortunately not - I tried a BAMM for size at the sax.co.uk store in london, and could only JUST close the case using some fairly extreme pressure. The bore of the bell was just too big. It didn't fit in a shaped Selmer case either.

I'm worried that if I spend a few hundred quid on an SKB case from the states that it won't fit either.

[awholley]

The SKB bari case fit my "The Buescher" baritone, but only after I took a hammer to some of he padding. Now it fits snug. The padding as-provided really seems to be aimed at a snug fit for a modern low-A baritone, which, of course, makes perfect sense. If you buy an SKB, make sure you can return it and that you are willing to crush the padding as needed to fit your horn, because you will probably have to do one or the other to fit a vintage horn.

All that said, I'm very happy with mine now, and a modern low-A horn would still fit snugly if I ever needed it to.

[cymru97]

The BAM case would fit a low Bb bari if you've got the coin. Has anyone tried the SKB?

Just checked the fit for my King Zephyr and the BAM doesn't even come close to fitting. Even with liberal crushing of the foam it wouldn't help. The lip of the bell actually extends past the shell of the case!

Looks like I'm stuck with a Protec (Dan, you're right on about the size, they're huge!) but I guess I should be thankful that there is a modern option. That said, if anyone has a nice old King case let me know!!!

[super20dan]

the only benifit you get with the protec is a sholuder strap! they should at least give you a backpac strap option. the protec does offer a good fit on almost every horn and afforadable price but it offers nothing in weight and size savings over stock bari case. the berkely is more like the old selmer saxpac and offers miminal protection at best. more like an aromored gig bag than a hard shell case. but its light and offers a small profile . an interesting option i am looking into is the skb golf hard shell travel case. put you bari in a gig bag and then into the golf bag case -its got wheels and is under 200$

[hgrail]

I'm surprised. The BAM fits my '55 The Martin bari Bb horn - it is snug though. Definately not moving around any.

The Protec bari cases stink. Little protection for the $ and really clumsy to move around. My Yana had so much extra room in the case I had to add foam to keep it from flopping around and damaging itself. Almost better off with a Reunion Blues gig bag - you're less likely to bang it around anyhow. It's too bad too. The protec Tenor and Alto bags are my favorites.

This is true - it fits my Yana 900 like a glove-

"Now it fits snug. The padding as-provided really seems to be aimed at a snug fit for a modern low-A baritone"