Protec Baritone Saxophone ABS Case (BLT311CT)

I was so excited to finally find a hardshell case that fit nearly all low Bb baritone saxes! (I have a Conn, if you’re curious.). The only other decent one sold in the US is the BAM which is prohibitively expensive. So I snatched this up because I could no longer tolerate the pain of 26 pounds of horn on my back, using the regular Protec case.

It feels solid and secure, with the horn fitting snugly in the case. There’s no pockets like most hardshell cases, so you’ll have to figure out something else for your small stuff. Its slightly slimmer profile (than the regular Protec) means it’s also a little easier to pack into small spaces. The wheels of course are the whole reason why I got this case, and they’re set wide enough so that it rarely tips over. The balance could have been better if it were a hard handle mounted on the underside like the BAM case, but it’s workable.

The backpack straps are solid, much more than the standard Protec ones, and despite appearances with the bulging case shape, are actually pretty comfortable to wear. However, they’re so long that they drag on the ground when rolling, even after adjustment. So it’s a wheels or backpack type of situation, not both.

Cons: First, I am angry that they had to put leather handles on this case, three of them in fact. It is totally unnecessary to have someone’s skin be a part of this product, and if there were any other protective choice out there in this price range, I never would have bought this.

Next, the wheels. While I am fully aware that they could be worse, I just took the photo here after THREE DAYS of use. Rolling around city sidewalks, as needed, nothing more than 10 minutes at a time. The wheel pictured is already starting to wobble. Are they even going to be functional in six months? I sure hope I can replace these with skate wheels when they go kaput.

So, Protec, you’re definitely on the right track here with this universal hardshell bari sax case. But it still needs improvement before I can recommend it.

Étui de très grande qualité pour le prix payé. Très léger. Convient très bien aux Barytons YBS 52 et 62 de Yamaha.

Le seul petit problème c’est que lorsque l’on tient l’étui par les poignées, l’étui à tendance à pencher côté roulettes, donc les poignées auraient avantage à être repositionnées.

I bought this to replace the original box case that came with a Yanagisawa B-992, since I wanted something that could be comfortably backpacked on the way to rehearsals or gigs.

The case itself is solid, and I have zero doubt about its durability for day-to-day travel and minor scuffs or impact. I wouldn’t trust it to fly with if it had to go under a plane, but it fits my bari very snugly and comfortably.

The case came with the backpack straps, which make it decently comfortable to wear even if I had to walk a long distance. The balance is a little awkward on the back due to the weight distribution of the horn, but I would take this any day over hauling a box case.

It also came with a little padded pouch that fits in front of the bell, that I’ll be leaving my neck and mouthpiece in. When it’s there, it also holds the horn more snugly in place. I can store my neckstrap (JAZZLAB Saxholder) in the bell, and there’s room for another soft pouch in the back of the case behind the right hand of the instrument where I keep reeds, ear plugs, and other small items. I was initially worried about how much I could carry, but this case alone can fit everything I need daily to play.

Notes on usage:
-The leather handle on the is smooth and soft! Much nicer on the hands than the original case.
-My horn fits snugly and I can carry everything I need
-The zippers are nice and smooth, and I don’t see myself getting annoyed opening and closing it.
-The case OPENS FLAT! This makes it really easy to set up your horn without bumping the lid or having it fall backwards.
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-The balance, when standing up, isn’t too good and I wouldn’t feel safe letting it stand up without keeping a hand on it. Not a huge deal for me, but worth nothing.
-The backpack straps drag on the ground when rolling, so you have to choose how you want to move the horn around on any given outing

All in all, I’ll be keeping the case and I see myself taking my bari out to more places now that I’ll have a more convenient and lightweight way to carry it.