Accessories BAM Cabine cases for a Selmer BA and Saxholder

[mrblackbat]

My Protec tenor case is finally starting to show signs of wear that may be end of life.... so looking at a new case for my BA. For alto I use Hiscox cases, but being a small weedy person, their tenor cases are a bit heavy for me. I've never used a BAM case, and the Cabine looks of interest given that it can supposedly fit in an overhead locker in a plane (no way I'd put it in the hold).

Is anyone here using one for a Balanced Action, with individual key cups for B/Bb etc? If so, how is the fit? In addition, I do use a Saxholder, and I was wondering if that will fit in the case at all as well? The protec I have has a massive pocket on the side so I can shove all sorts of gumpf in there, but in reality all I really need is a reed holder and a box of 10 reeds, the saxholder, and a couple of swabs; and obviously neck and mouthpiece. How's the Cabine for space for that sort of stuff?

 

[Dr G]

I owned both Cabine and Softpack cases by BAM - the Cabine has the least storage space of any case I have owned. It will take a reed holder but not a large box of reeds. Mouthpiece and neck are best stored in the bell. I also did not care for the latches or the balance of the case when removing/inserting a horn. I got rid of the Cabine as fast as I could.

I cannot speak to the fit for a BA since its been 20+ years since I sold mine. I checked The Definitive Case Compatibility Chart on that other site, and it has no comments regarding any BAM cases for a Selmer Balanced Action tenor.

 

[mrblackbat]

Thanks! Will pass on this one then. The search will go on.... or I do some more repairs on my protec.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Mouthpiece and neck are best stored in the bell.

I guess this is the assumption, I hope they provide a well padded baggy for that purpose. Presumably a normal strap would also fit in the bell, but no way a saxholder would in an alto.

 

[mrblackbat]

For clarification, this is for a tenor as well.

 

[skeller047]

I think the BSS Ambassador case will fit your horn. I has an external pouch for reeds, swabs, neckstrap, and comes with a nice bag for neck and mouthpiece, which go into the bell.

The ProTec Micro-Zip has space for the neck and mouthpiece, but no other storage space. I glued a small zipper bag (a bank money bag) to the side of mine to hold reeds, neckstrap and swab. I suspect the BA will fit, but not completely sure about that.

Both of those will fit in an overhead bin on a plane. The Ambassador is much more expensive, but to be fair, is also a better made case. Not sure if it provides more protection though; neither would survive a long fall or being driven over.

 

[Zasterz]

Saxholder doesn’t fit inside any sax-shaped alto case, as far as I can tell. (I’m not counting any external pockets they may have tacked on.)

 

[mrblackbat]

Saxholder doesn’t fit inside any sax-shaped alto case, as far as I can tell. (I’m not counting any external pockets they may have tacked on.)

This would be for a tenor.

 

[Zasterz]

This would be for a tenor.

If I get a second tomorrow, I have a tenor with a Softpack. I’ll try it with the Saxholder and report back. But if it doesn’t fit in the Softpack, it won’t fit in Cabine- that much is for certain.

 

[Pete Thomas]

If I get a second tomorrow, I have a tenor with a Softpack. I’ll try it with the Saxholder and report back. But if it doesn’t fit in the Softpack, it won’t fit in Cabine- that much is for certain.

Presumably the saxholder will fit in a tenor bell though? If I recall that's what I did with mine.

 

[Zasterz]

Presumably the saxholder will fit in a tenor bell though? If I recall that's what I did with mine.

It just depends on how much it sticks out. The curve doesn’t follow the alto bell at all, so not much of it goes inside. I never tried it with the tenor in the case.

 

[mrblackbat]

If I get a second tomorrow, I have a tenor with a Softpack. I’ll try it with the Saxholder and report back. But if it doesn’t fit in the Softpack, it won’t fit in Cabine- that much is for certain.

Thanks, appreciated. If it helps also I have version 2 of the saxholder where the arms can come off.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Have a Softpac alto case. Like it, but wary of any travel with it.

Have had Berkeley cases and others. Now have a Cabine case for my tenor when touring / flying.
I like it. Don’t need to carry a whole box of reeds for a few gigs, sort a few that work.

Small place for mouthpiece, neck down bell. Take my sling in suitcase as have to take iPad / holder / sax stand.

IF I was told the horn had to go in the hold (Suzi Q tour manager fantastic and said it will never happen) - I’d expect it to fair as well as the next best (badly thru being chucked around I expect), but better than Soft PAC.

Think the hinges were changed recently.

 

[Ivan]

My recently purchased alto cabine has a pocket for mouthpiece, a padded bag for the neck that just fits in the bell, and a shallow recess under the fat end of the sax that'll accommodate a reed or two, but there's no room for even a standard neck strap

 

[Zasterz]

Thanks, appreciated. If it helps also I have version 2 of the saxholder where the arms can come off.

BAM Softpack will do it, without removing the arms. (Never realized I could do that.)

 

[mrblackbat]

Thanks, that’s helpful!

 

[Dr G]

BAM Softpack will do it, without removing the arms. (Never realized I could do that.)
View attachment 32542

When I had a SoftPack, I avoided putting the neck in that pocket - I use it for reeds. My concern is that it puts the neck in the crush zone if/when the case is dropped from the horizontal-carry condition. And yes, it does happen. I have seen several instances of bent bodies where the thumb hook is pushed into the tube. That area deserves as much padding as possible with no hard parts in the zone.

And yeah, the neck can get damaged in a hit there - very vulnerable. It deserves a thick padded bag stuffed into the bell.

 

[Zasterz]

When I had a SoftPack, I avoided putting the neck in that pocket - I use it for reeds. My concern is that it puts the neck in the crush zone if/when the case is dropped from the horizontal-carry condition. And yes, it does happen. I have seen several instances of bent bodies where the thumb hook is pushed into the tube. That area deserves as much padding as possible with no hard parts in the zone.

And yeah, the neck can get damaged in a hit there - very vulnerable. It deserves a thick padded bag stuffed into the bell.

In that case, this appears to be an option as well. (I’m able to close the case with the saxholder here.)