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| | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review: ( 2 customer reviews )
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3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Pluses and minuses Mar 06, 2010
By John Chapin
I've owned this BAM bari case for a long time... I remember buying mine soon after this model appeared.
First the pluses: it does a very good job of protecting your horn. It is strong, well padded inside, and sturdy. I'm using it for my Mark VI Bb. Unfortunately, that's where the "pluses" end.
The biggest problem with this case is endemic to many other hard cases: critical structural elements like strap anchors and handles are fastened to the shell with rivets. Several of these rivets have failed on my case, which means that I can no longer use the back straps. Fortunately for me, when the rivet on the back strap failed, I heard it break and immediately took the horn off my back, otherwise it would have crashed onto the street. I really do NOT like rivets because they fail suddenly. Additionally, rivets on 3 of 4 latches have gotten loose. I really miss not being able to put my bari on my back!
The second biggest problem, also shared with other bari cases, is that the wheels are too small. If you wheel your horn in this case, it vibrates your instrument too much. As any engineer could tell you, this vibration could have been greatly reduced by using larger diameter wheels. They would not look as cool, but it would roll a lot more smoothly.
Finally, none of the handles on this case are worth a darn. The center handle on my case was a one-piece rubber molded handle which broke within the first year. The "tow loop" handle for rolling seems to always be in the way, and does not give good control or a secure feeling.
So why did I rate this case 2 stars and not 1, or 0...? Simply because it does a good job of protecting your horn. It doesn't do anything else well, though, and for $800 I would definitely NOT recommend this case.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 bam baritone saxophone case Nov 10, 2008
By R. Carroll
I own a BAM baritone saxophone case for 3 or 4 years. I also own a Walt Johnson bari case and a Selmer case -- a wooden coffin that came with my Selmer SA80 II sax. This is a low-A modern saxophone.
The Selmer case is made of wood, strong and spacious but bulky and heavy. I think Selmer no longer supplies these cases, but the big advantage is the room inside for storing accessories. The lack of room is a disadvantage for both the Johnson & the BAM case, but the heavy weight and bulk of the Selmer case makes it undesirable for me.
The Walt Johnson case is molded plastic, form fitted, and light weight. There is little space for storing accessories, even reeds and mouthpieces, inside the case. There is a strap that can be fitted around the lower bow of the sax to prevent sliding inside. I liked the case but it has a reputation of not fully protecting the sax from damage from severe blows. I can't say whether or not this is true from my experience. I used this case for several years without any damage whatsoever to my sax. Currently the cost of the Johnson case is $540.
The BAM case is lightweight but slightly heavier than the Johnson case. It can accomodate a low Bb sax but with even less storage space. Like the Johnson case, it is molded plastic but with more handles than the Johnson case, an advantage. I prefer it because it has wheels. Both the Johnson & the BAM cases have straps for carrying on the back, but I find the weight of the sax, the case, and the attached sax stand (I attach my stand with bungee cords) too heavy to carry on my back.
Potential disadvantages of the BAM case: little internal storage space, wheels might prove fragile (not by me so far but were damaged by a friend), and heat will melt the plastic exterior. But overall, I judge the BAM case to be the best that I can find so far. Current price is $800, a large amount.
I recommend the the BAM case, albeit pricey.
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