A case of sax abuse

Well, I'd got a tenor saxophone that could play. The question was, how did it sustain the damage to the thumb hook and Eb guard? This wasn't an idle question, cuz you know what they say about lightning striking the same place twice? If you don't do something about it, it probably will.

It wasn't long before I found my first clue. I shut the horn back in its case and lifted it by the handle. There was a clunk as around 4 kilos of brass slumped into a more comfortable position. Not a reassuring sound. It wouldn't take much of a drop to cause the damage.

My first thought was to follow the example of this guy and re-engineer the innards of the case. It involves cling-film and polystyrene spray, but isn't quite as kinky as it sounds.

Anyway, I went for the lazy man's option and bought this second-hand case.

I've seen some older Trevor James horns in cases like this, so thought it would probably do a good enough job. As it turned out, it's a nice snug fit.

It did require a small amount of work however. It had taken a knock to one of the bottom corners and the plywood sides to the inner shell had come adrift from the corner post. And it was missing all but two of its little feet. Plenty of glue and a piece of sheet aluminium around the bottom end of the shell made a nice repair and gave me a base to screw some replacement feet to.

I haven't bothered replacing the feet along the long side. I don't think it needs it.

As it was cheap and slightly shabby I will have no qualms about pimping it which I will no doubt post about in due course. And the ABS case the horn came in has been boxed up and put in the loft to be offered in pristine condition when I come to sell the horn.