When it comes to keeping your alto saxophone intact, there are many aspects of maintenance and servicing. Still, one of the simplest and most efficient ways to keep your horn protected is to buy a sax case for it.
There are plenty of options on the market, and narrowing them down to choose one can be a bit of a daunting task. But don’t worry, we’ve done the homework and prepared a list of the 5 best alto sax cases you can currently find on the market.
Table of Contents
The 5 Best Alto Sax Cases on The Market
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Protec MX304CT | Best Overall | Check Price |
 |
Gator GL-ALTOSAX-MPC | Best Student Alto Sax Case | Check Price |
 |
Jean Paul USA ACW-100 | Best Rollaboard Sax Case | Check Price |
1. Protec MX304CT – Best Overall
The Protec MX304CT made it to the first option on the list because it has it all; ample size, sturdy material, adequate weight, and value for money.
It offers maximized protection with its soft lining, and ultra-light shock-resistant EPS foam frame and it comes with separate storage sections made especially to fit your horn’s neck and mouthpiece.
Moreover, the Protec MX304CT is a very versatile case, which you can carry as a backpack, one shoulder, or carry as a handbag thanks to its 3 handle options.
The backpack straps are padded and their design enables you to hide one or both away to fit your carrying style needs. They’re also adjustable, while the carry-on handle is paddle wrapped for durability, and the case is equipped with a rope handle for subways and trains.
Speaking of durability, the case’s material is durable 600D nylon while the stitching is reinforced, which means that it’ll be a while before you have to worry about wear and tear.
What’s more, the Protec MX304CT comes with 2 zipper pulls, a massive gusseted front-side pocket, and a small storage one, so you can carry your personal belongings with you whenever you’re going out for practice or traveling for a show.
Finally, the case closure has a QuickLock mechanism for ultimate practicality, so you won’t find a case that’s more portable and efficient.
However, keep in mind that its design makes it a better fit for modern alto saxophones. So, if you have a vintage option, or a modified one with larger bells, bodies, or bell keys, it’s not the best option for you. You can pay around $60 more and opt for the Protec PB304CTXL instead, which also comes with a flute pocket – good news for all you one-man bands out there!
- Case Weight: 4 pounds
- Case Dimensions: 24 x 6.5 x 11 inches
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2. Gator GL-ALTOSAX-MPC – Best Student Alto Sax Case
Gator is a well-known case manufacturer, and not just for alto saxophones, but for a bunch of other instruments as well as everyday gadgets. This means they have ample expertise when it comes to customizing their cases to fit the needs of a certain instrument’s protection.
The GL-ALTOSAX-MPC is slightly bigger than the previous Protec option and naturally, around 2 pounds heavier.
Still, it’s lightweight enough for portability and the combination of a rigid nylon exterior with rubber carry handles makes it durable enough to withstand any wear and tear.
Besides the interlocking handbag-style carrying option, there’s also a strap at the top of the case and another non-slip rubber shoulder strap that has reinforced clips and D-rings.
It comes with multiple, spacious accessory pockets both on the front and back where you can keep all your personal belongings. Of course, that’s apart from the internal mouthpiece holders.
The foam interior is plush-covered EPS foam, which keeps the horn snug and protected. So, all-in-all, this sturdy case protects your saxophone quite well during transportation, while its design withstands the typical roughness of the process.
Case Weight: 7 pounds
Case Dimensions: 26.97 x 7.5 x 11.42 inches
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3. Jean Paul USA ACW-100 – Best Rollaboard Sax Case
The Jean Paul USA ACW-100 is a very unique option that you can actually pull by the retractable handle and the in-line wheels, so it really stands out. Pun intended.
Sometimes, you just don’t have the energy to carry your saxophone around, and this rollaboard option is the best way to move with your horn without breaking your back. Of course, its interior is rigid, and hard to keep the saxophone in place with all the bumps in the road.
It does come with straps that you can use to carry as a backpack, but that likely won’t be the case as it’s quite a hefty option at 11 pounds – double or almost triple the weight of some of the other carry-on alternatives.
Its exterior is water-resistant nylon, which gives it extra durability, while the handles are of high quality to withstand pulling and tugging.
As the name suggests, this case was made to fit the Jean Paul USA AS-400 alto sax, though it does fit other E-flat alto saxophones.
- Case Weight: 11 pounds
- Case Dimensions: 28.5 x 9.5 x 13.5 inches
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4. Protec A312 – Best Budget Option
If you’re on a budget and you’re not looking for any of the bells and whistles, the Protec A312 is the perfect choice for you.
It’s quite a simple case, looking a lot like a soft golf bag. At less than $15, you really won’t find anything cheaper. However, it’s worth mentioning that the padding could be too soft and minimal for some.
In other words, its functionality focuses more on collecting your saxophone and its accessories in one place and not so much on keeping it protected against rough traveling or transportation.
The Protec A312 comes with pockets where you can store any and all of your horn’s accessories, including neck straps, reeds, brushes, and lubricants.
Moreover, its center divider comes with adjustable padding so you can optimize when storing a neck and mouthpiece.
The case is made of a soft padded nylex that’s breathable and easy to wash, and it comes with a scratch-free drawstring closure mechanism.
It’s not the ultimate option for security, but it doubles as an option along with a hard case to prevent your horn’s mouthpiece and neck from moving around it or for simple storage when the sax is not in use.
Case Weight: 1.2 ounces
Case Dimensions: 7.75 x 2.5 x 3 inches
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5. Gator (GC-ALTO-RECT) – Best Box Alto Sax Case
The Gator (GC-ALTO-RECT) is a nice alternative to the standard saxophone cases as it’s basically a hard rectangular box.
The exterior is a deluxe ABS material while the interior is a protective EPS foam with plush lining that’s deep and solid for ultimate protection. Moreover, the Gator RECT comes with heavy-duty aluminum valance reinforcements to further enhance protection.
In terms of carrying styles, you’re limited to one of two options. The first is the handbag carrying style with a through-bolted handle to prevent any budging. The second is carrying it like a laptop using the included carry strap and D-rings.
The case also comes with lockable latches that are chrome-plated for a more premium look and feel. They’re also quite sturdy and lock very tightly.
Inside, there are two compartments: one for holding your accessories like the strap, mouthpiece, and reeds and another for keeping the neck in place. The material is a form-fitted EPS with plush velvet lining, so you can rest assured about your horn’s protection.
Finally, there are rubber pegs on the bottom of the case, which means you can store it standing up to save space.
If you want the same build but a case that looks nicer, there’s the GC-ALTO SAX that has a saxophone-looking exterior and comes at around 10 bucks less.
Case Weight: 5.7 pounds
Case Dimensions: 20 x 10 x 9 inches
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How to Choose a Saxophone Case?
If you’re wondering what are the main aspects to look for when you’re shopping for an alto sax case, here are the main ones.
Size
The first thing you have to check for is the size and whether it accommodates your saxophone well. It has to be snug enough to keep it in place, but big enough to not bend any keys.
Don’t overlook the storage compartments, as it’s always better to have a place to keep at least your horn’s accessories (reeds, mouthpieces, carrying straps) and even better if you have a compartment, especially for the neck.
Now, other pockets for your personal belongings are definitely a bonus, but they’re not a necessity.
Material
The material is another important aspect because it determines how well your case holds up, and in turn, how well it protects your sax.
Of course, the style of the case itself dictates the material. So, if it’s a backpack-style case, it should be made of sturdy nylon, while ABS is a good option for box-style cases.
Being water-resistant is a plus while reinfored stitching gives the case further protection against wear and tear.
On the other hand, it’s recommended to get a case with a plush lining interior as it keeps your saxophone safe from moving around and being scratched.
Weight
Unless it’s a rollaboard option, the weight of your saxophone case will make a huge effect on how easy transportation becomes. The more you have to carry your case around, the further the priority of its weight should be on your list.
The average weight is around 5 pounds, so try not to drift way higher than that for the optimum transportation experience.
Price
Surely, you can splurge when it comes to pretty much anything, but a saxophone case shouldn’t be too expensive. This is especially because you should prioritize other things that actually affect the playing sound like the mouthpiece and reed.
However, don’t go too low with the budget that the interior isn’t well-lined and soft enough to keep the sax unscratched. Around $200 is a good place to start.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this little guide has given you insight into how to choose the best saxophone case for you as well as helped you actually find it.
As long as you have your budget and carrying style set, you can easily narrow down the options to pick one that best suits your needs.
To recap, the Protec MX304CT is the best option overall, but if you’re looking for something less expensive but just as good, the Gator GL-ALTOSAX-MPC is a good option, especially if you’re a student.
If you want to roll your case around instead of carrying it on your shoulder, you should opt for the Jean Paul USA ACW-100, though it still does give you that option.
The Protec A312 is the best option for storing your sax on a budget and carrying it around without a hassle, but it doesn’t provide much protection due to the minimal padding. Finally, you should opt for the Gator (GC-ALTO-RECT) if you’re looking for a box-style case.