A review you might actually use

[dtemp]

Since the "I do/n't like this horn" debate has been going on, I thought I'd offer up my opinion on something a little less "personal" that you might be comfortable buying sight unseen.

Greg offered up a review of the new Miraphone tuba gig bag recently(http://tinyurl.com/28y8yv). I received the euphonium version not too long ago, and thought I'd extend the sentiments - and add a few more.

One the whole, my opinions are very similar to Greg's. The bag is solid, hefty, and has some added protection around the bell. It's a top loader and has two big pockets (one in the front, one in the back) that work wonderfully for holding music, mouthpieces, valve oil, Playboys, etc. The bag is the same color of blue with the "don't hit me while I'm jogging with my euphonium" reflective strips as the tuba bag.

The one feature that appears to have been left out of the tuba version, and the part that I LOVE, is the straps.

The material is your basic dent-bag-strap material, but they have one added feature. Each strap has a spring-loaded-hook-thing on the end that connects to D rings sewn onto the bag. They are completely removable (if you only want to use the handle), or can be used as backpack straps. PLUS there is a D-ring on the top of the bag. This means you can detach the top of one backpack strap, make it a little longer, and attach it to the bell-section of the bag and use it in the over-the-shoulder position.

All my other bags have the backpack straps permanently attached, meaning they drag or flop around if I want to carry the bag over my shoulder. Since everyone uses different style bags to carry their music (shoulder, handle, backpack), I think it's great that you can "tweak" the gigbag so that you can carry it how YOU want to comfortably.

Bottom line - I really like this bag and the design that went into it. It seems like it should last me for a very long time.

I only bought it because I own a Miraphone euph, and I knew it would fit. I'm very happy I did. It looks like it should fit most standard sized 3+1 euphoniums.

I can tell you what horns and mouthpieces I like too, but I thought this would be more helpful.