Redesigned Protec sousaphone bag

[Kirley]

https://www.protecstyle.com/product-p/c247.htm" target="_blank

The shoulder straps are noticeably different. It looks like they just might've finally gotten their heads out of their... bells.

Anyone have one yet? Or seen it in person?

I really hope it's better than their previous bag.

[TUbajohn20J]

I don't know. I'm staying away from anything made by protec unless they have made some serious improvements. I heard a horror story about a 21J falling out of the bag because it came unzipped while the guy was walking and flattened the bell.

[Kirley]

Compared to sousaphones, tubas have "many" options for gig bags. We sousaphoners have 3 to choose from:
-Ritter (awful)
-Gard
-Protec

None of these manufacturers offer different sizes. So, unfortunately we don't really have the option to outright dismiss one of them. Except for the Ritter. Awful!

The Gard is the nicest but it's a bit small. My 38K just barely fits and only does so if I remove 2 of the "extra" pads it comes with. I don't have a 20K but my 22K doesn't even come close to fitting in the Gard.

The Ritter is garbage. The fiberglass horn is the only one that goes in there. It's plenty big, though.

The old Protec fits Conn sousaphones fine but they just don't hold up to professional level use. And the shoulder straps were awful. I had to modify them to make them at all useful.

It looks like they have addressed the shoulder strap issue with this new version. I'm just hoping they've also upgraded the rest of their hardware/design.

[Bill Troiano]

I bought the Protec bag for my sousaphone back in August. It is awkward the way the straps are spaced apart. The outside pouch doesn't seem to sit in the right direction for when I open it. Stuff falls out. And, it's a pain in the back trying to navigate going through door ways and tight spaces due to its width. Eventually, I just chucked the bag up in my attic. I use the bell protector cover and I lay the sousaphone body over it in the trunk of my car. Then, I use the cargo net that came with the car to secure the body so it doesn't move around much. When I get to where I'm going, I either assemble it and carry it on either shoulder, or at my side by wrapping my arm around the bell. I always make the sure the screws are tight so the body doesn't separate from the bell as I'm carrying it. Sometimes, I just make 2 trips and carry the bell and the body separately. I realized I don't need a bag for my sousaphone but the bell cover/protector is nice.

[Kirley]

So it has a removable bell protector? Interesting.
The old ones didn't have that. They were attached.

I agree that the orientation of the pocket seems a bit arbitrary.

Transporting the horn out of it's bag is not a good option for me most of the time. Bags are a necessary part of my life.

[Ernieball]

These are pretty good

http://www.gedo-musik.de/shop/en/62-sousaphone-bags

They're in Germany so it might be expensive to post to the US but they're great cases -they've even got wheels!

I don't work for them, I'm just a satisfied customer.

[Kirley]

Nice! Finally, a different design.
The low price is a bit concerning, though.
Only about $175 US (plus shipping).
Ernieball, you don't happen to have pictures of the inside of the case, do you?
With and without the horn in it?
I can't find any pictures online that aren't the stock exterior pics.
Also, which model sousaphone do you keep in it?

[TUbajohn20J]

Looks like a nice case. It says suitable for all common sizes except "specialty sizes". I wonder if they consider a 20K size a specialty size? I might get one for mine

[Ernieball]

A few pics:
http://imgur.com/a/v9qBh

A bit more info:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=78120