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Here's an inexpensive bag that might fit; check the measurements. I bought a smaller one for my Conn 12J and it fits like a glove. Not much protection, but very light. I had to sew on a pair of shoulder straps myself, but I like it. If I had a mirafone I would want thicker padding, however.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... osi_widget

In that price range,protec.I like my altieri,it's around 200.Soundwear,Dolly,and Cronkhite are all excellent as well.Try for a used one here on tubenet,i've had some luck finding them...

I don't think the tuxedo bags are too pricey if I remember correctly. Mine has done a good job protecting my mirafone 186, however the pocket on the front did rip on the bottom.

If you have any extra money, I'd go with a Cronkhite bag. From what I understand, they are all made by Glen Cronkhite himself, so they cost a pretty penny, (around 350 bucks.) But, you get what you pay for. I'm particularly impressed with the music bag; it's attached to the horn, not integral, so it doesn't take up any room in the bag. Plus I know they make one for the Mirafone 186, as my bag is made for that model, (although that's not what I'm using it for.)

+1 on the Cronkhite bag.

If you search the Tubenet forums, there have been alot of positive reviews of the Cronkhite bag and if I spent $XXXX on a horn, an extra 350 shouldn't be much to protect that investment.

Another +1 for cronkhite. Even if it means waiting a few more weeks or a month to save up, Those bags are awesome. Custom made to fit perfectly, more rigid than other bags i've had. One last part that i didn't think about until recently, the shoulder straps are comfortable even over long distances.

figaro wrote:I got what I hope is good, at least it was almost unanimous advice about a tuner so I thought I would try another item. I would like a gig bag for a mirafone 186. It does not have to be the best in the world. I guess what I want is the best one you can get for a low price, hopefully below $150. Thanks for the advice if you have any.

Before anything else, think about whether you want a bag that loads from the top or from the sides. This is an entirely subjective issue, so you have to decide for yourself. I personally despise top-loading bags, and the arthritic joints in my elbows and shoulder thank me. A 186 is lighter than my other big tubas, but:

I owned an Altieri bag, bought new, for my 186. I traded it straight up for a Reunion Blues side-loading bag. The guy I traded with was as happy with the top-loading Altieri as I was with the side-loading RB. The RB bag designs and quality from that vintage are now done by Cronkhite.

I use a Pro-Tec bag for the Holton, and it's fine. It has good pockets (better than most), loads from the side, has a good shoulder strap, and mediocre back-pack straps. I have two older RB bags that now require a call to Glen Cronkhite. They are excellent, but the design for the Miraphone-style isntrument doesn't extend the zipper around the end of the bell and you still have to point and insert the instrument bell first into the bag. The pocket on the RB for the Miraphone (at least the one of my vintage) is marginal. Protecs have much roomier pockets.

Altieri bags are well-made, but I find the heavier Cordura of the brands mentioned above a little more protective. Plus, the foam in my Altieri bag was a little light, and the illusion of protection it offered was even more illusory than on other gig bags. But the main problem with Altieri was the top loading.

Altieri and Cronhite bags have better backpack straps, if that's important to you. The mouting points on my Protec are too low, but they could be moved for less than the difference in price.

Gig bags are nothing more than a convenient handled, however. Do not expect them to prevent dents if you bang into things.

Rick "laying the tuba in the bag, not swinging or dropping it" Denney

Rick - Just curious about the top loader difficulty. Are you saying the difficulty is with lifting the tuba and putting it into a top loader or are you saying the problem is with placing the top loading gig bag onto the tuba? (ie the tuba is on it's bell and you slide the bag over it). As you say one's preference is subjective and my subjective experience is that a top loader is no more difficult than a side loader as long as you aren't trying to put the tuba into the gig bag but are instead simply sliding the gig bag onto the tuba.

joebob wrote:Rick - Just curious about the top loader difficulty. Are you saying the difficulty is with lifting the tuba and putting it into a top loader or are you saying the problem is with placing the top loading gig bag onto the tuba?

Yes. Danger lurks either way you do it.

My York Master came with an Altieri. I used it for about two weeks, then sold it and ordered one of the last of the RB's before they were off-shored.

If you want to stand your tuba on its bell, and then hope it stays that way while you wrestle your gig bag, with pockets full of mouthpieces, etc., over it, then be my guest. Altieri bags are quite limp, and require two hands to hold vertical for such an exercise. Tubas (especially Miraphone-like tubas) are tippy on their bells, and require one hand. I see much opportunity for boo-boos. Then there's the matter of putting the bell cover on the bell after the tuba is already in the bag, unless you put it on the outside or leave it off.

With a side-loading bag, I just lay the tuba in the bag. The bag is resting happily on the floor at minimum kinetic potential, and the tuba is only a few inches above that. The padding is always between the tuba and the floor. Boo-boo possibilities are greatly reduced.

But as I said, this is a subjective thing, and each person has to decide. Decide, however, before spending the money. Depreciation on gig bags, however new, is about 50%.

Rick "speaking from experience" Denney