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I am currently using a Cronkhite bag with my Gnagey tuba, which is very similar in size to the Conn 5XJ tubas. My son had an Altieri bag for his 56J, but we couldn't get it to fit vertically on his shoulders. Perhaps, the extra tubing on the 5XJ horns caused the center of gravity to shift and the tuba in the bag would sit at almost a 45 deg. angle on his shoulders. Maybe, it's the bell size that caused this. We couldn't resolve the isuue, so both he and I bought Cronkhite bag for our tubas.

After a year with the Cronkhite bag, I'm finding that I do like the top loading bags better. Before I go back to an Altieri bag, does anyone with a 5XJ tuba or Gnagey tuba have problems with the Altieri bag sitting vertically on their shoulders? I don't want to carry a tuba at a 45 deg. angle - bad going through doorways!

Bill, I have a Soundwear bag for my 56J, has been custom made based on the measurements of the horn. it works rather well on shoulders, the thing is that also on mine most of the weight is on one side, it might be due to the fact that the bell part is very big compared to the total lenght of the bag. It's very safe for the instrument, though it makes it kind of hard to go through doors..
Gion