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I am the new owner of a 1949 Conn 16J Eb tuba with a recording bell. The dimensions are 17 inches thick, 40 inches long and 26 inches wide. Any ideas for a gig bag?

My horn is a 1937 King recording bell tuba. I have owned it for nearly forty years so perhaps things have changed since when I first received it. There were no cases at that time commercially or otherwise that would fit. I took the horn to a local shop that specialized in awnings, boat covers and tarpaulins. They took the measurements (the women who worked there were not very happy about having to lift the horn repeatedly) and two weeks later I had a very serviceable gig bag which lasted for over twenty years. The second bag came from a shop near the school where I was the principal. I took the first bag and the owner took the measurements from that. She used boat grade vinyl and very thick foam as well as an industrial strength zipper. This gig bag will last me for as long as I decide to play this horn. I thought about getting a Cronkhite leather bag for it and inquired about it. No such luck, they will not make a bag for this style of horn. You'll need to be creative about this. Check out the folks who make tarpaulins or boat covers or awnings. One other idea is right on this website. Find the thread started by "Kayla" which talks about a company in Ohio which makes gig bags. I believe it is called http://www.messinacovers.com" target="_blank
Good Luck

Corrected address is messinacovers@gmail.com" target="_blank!

I have a York-Master with a front facing bell and if I turn the bell a little to the left it will fit into my large Pro-Tec gig bag, the one listed for a 22" bell. Its a little snug, but it zips up.

King actually used to make a two piece bag for bell front horns. Mabye a dealer who sells King/Conn could inquire for you about having one made. Ray Noguera in NYC had them in the early 80's. He sometimes posts here and might be a good place to try. Good luck. Ed

I have a pre WWII fixed recording bell King(just slightly larger than your tuba). I have been using the large protec gig bag. It is OK but is ( or at least was) made in China. Alteri, http://www.altieribags.com" target="_blank" target="_blank , makes bags in the USA and will probably be able to make one to custom fit your tuba, but all Altieri bags are top loading while the Protec bags side load which to me at least is easier.

Sadly, Walt Cronkhite will not make 2 piece cases.

Altieri will. Google for Altieri gig bag. $325, you'll need precise measurement because it is a different thing for the bell case design.
Trust me on that....

steve

I had a commercially-produced bag for my Martin recoding bell tuba years ago, and it was a very high quality bag that fit exactly. Someone makes (or made) them. Unfortunately (for more reasons than one) I sold that horn, and I no longer remember who made the bag.

My 36J body goes in my tuba gig bag and and the bell goes in my sousaphone gig bag. No special costs and it works.

Good luck

-Pat

The diameter of the bell could be a probelm if the bag is worn as a backpack and the door is narrow. You might want to think about this before having a bag made.

Thanks for all the suggestions!!!!

I think I will try the two separate gig bags or try for a custom made bag.

Or attach a side car to my bicycle for those hometown gigs!!