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Nice!

I just purchased a cordura Cronkhite bag (blue with black trim) from Horn Guys (very helpful). It's really well made and the backpack straps are very comfortable. I'm not sure that it would provide any more (or less) protection than an Altieri bag, but I sure don't miss top-loading the horn.

We're not talking about leather...

I've used a custom fit Altieri tuba bag for years with no issues. In my direct, first-hand experience, the padding and level of protection is equivalent to my cordura Cronkhite bag. The padding in either case is just sufficient to protect against dings during careful transport. If either bag is dropped or whacked with any intensity, the horn will be damaged.

the elephant wrote: The Altieri bags provide zero protection. They are a padded duffle bag. These are much heftier. The leather ones actually do a very decent job with protection, whereas the cordura ones are *okay* in my opinion. What makes the cordura ones so attractive to me are the very high quality of the handles and straps, which I have never once heard of tearing loose, unlike Dolly, SoundWear, Altieri, and ProTec. (Yes, all these brands I am bagging on are from direct, first-hand ownership.)

The Cronkhite bags are the best. I've had one for about 10 years and what amazes me is that there are no signs of wear! Never had a dent with this bag.

@David: outside of that detachable front music portfolio, what is there to hold accessories like mouthpieces, oil, tuners, etc.?

Mine (sized for the Miraphone 186) has a built-in zippered pocket on the other side that's similar in area to the detachable portfolio.

davidgilbreath wrote:GC, shortest and most accurate answer is nothing.

Cool thread. Makes me want to finally bite the bullet and put the $$$ down to have one made.

the elephant wrote:

davidgilbreath wrote:GC, shortest and most accurate answer is nothing.

If you are talking about the storage question, that is wrong.

Wade is dead-on target. However, (due to the age of the horn and my desire to keep the effects of my own clumsiness as close to zero as possible) nothing but music will ever be in either one, hence my response. Should have been as precise as Wade.

Being a "master of disaster" is one gift I would gladly trade

I got a leather Cronkhite bag this year for my Rudy 5/4.

Literally everything about this bag is far better than any other bag I have owned (Altieri, Pro-Tec, newer Reunion Blues).

-The padding is THICK and stiffer that the others I have seen. Combined with the leather, it's very sturdy.

-The case is side-loading, and opens all the way flat, making loading and unloading easier.

-The shoulder straps are adequately padded and at just the right height that the tuba doesn't hit the back of my legs while walking (are you reading this, Pro-Tec bag makers?)

-Best and most important of all, because Glenn custom builds for every horn, it's a PERFECT FIT. It's snug around the instrument so there's no flopping around in the bag. In fact, it was a little tight when I first got it, but because leather stretches, it has broken in like a new shoe.

OK, so there's precious little storage for other items in the bag. That's not a big deal. You can do what I did: Go to Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, whatever, and get some soft fabric, pillow stuffing and a drawstring and make yourself an accessory bag in whatever size you need. I made a nice, fluffy bag with no exposed metal that will hold my mouthpieces, tuner, metronome, oil, pencils, etc. It lives in the bell of the horn while it's in the case.

I cannot endorse the Cronkhite bags enough. Easily worth every penny.

Glenn has hundreds of patterns. For a given tuba, you can have him use the closest available, or you can have him custom-make a pattern for you for an added cost.

Personally, I prefer top-loading bags. I dislike Altieri bags, I really don't care for them. But, they are functional, and some people like them -- that is, every time I've bought a tuba that came with an Alteiri bag, I have had no trouble selling it here, quickly, for around $100. What's crazy to me is that new Alteiri bags cost only a little less than new Cronkhite bags.

If the Cronks were top-loading, I would have one. For top loading bags, the new-style Miraphone bags are hard to beat. I have a new Gotz Supersac bag for my Rudy Meinl -- the padding is not as spectacular as the Cronkhite, but it is better than Alteiri and looks really, really nice. Plus, I wanted to geek out on go for something German-made. I like the bag a lot.

So there you go, the answers to things nobody asked about.

Side note -- is Glenn still on the verge of retirement? I'm sure the business will continue in someone else's hands, but when I contacted him a while ago, he said after 40+ years, it's time to hang it up soon.

tuben wrote:

JCalkin wrote:-Best and most important of all, because Glenn custom builds for every horn, it's a PERFECT FIT.

Can't say that's 100% accurate as Glenn built the bag for my Alex CC using his 186 pattern. It's CLOSE, but not perfect or custom.
In no way detracts from my recommendation of his work.

As with Robert's Alex CC bag, Cronk used one of his patterns for mine. Just so happened that I tried out one of Bill Pritchard's PCK or HB bags in a size that proved to be about 1 to 1.5 inches too wide around bottom bow and both sides. Long story short, I asked, via the Horn Guys, if the one for the Willson 3100-TA BBb fit. Cronk said yes. When zipped up, it feels as if it was custom-made. Snug and secure with absolutely no sliding around.

It's some kind of good for sure

The Cronkhite cordura interior seemed to tarnish the silver finish faster than I'd expect if I'd just left the horn sitting out.

I aired out the bag and also lined it with Pacific Silver Cloth (or whatever equivalent Joann's Fabrics stocked). Seemed to resolve the issue.

I had an Altieri bag, but it seemed to me to offer mostly scratch protection. The Altieri's dent protection seemed only a little better than if I were carrying the horn by straps with no covering.

I liked how the Altieri positioned the horn high on my back, though. Seemed better balanced and more comfortable than the Cronkhite. I'm short, and the Cronkhite hits me in the back of my legs. Not a biggie, though; I don't walk long distances with it.