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I wanted a soundwear bag, but they stopped making them. The newer Altieri bags look nice and they are well manufactured. Anyways I want to hear some opinions for a bag for my 45-SLP. Thanks in advance!

My favorite bag would probably be a Cronkhite bag. They are easy to get horns in and out of and are very comfortable to carry either in your hand or on your back. Next, I'd have to go with an Altieri gig bag. I really like how the Altieri bags sit on my back, but I am not a big fan of the top-loading bag. Both are great bags and are my go to, but, if you can afford the Cronkhite, I'd go for it first.

Götz is my favorite. High quality, German made bag.

Personally, I don't like Alteiri at all, and think that for the money, you could spend a little more and get something way nicer.

Cronkhite is great, if you like side loading bags.

My favorite is the Altieri, I have never seen a gig bag that I like better. I have have one since around 1995 and it still works fine, that is excellent quality. I like that it is lightweight, I use a gig bag because it makes it easier to carry my tuba. I like top loaders because in my experience they last longer. I also like the light padding, with no false sense of security I am careful transporting my tuba.

best,
Mark

Mark E. Chachich wrote:I also like the light padding, with no false sense of security I am careful transporting my tuba.

Well, that's a fair point! They're only "dent bags" if you're not careful!

My complaints about Alteiri are:
-- I can never spell it correctly
-- The drawstring gets caught on everything
-- The two-piece design with the bell cap is, to me, extremely inconvenient
-- The accessory pouch on the front gets droopy with age

They *are* well made, and are made in the USA. I just don't really like the design.

And just like the tubas that get put into the bags, it's ALL based on personal opinion and preference.

+1 for Cronkhite and +1 for Altieri.

Hate the top loaders for BATs. Takes too much effort and risk getting them up, over and into the bag, plus the valve stems invariably snag on the way in.

On the F tuba or 4/4s, the top loader is fine.

My bags came with the BMBs and after two years there have been no dents when the horns were in their bags. However, the back straps are too long and tend to hang low when carrying with the hand straps, and are easy to trip on.

I would always prefer a side loader with a pouch large enough for an orchestra folder, the tuba rest plus small accessory bag. A single detachable shoulder strap would be a good option.

For me with a BAT, the back straps are too risky getting off and on. I prefer to use a hand cart and would prefer the back straps just not be there. I do have shoulder joint issues, so I just simply don't use them.

I'm not a 'gig bag snob' and could care less about the brand. Just something convenient, easy to use and and carry, and that offers sufficient protection (which usually and unfortunately translates as weight) Wheels are a plus.

OK!!! I guess I sound like an old geezer but I still carry multiple tubas, cimbasso, euph, bass trombone, mutes and stands to a gig, and I don't need to feel like I just went through a day of 'boot camp" before I play the first note.

Somehow a balance of weight and protection is key for me.

Ease of packing is important as well. I hate missing the first round after the gig.

Paul speaks the TRUTH!

Another +1 for the Cronkhite. Great protection and a perfect fit for the asking. It is a side loader of course and all in all I think it is a wiser option. The attachable pouch for a music folder, etc is very nice also. I "upgraded" my bag slightly by replacing the standard bent-wire connections on the straps with climbing-grade carabiners. Given the shape and the bias put on the straps when you wear the bag it lines up perfectly. The quality of the build on the straps is excellent, and generally better than any other bag I have owned. For a larger (heavier) tuba this is especially important to me.

Loading a bag is a bad time to be hasty trying to leverage a tuba in one hand (that may or may not be easily hoisted with one arm) and a top loading bag in the other hand. Propping the bag up against a chair or something even less stable, banging the tuba on something up high because you aren't looking or thinking about what is above your head, risking a weird entry of the valves or the machine getting snagged or caught on the bag all the way up to the bell... Some players put the tuba bell down on the floor and drop the bag over the top but that seems just as risky, not to mention the fact that you still have to flip the whole thing over in an unzipped state to complete the packing.

I suppose the benefit of the top loader is that it protects you from a scenario where you have catastrophic zipper failure and the tuba falls out of the bag on your back. Never happened to me, and I can't say I have ever seen it happen either. Perhaps someone else has that story to tell.

They say take-off and landing are the most dangerous times for airplanes. Same is probably true for loading and unloading a tuba. Nice and easy safe side loader for me. They are a hell of a lot easier to clean also.

Sidebar:

Has anyone ever had a zipper failure on a side loader that caused the horn to come out of the bag and hit the floor?

I don't mean that you "forgot" to zip it up, I mean that the zipper failed and the horn dropped out of the bag. I've always thought that top loaders would at least eliminate that possibility. Good straps and anchor points for those straps are critical, too, but I'm not wondering about broken straps, just about if anyone ever had their side loader zipper go out on them.

Tom "I have one of each type" B.

PaulMaybery wrote:Hate the top loaders for BATs. Takes too much effort and risk getting them up, over and into the bag, plus the valve stems invariably snag on the way in.

I had an Altieri for my Miraphone 1291, and although it's not a BAT, I experienced the same difficulty getting it into the top-loader, so I would invert the tuba onto its bell on the floor and slide the bag down over it - much easier than horn-into-bag, but I had to exercise care turning it all back upright again, since the Altieri offered scant protection/padding. Despite my vigilance, my horn got a couple of "when and where did those come from?" dents while it was in the bag.
It was super comfortable as a back-pack carry, though; sat at a really nice height for me.

When my new Gotz bag arrives (any day now), I'll have to refresh my memory about putting in/taking out a tuba from a top-loader. I have to say, I really just never found it to be a problem, except for the Alteiri drawstrings getting caught on everything (even with the Neptune, it wasn't any trouble to get it in or out... except the drawstrings...)

58mark wrote:

Tom wrote:Sidebar:

Has anyone ever had a zipper failure on a side loader that caused the horn to come out of the bag and hit the floor?

I don't mean that you "forgot" to zip it up, I mean that the zipper failed and the horn dropped out of the bag. I've always thought that top loaders would at least eliminate that possibility. Good straps and anchor points for those straps are critical, too, but I'm not wondering about broken straps, just about if anyone ever had their side loader zipper go out on them.

Tom "I have one of each type" B.

That would be pretty difficult, as side loading bags (at least everyone I've ever seen) has the zipper on the handle side of the bag, which means even if it isn't zipped at all, you can still carry it around.

Yes, I understand what you're saying but what I'm thinking of a scenario more like this:

-Tuba gets loaded into side loader, zipped up
-User stands bag up on bottom bow and puts on backpack straps
-Zipper breaks, horn falls out

Unlikely, yeah...I think so, but just wondering if it's ever actually happened.

+1 Cronkhite

I live in NYC and having a solid gig bag is a necessity to navigate Manhattan, and for me the most important aspects are function and protection. I have black leather Cronkhites for my Kodiak and 3050 and they are an absolute dream. Everything about them feels solid: the construction, the shoulder straps, the specific fitment of the case to the horn, the thickness of the padding combined with the thick leather. The case can lightly bump something (or someone) and I don't have to worry about the horn. When I bought my Baer, it came with an Altieri bag and (for me) it has been an absolute nightmare. Everything about it felt cheap to me like someone sewed some cheap plastic sheeting onto a U-Haul moving blanket, threw on some Walmart backpack straps and called it a tuba gig bag. Fortunately, with what feels like a giant dent magnet, I have not had any accidents and haven't gotten caught in the rain (seriously, a bag that doesn't seal on top? WTH?). I've never owned or used a top-loading bag before, but for the life of me I cannot fathom how anyone would prefer this over a side-loader. With the Altieri, I am scared out of my mind as I dangle the horn over the bag in constant fear of dropping it. With a side-loader, everything feels more at ease: the case is grounded, the horn sits lower to the ground, the horn is put away more quickly, and there is no juggling act of any kind. Maybe circumstances are different if your horn is only ever on your back for the 300ft from your car to the rehearsal/performance space, but to me it seems more important to invest in protecting your investment and buy the nicer case. This is why I will be purchasing yet another Cronkhite case.

Hey Ryan,

Better yet, the Miraphone gig bags are GREAT for getting around the city. The carbon fiber disk in the bell part truly does work, and takes all of the fear out of subway turnstiles by deflecting and absorbing the force.

I felt much more comfortable walking miles in and around NYC with the Miraphone bag (higher on my back and chest clips) than with the Cronkhite (lower on my back, no chest clips). The Cronkhite bag just wasn't comfortable for long distance carrying, not like the Miraphone bag was.

That said, no one would ever disagree with your thoughts on the Cronkhite. They are excellent.

PS -- I like your Altieri description. You sound like a New Yorker already.

This afternoon, my new Gotz bag arrived from Germany for my Willson. Dark blue with black accents. It is GREAT!

I'll post a few pictures when I have a chance over the next few days, but first impressions:

-- It is very sharp looking and *sleek*. For such a large tuba, it looks much smaller in this bag than in the Cronkhite.
-- Thick padding. I got the upgraded "triple padded" version, and it is thick and seems very protective.
-- MUCH lighter than the Cronkhite leather bag.
-- Perfect fit. It was a custom order (all Gotz bags are custom fit), and it really is a perfect fit.

For anyone looking for a high quality top-loading gig bag, consider ordering a Gotz bag. Price was similar to a cordura Cronkhite.

Tom wrote: Yes, I understand what you're saying but what I'm thinking of a scenario more like this:

-Tuba gets loaded into side loader, zipped up
-User stands bag up on bottom bow and puts on backpack straps
-Zipper breaks, horn falls out

Unlikely, yeah...I think so, but just wondering if it's ever actually happened.

I've had it happen, and as you try wildly to take the bag off the horn continues it's descent and pretty much makes the whole event VERY memorable...

If you're looking for padded straps, you can add auto seat belt pads or covers to your straps. I added these to my Miraphone bag to cover the metal clasp that was digging into my shoulder. Added a piece of Velcro underneath to keep it from slipping. You can get these at any auto-parts store or online in almost any color.

Seat Belt Pad @ AutoZone

Perfect, thanks Rick!