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I have a Conn 36J, BBb, 6/4 with the removable recording bell, does anyone make a good quality padded bag for an instrument this big. I currently transport it in two road cases, and a two wheel dolly. Thanks in advance.

Alteiri will make one for you. Expect to pay around $400.

Brian

I have never liked Alteiri (tuba) bags. I've had a few that "came with" used tubas I've bought, and I would not consider buying one brand new.

I don't think the *construction* is poor (all the sewing is done well, no assembly faults, and made in the USA is great too!), but I think the *design* is poor. The drawstring gets caught on every damn thing, the biggest bags have a cumbersome double drawstring system that is too much trouble. The big floppy accessory pouch on the front both looks bad and wears out quickly. Just look at a well-used Alteiri bag, and you're likely to find lots of small holes and scuffs in that front pouch. And after some use, it really starts to sag and look old and tired. Not a good look.

The material is kind of thin, too, so straps can shred and come off, or the zipper on the front pouch can fray and separate from the rest of the bag after heavy use. The padding is not very thick, and offers more scratch-level protection than dent-level protection.

Add to that the "bell cap" (which usually ends up in a closet somewhere until the owner wants to sell the bag) and the high on the back carrying position... there's really very little about these bags that I like.

Two positive things to say, though:
1) Donna is a very nice lady.
2) I get the impression that Alteiri bags were designed for smaller instruments, and then upscaled to tubas. They might really work great for smaller stuff (including euphoniums). But for the ones I've owned (4/4, 5/4, and 6/4 tubas), I didn't think that design translated very well at all.

And for $400(!), you're talking only a moderate increase in price for a significant increase in quality and functionality by getting a Cronkhite bag instead. If the Alteiri was more like $200 or $250, it might be a more reasonable option, even on a budget. But for $400, I would have a really hard time saying that it's worth it.

All my opinions. For people who like and enjoy these bags, more power to you!

For a long time I always had Altieri bags and thought they were ok. Then I got a Cronkhite and, at least for larger tubas, it was a huge improvement. Much better fit and better carrying position lower on the back.

With that said, one of my F tubas has an Altieri that works pretty well with it. I think the size and weight of the horn makes a big difference.

Maybe I'm weird, but I really like the high position of the Alteiri bags. I find it makes carrying over long distances much more comfortable.

Tubainsauga wrote:Maybe I'm weird, but I really like the high position of the Alteiri bags. I find it makes carrying over long distances much more comfortable.

Well, I'll give it that (and I think the Cronkhite bag is not as good in that regard). I was always a bit nervous around doorways with the Alteiri though, given the height, side-to-side sway, and thin padding.

But for outdoors walking, yes, it's comfortable like a camping pack.

Tubainsauga wrote:Maybe I'm weird, but I really like the high position of the Alteiri bags. I find it makes carrying over long distances much more comfortable.

I agree with this.

While I'm of relatively normal height at 5 foot 8 inches tall, I consider myself short.

The backpack straps on a Cronkite bag for a 4/4 sized or larger tuba are far too high. I have my big tuba bumping into the middle of the backs of my legs if I use one. The tops of the backpack straps need to be moved down several inches. This is really annoying. I cannot see spending premium dollars for a bag which just doesn't fit me.

I see the appeal of Cronkite bags. They are very nicely made of very nice materials. However, buying a Cronkite for me is like buying shoes a size too large or a blazer which I can't quite button around my tummy. They sorta work, but not quite.

The Cronkite pockets just aren't all that useful compared to an Altieri. The snap on music folder pouch looks goofy. The Altieri pockets within a pocket can hold anything I might want to take along.

In the 6/4 sized Altieri I bought off the shelf from BBC several years ago, there is some sort of dense foam between the inner and outer layers of padding. The dense part starts about 1 foot below the drawstring. I don't consider this bag to be any less protective than a Cronkite (I actually have two of each), but we are talking about a sack with a handle. It's a dent bag. The Cronkite might be a marginally better sack, but the Altieri is far and away the better handle.

bort wrote:I have never liked Alteiri (tuba) bags.
...
And for $400(!), you're talking only a moderate increase in price for a significant increase in quality and functionality by getting a Cronkhite bag instead. If the Alteiri was more like $200 or $250, it might be a more reasonable option, even on a budget. But for $400, I would have a really hard time saying that it's worth it.

All my opinions. For people who like and enjoy these bags, more power to you!

The $400 in this case (lol) would be a for a custom Altieri. New "stock" Altieri tuba bags at BBC are now $350. New Cronkite bags are around $450 to $480 depending on the size.

I'd expect a custom Cronkite bag to cost well over $500 if Mr. Cronkite was even interested in making a case for a gigantic recording tuba. It would not surprise me if he were not even interested in doing it.

cjk wrote:

bort wrote:I have never liked Alteiri (tuba) bags.
...
And for $400(!), you're talking only a moderate increase in price for a significant increase in quality and functionality by getting a Cronkhite bag instead. If the Alteiri was more like $200 or $250, it might be a more reasonable option, even on a budget. But for $400, I would have a really hard time saying that it's worth it.

All my opinions. For people who like and enjoy these bags, more power to you!

The $400 in this case (lol) would be a for a custom Altieri. New "stock" Altieri tuba bags at BBC are now $350. New Cronkite bags are around $450 to $480 depending on the size.

I'd expect a custom Cronkite bag to cost well over $500 if Mr. Cronkite was even interested in making a case for a gigantic recording tuba. It would not surprise me if he were not even interested in doing it.

I checked several years ago, and the answer was "hell, no". I use a custom Altieri. It works, but...a Cronkhite bag actually provides protection - an Altieri bag simply provides a "handle". It does what I need it to do - but I wouldn't trust it for heavy duty use.

Thanks everyone for your input, I'll research your recommendations and attempt to make a decision.