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I found a post that mentioned a "suitcase tuba" that had the bell fitting in between like a lot of cut bell "suitcase style" horn cases have, so that the entire tuba (CC) fit in a regular sized suitcase. I went to the web site referred to, but couldn't find anything else. The idea is intriguing to me. Is there any more info out there? Full sized tuba that can be made to fit in a suitcase, and actually plays, is a great idea. It was someone, a woman, I think, who was traveling with a quintet. ??

Mucho $$$

Beth Mitchell / Kanstul Flying tuba. Jack Kanstul told me they start at $11.5K, much do to the custom engineered case. Apparently the Navy band is eating them up.

Miraphone will make one for you too. Oystein Baadsvik's horn is of that design. Or you can go to one of the Wessex travel tubas.

Kanstul
https://www.facebook.com/kanstulfactory ... 8527356567" target="_blank
http://www.bethmitchelltubastudio.com/B ... _TUBA.html" target="_blank
not a lot of info on this one

Miraphone
https://www.facebook.com/tubasoloist/ph ... 832302206/" target="_blank
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=51042" target="_blank

Has anybody ever done a DIY version of this with an old detachable bell tuba and a samsonite?

jacobg wrote:Has anybody ever done a DIY version of this with an old detachable bell tuba and a samsonite?

There is the Getzen Caravelle BBb tuba. It comes from the factory with a metal upright bell that stays at school and a plastic practice bell that stays at home and the 3/4 (minus) body goes in a suitcase and gets carried back and forth. They come along every so often sometimes missing one or both bells.

Could be easier to make a deal to use the Mira 186/similar that is probably already at the rehearsal or show site than to do this.

I wonder if the body of one of those very common Conn detachable bell tubas would fit in a samsonite?

KiltieTuba wrote:

jacobg wrote:Has anybody ever done a DIY version of this with an old detachable bell tuba and a samsonite?

I recall a York Master with something similar in a square case with a detachable bell - I can't recall where the photo is though.

Is this it?

That's neat. I don't "want" one but like the idea. I have a cut bell (French) horn, and found I should not be using a cut bell case. I use an old Reunion blues (pre-Cronkhite) leather fixed bell case for batting about. When I got a cut bell case a year or so ago, to protect the horn better in the car, within a couple weeks I dropped the bell and put some nice dents in it. No more cut bell cases for me....other people seem to do fine with them but I am too much of a klutz. Just like painting walls; I'm great with the roller but the cutting in looks like a five year old did it. Do NOT ask me how I was ever a professional violinist, but it does make sense that I didn't get to a higher level than regional orchestra, based on the lack of fine motor control.
PS: Wessex told me that the CC travel tuba does not have stellar intonation, and if I wanted one I should get the BBb, based on my pickiness about being able to play it in tune. But I ended up with the perfect tuba for me and have no plans to travel with it anywhere I can't drive.

Actually, although that case is very cool looking, I suspect that in-person, it is much larger than it appears to be in that picture. If you were to travel via airline with it, undoubtedly you would be hit with oversize and likely, overweight fees.

For airline travel, you'd actually have better luck with a two-piece case setup.