Page 1 of 2

Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:53 pm
by WakinAZ
Hey guys, I'm looking for a side loader gig bag for a miraphone 191.
It seems the only real option out there these days is the miraphone bag, which is a top loader. I detest top-loaders.

If I have to put up with a top loader, I'd prefer it not to be blue.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 11:31 pm
by ronr
Cronkhite, Pro-Tec are side loaders, Wessex is kind of a back-loader.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:17 am
by tmz1m
I have the blue Miraphone one made for the horn and it's a tight fit (very exacting). Very sturdy though, but I agree that the top-loaders are not ideal.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 10:50 pm
by WakinAZ
Thanks for the replies guys. I'm familiar with the Protec line, but there's only two sizes available and one would be too small and it would swim in the big one.
Pretty sure Cronkhite's out of business and there's no stock around. I'm checking with
Horn Guys in L A., but haven't heard back.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:04 pm
by bort
^ correct. Just costs twice as much. :(

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:12 pm
by Mike C855B
WakinAZ wrote:Thanks for the replies guys. I'm familiar with the Protec line, but there's only two sizes available and one would be too small and it would swim in the big one. ...
I confirmed the hard way the small one is too small for the 191. :( I really need to sell it, too small for my other horn, too.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:38 pm
by jpwell
I have one of the last Cronkite bags he made for my 191. It’s just an ok fit. It lays cockeyed in the bag, bulky in the valve and back plain if that makes sense. Carries music and others stuff well. Straps function well. Zipper is good. Had it two years. I doubt I would buy one new now with the prices they charge.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:58 am
by WakinAZ
jpwell, by "bulky" do you mean the fit is too loose or too tight in those areas?

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:40 am
by tmz1m
bort wrote:^ correct. Just costs twice as much. :(

Wow, those are expensive, didn't realize a tuba bag was worth the cost of a used Honda Civic. :shock:

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 11:08 am
by Voisi1ev
I've more or less been happy with a Messina Side Loader I just picked up for a Bb Neo. I like the bag, I just wish I would have picked up top loader though. Prefer my Alteri, again, nothing wrong with the Messina, just think I prefer top loader after having both. The customer service at Messina was top notch also. Only about a 3-week turn around from order to delivery.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 11:30 am
by bort
I really like Götz bags, but they are top-loaders. I've heard that you can order them as side-loaders, but I haven't seen one in person to know for sure.

Cost plus shipping is probably in the $400 range for top-loader.

The Miraphone gig bags really are quite nice, but a little ugly. I had one for a few years with my 188 and it worked very, very well. I got used to the blue-ness after a while, but I agree, it's not the prettiest thing out there. :)

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 11:36 am
by Tom
If "new" is not required, look for a used old Reunion Blues or Cronkite if it's got to be a side loader. I can't recall the last time I saw a Miraphone 191 sized bag come up for sale, but I also haven't been seeking one. Gig bags do seem to regularly come up for sale here and sometimes on Ebay. The key seems to be knowing what other makes and models fit in the same bag so that you can widen your search to all of them.

Just a thought.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 11:38 am
by tmz1m
That's funny -- I've always thought the blue color was a real positive, I really like it. Haha.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:06 pm
by Minkrott
Protec has a small bag for an 18.5 inch bell. It works fine for my 191 clone.
https://www.dillonmusic.com/protec-smal ... black.html" target="_blank" target="_blank

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:07 pm
by Mike C855B
Minkrott wrote:Protec has a small bag for an 18.5 inch bell. It works fine for my 191 clone.
https://www.dillonmusic.com/protec-smal ... black.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
This is the one that doesn't fit my 191. You can work hard at it and force it in, but IMO it's a bell wrinkle waiting to happen.

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:42 pm
by jpwell
Fit is toooooo loose not top to bottom or side to side front to back!!

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 10:57 pm
by greenbean
I have the Miraphone bag (for a B&S tuba) and the blue color looks a LOT better in person than in the stock photos that retailers use. I like it. And the backpack straps are much better designed and more comfortable than on other bags I had tried.

My bag is only a few months old and is quite stiff. It stands up by itself nicely leaned up against a chair or sofa, so putting the horn in or out is effortless. (It helps that I can easily lift the horn with one arm.) At some point, the bag might get more "broken in" and start flopping around - which would make using it a pain. Time will tell!

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:55 pm
by Beans&Tuba
Not trying to hi-jack , but ,Greenbean , is the B&S tuba that you are refering to one of the 43 in. tall long neck tubas ? . I have a Meister Gerhardt Schneider 101 stencel tuba, and havent found a bag for it . I would love a miraphone bag for this tuba .

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:06 pm
by Waltski
Too bad Soundwear stopped making tuba bags - I have their professional model TH48-96 which perfectly fits my 191...
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accesso ... ductDetail

Re: Miraphone 191 gig bag options?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:57 pm
by greenbean
Beans&Tuba wrote:Not trying to hi-jack , but ,Greenbean , is the B&S tuba that you are refering to one of the 43 in. tall long neck tubas ? . I have a Meister Gerhardt Schneider 101 stencel tuba, and havent found a bag for it . I would love a miraphone bag for this tuba .
No - I got the Miraphone bag for my B&S 3301, which came in a wooden DEG (?) case that weighs about 45 lb. The fit happens to be perfect.

The Musica B&S is 43" tall and the bell is 16.5". It came in an older Protec (when they called it Protec International). It is slightly long - but good enough. It has backpack straps but they are much less comfortable than the Miraphone. I think the current version of it is called the Gold Series. Dillon has one. It is the only bag that I have seen that would fit. Except for Cronkhite... :D

(I bet our stencils are slightly different. I will PM you. I would like to compare them.)