Top-loader vs side-loader gig bags

[greenbean]

I think a discussion of the merits of top-loading bags and side-loading bags would be useful for tuba players everywhere. What are the pros and cons of each type? Which do you prefer? Why?...

[Ace]

Years ago there was a long thread on this subject. Don't know if it's still in the archives. I much prefer a top-loader bag. At rehearsals I put it upright in a corner of the room and lift the tuba to the top opening and place it down into the bag. Saves leaning over to put the horn in a side-loader.

Ace

[Bill Troiano]

I agree with Ace. As I recently said in another thread here, “all of my recent bags have been top loaders, and I never place them on the floor because I don’t want dirt on them. I always stand them someplace when not in use. And, when I load the tuba, I grab it in one hand by the top branch and I lift and drop it into the bag. The bag never lies on the floor. Maybe that’s just me."

[Chris Olka]

Just as a PSA...I’ve now had three different players in orchestras that had their tubas fall out of side loader/clam-shell bags in the last two years when the zippers suddenly gave up. Two of them felt it starting to happen and managed to minimize the damage. One...just yesterday...not so lucky. Total disaster. I’ve never had it happen but have always been concerned it might. After yesterday’s mishap, I’ll be switching over to top loaders whenever possible. Not arguing the convenience or overall merits of either design beyond that one potential weakness...it cost someone I know a $40k pristine tuba.
YMMV

[tbonesullivan]

Oh wow! That is a real shame to hear. I have a side loader Pro-Tec, but my height (6'2") makes it too tall to go through doors, so I use the sling and handle, so chances of tuba escape due to zipper failure are minimal.

Looking at the current tuba offerings, it seems only Pro-Tec and Cronkhite are side loading. The rest all seem to be top loading. When/if the Pro-tec dies, I'll have to think carefully about replacement, though by then maybe everyone will use top loader bags. With lighter instruments like Euphoniums and Trombones it's not as much of an issue. I noted that the Altieri Euph bag is a side loader.

[bort]

I like top-loaders for the above-mentioned reasons. I also really like the zipper pouch for mouthpieces that most top-loading bags have on the inside of the bell part. The only top-loader that I really just don't like is Altieri (I basically like nothing about them).

The side-loaders have catastrophic zipper fail potential, but also just take up a ton of room on the floor. The front pouch on the Cronkhite bags just never worked out for me either -- the rest of the bag looks great, and the pouch looks super cheap. It wears quickly and looks frumpy; it connects via snaps, and is not at all secure (do I want that exposed on the Subway? Easy to remove!); on a leather bag, it's still made of cordura, and that doesn't look good. On every Cronkhite bag I've had, I immediately removed the front pouch and put it away.

[Donn]

I've had only a top load (because I made it and it looked easier), so ... maybe I would understand if I'd had one, but how does this zipper failure happen? It seems to me the carrying straps would be attached on both sides, and you're carrying it with the tuba horizontal and the opening on the top, between the straps ... the zipper wouldn't even need to be closed, unless you were worried about stuff falling into it.

The key features for me would be a robust lining, but that wouldn't scuff up the tuba of course; a light but semi-rigid exterior that would deflect snags (no catching valve stems on doorways, etc.); and maybe a bit of squaring off so that it would lay "up" on its side, rather than rollling over to occupy the widest space. And a big pocket. And would fit the tuba.

[tbonesullivan]

I've had only a top load (because I made it and it looked easier), so ... maybe I would understand if I'd had one, but how does this zipper failure happen? It seems to me the carrying straps would be attached on both sides, and you're carrying it with the tuba horizontal and the opening on the top, between the straps ... the zipper wouldn't even need to be closed, unless you were worried about stuff falling into it.

Most tuba gig bags have "backpack" straps on one side, so you can walk around with it strapped to your back, with the bell up. The zippers on bags like the pro-tec have a zipper that goes around the entire bottom of the tuba, so if the zipper gives way, the tuba falls out of the bottom of the bag if you've got it in "backpack" mode.

[Bill Troiano]

When I lift the tubas to drop it into my top loading bags, I don’t hold the bag straight up vertically. The bottom of the bag touches the floor, but I hold it at around a 45 degree angle. Then, you don’t have to hoist the tuba up too much. I have rotator cuff issues and I probably couldn’t hold the bag straight up to drop the tuba in. And, I’m not playing very heavy tubas.

[Charlie C Chowder]

After reading this, I am adding Velcro straps to my side loading bag. That should take some of the strain off of the zipper, and add a backup stop if the zipper should fail.

Charlie C. Chowder

[Matt Good]

Just as a PSA...I’ve now had three different players in orchestras that had their tubas fall out of side loader/clam-shell bags in the last two years when the zippers suddenly gave up.

This has happened to me too.
-Matt

[Voisi1ev]

I mean, if you ignore the whole zipper breaking thing, a lot of it is personal preference.

I never thought I'd like a top loader. Got an Alteri for my 52J. Love it.

Got a Messina for my Bb Neo. Bag is just fine, don't like the side loading. If Alteri ever makes bags again I might try and sell the Messina and have an Alteri made.

[Charlie C Chowder]

I once traded a Pool Cue for an old Olds trombone. Bare brass with the tuning in the slide. Came with and old top loading leather case that was beyond use. But it did have one of the two mouth pieces in the top. An Ivory one. Cool to see and play. Sounds good.

Charlie C. Chowder

[bort]

Any such thing as a leather top-loader (not Gard)?

Also, I've heard that the Marcus Bonna tuba case is crap. Surprising, since their other stuff is so highly regarded.

[bort]

Also, are there any side loading bags besides Cronkhite and Messina?

[Donn]

I have an old side loading sousaphone bag mouldering away in the basement, I think it was some generic store brand. Whole sousaphone, with bell attached. I don't know what I was thinking, but I suppose I can't be the only one who ever bought one. I don't recall that there was such a thing as a bag for sousaphone with bell detached and inserted, as in the typical hard case, so eventually I just made one for myself. I guess the one I made was "top load" - its opening was on the side when carried normally, but so was the bag I made for my Miraphone, and that was clearly "top load". The disaster came when the sling swivel broke.

[tbonesullivan]

Also, are there any side loading bags besides Cronkhite and Messina?

Pro-Tec tuba bags are all side loaders, and I would wager that there are more of them out there than any other brand, mostly due to the price. For most people they are fine, as they pretty much throw their tuba in the back of their car, and walk a short distance to rehearsal/gig. I do wish though that their bags would have the zipper go around the bell, instead of around the bottom. Getting the bell end in can be a pain sometimes. Also that would mean that the bottom, where the majority of the weight in a backpack config is applied, would be solid, and not have a zipper.

[MaryAnn]

I tried for a long time to find a side-loader for my NStar because not being tall enough to do a drop-in, I had to put the tuba on the bell, pull the bag over it, upright it, snug up the ties, set it on a chair so I could get into the back straps....bleah. With my CC and my F I had side-loaders and far preferred them for my size and strength. If you're tall and strong, top loaders are great. If you're short and weak, side-loaders.

[peterbas]

Deleted

[Bill Troiano]

I guess it depends on the player and the player’s build. I’m 5’9 and I find the Altieri bags very comfortable. Yeah, it’s a bag that looks like a bag rather than a contoured type of bag/case. I find it rides perfectly on my back, though, and that the straps are the most comfortable that I’ve experienced (compared to Pro Tec, Miraphone, BMB, and Cronkite). I’m not saying anything negative about these other bags. It’s just that, for me, the Altieri bags are the most comfortable. It comes with a load of straps I never use and the bell cover thing is annoying. I don’t use it. It’s a bag that holds and transports a tuba.