Custom gig bags / light duty cases

[sloan]

So...I've got this nice tuba, 42" long with a 24" upright bell. Sure, it comes apart and fits into two boat anchor cases - but I'd really like to tote it in one piece ever since my roadies quit the business.

Cronkhite (my first choice) - too expensive to make a new pattern for a 1-off sale.

Protec (suggested by some) - not quite big enough (22.5" bell is the biggest number I've seen)

Altieri - I'm not really a fan of the "sleeping bag + nightcap" style, but, if it's the only choice...

Any custom gig bag makers out there anyone would RECOMMEND for high quality, reliable work?

How about a light duty case (just enough so that it wheels easily - I'm not going to give it over to the airline gorillas). Is custom the only way to go? if so ... who do you recommend?

POSITIVE recommendations only to the thread, please. If you *really* feel the need for a NEGATIVE comment, feel free to PM it.

I guess there's always a drum strap....

[TubaRay]

POSITIVE recommendations only to the thread, please. If you *really* feel the need for a NEGATIVE comment, feel free to PM it.

I "felt the need" to be negative, but I let it pass. Unfortunately, I have no positive comments, either. I'm afraid I have no recommendation. I agree with you about the Altieri. They are good bags, but I don't particularly like the format.

[imperialbari]

My own approach was a compromise, when I for a period played BBb in the brass band, where I used to play Eb. I didn’t like the band provided Besson transitional 3+1 comper from 1980 with its narrow leadpipe and 19" bell (possibly it was just a bad sample), so I brought my York Master bell front. Transportation involved a bus ride and 2 miles of walking, which I could do back then.

I have two cases for the York Master, but I rather took the bell in my gig bag for the Conn 26K Eb sousaphone over one shoulder and pulled the tuba body in the case mounted on a luggage trolley. It may take a test, but I think a good sousaphone gig bag will also work for a straight bell.

Getting a gig bag for an assembled tuba of these huge dimension will make for difficult passages of doorways. My suggestion will be cheaper, also in repair costs.

Klaus

[sloan]

well, it looks like Altieri is the way to go. I wonder what faux cowhide would look like?

We already have 3 Altieri bags in the family, and they have all performed well, so I'm not too disappointed that a Cronkhite bag won't happen.

I still have a few inquiries out that might bear fruit, but I'm about 75% sure that there's a fourth (and maybe a fifth) Altieri bag in my future.

One correspondent mentioned re-inforcing key points on his monster Altieri bag. Any collected wisdom here on what spots to pay particular attention to? Any reports of problems...or solutions?

[oedipoes]

Maybe you should take a look at Soundwear?
I have the euphonium version, and I'm very happy with it.
It's side-loading and made out of very durable fabric and strong metal zippers.
Take a look at their website, they have a lot of different sizes for tuba.


Wim

[Rick Denney]

Don't do anything until I get a chance to see if a 14K's 24" bell will fit properly into my large Protec gig bag. If it does, I would greatly prefer that to an Altieri. Hoisting a big tuba of 30+ pounds to drop into a bag is potentially injurious to us, and pulling it down over an instrument standing on the bell is potentially injurious to the instrument.

That was probably one of the inquiries you were talking about. I've just not had a chance to do it since getting back from Dubai.

Rick "still severely jet-lagged" Denney

[Mike Finn]

Dr. Sloan,

It might be time to go to Lowe's, bring home some 3/32" plywood with a couple of some 1x2's, and get busy...??

...and several cans of 'Great Stuff' too!

[MartyNeilan]

Altieri can custom make a gigbag to any dimensions. They even made a special one for Jim Self's York that had the York logo on it.

Although they do not offer the absolute most protection they are my favorite bag because they are the most ergonomic for the wearer, especially shorter people. I can wear a Cronkite / RB bag and if I have the straps fully tightened, it is just OK for me. With the ProTech, even with the straps maxed out, the bottom of the tuba comes down to almost behind my knees. It has not been friendly to my back, when I have to carry it up 4 flights of stairs many mornings. When considering a gigbag - tuba vs. back: which one is cheaper to fix?
I never had a problem putting a tuba in a top loader, even my Miraphone 190. However, despite the outrageous size, the vintage of mine was a relatively lightweight horn.

[cjk]

I'm in agreement with Marty. I'm also somewhat short at around 5 feet 8 or 9 inches tall

I never thought I liked Altieri bags until I received one with a tuba I bought.

I ended up using it for every tuba I owned that fit in it due to the comfort and the big zippered pocket. The big zippered pocket has three more pockets inside it.

When I needed a bag for a tuba that wouldn't fit in the bag that I had, I ordered a new, bigger Altieri.

As far as bags go, I've owned a ProTec, three San Francisco era Reunion Blues bags (one leather, 2 cordura), a Rudolf Meinl, something with Giardinelli's name on it, a Tuxedo bag, and one no-name. I prefer the Altieri bags to any of the above, even the leather Reunion blues.

Dr. Sloan, you might call Baltimore Brass Company and see if they have a 20J (likely the same body as your tuba) with an upright bell that they can test fit into a 2165-sized Altieri bag. 20Js are so common, they might have one in for repair or in stock but not listed on the web site. I believe they stock the 6/4 size Altieri tuba bag.

[sloan]

Maybe you should take a look at Soundwear?
I have the euphonium version, and I'm very happy with it.
It's side-loading and made out of very durable fabric and strong metal zippers.
Take a look at their website, they have a lot of different sizes for tuba.


Wim

My German is limited - but I think their largest bag accomodates only a 19" bell, and that just barely.

They do look nice though.

[sloan]

I'm in agreement with Marty. I'm also somewhat short at around 5 feet 8 or 9 inches tall

I never thought I liked Altieri bags until I received one with a tuba I bought.

I ended up using it for every tuba I owned that fit in it due to the comfort and the big zippered pocket. The big zippered pocket has three more pockets inside it.

When I needed a bag for a tuba that wouldn't fit in the bag that I had, I ordered a new, bigger Altieri.

As far as bags go, I've owned a ProTec, three San Francisco era Reunion Blues bags (one leather, 2 cordura), a Rudolf Meinl, something with Giardinelli's name on it, a Tuxedo bag, and one no-name. I prefer the Altieri bags to any of the above, even the leather Reunion blues.

Dr. Sloan, you might call Baltimore Brass Company and see if they have a 20J (likely the same body as your tuba) with an upright bell that they can test fit into a 2165-sized Altieri bag. 20Js are so common, they might have one in for repair or in stock but not listed on the web site. I believe they stock the 6/4 size Altieri tuba bag.

Already done; no reply (yet).

Tomorrow I may have access to a MW2165 Altieri bag that I can measure. The sticking point might be the size of the bell cover.

In the meantime, Altieri reports that this would by no means be the biggest bell (or total length) that they have built a bag for.

So, unless you are in a real hurry and must have one *today*, it seems to me that directly ordering a bag cut to the specific dimensions has to be the right idea - if the manufacturer is set up for custom orders.

I await lab test reports from our Resident Genius and mid-East traffic engineer.

[TubaTodd]

Tomorrow I may have access to a MW2165 Altieri bag that I can measure. The sticking point might be the size of the bell cover.

Wouldn't it be mean of me to show up with my flight case tomorrow??
Just kidding!!

I'll bring the gigbag, you bring the BAT or the tape measure. The bell on my 2165 is about 20". My bell cover is snug, so I know it wouldn't fit your 24" bell. I believe the bag height would be pretty close though.

[sloan]

Tomorrow I may have access to a MW2165 Altieri bag that I can measure. The sticking point might be the size of the bell cover.

Wouldn't it be mean of me to show up with my flight case tomorrow??
Just kidding!!

I'll bring the gigbag, you bring the BAT or the tape measure. The bell on my 2165 is about 20". My bell cover is snug, so I know it wouldn't fit your 24" bell. I believe the bag height would be pretty close though.

Well, I think that answers the question. Another correspondent concurs that the bell cover part of a stock Altieri MW2165 bag will not work.

I would like to closely examine your bell cover. One advantage of ordering a custom job is that you can toss in a few, well, custom features. The flare on the 36J simply begs to be introduced to doorways, and it would be nice to try to add a bit more padding in that area.

See you at 9:30 (in the MORNING? feh! Maybe I'll still be awake then.)

[TubaTodd]

Glad you said 9:30. I fixed my alarm clock. I would have been late. Don't forget a stand.

[sloan]

While waiting for lab reports from our Resident Genius, I finally located the perfect solution for transporting a 36J:

http://www.1800usaband.com/htmls/itemen ... tryid=6683

[Rick Denney]

I await lab test reports from our Resident Genius and mid-East traffic engineer.

Okay, I tried to put a 24" Conn 14K bell into the bell end of my Protec Large bag, and it's a no-go. I just couldn't make it fit in there such that the zipper could be closed. I don't see any easy way to modify the bag to work, either.

So, it would appear that a custom bag is your only choice.

Rick "back to the problem of commuter traffic coming into Dubai from Sharjah" Denney

[sloan]

I await lab test reports from our Resident Genius and mid-East traffic engineer.

Okay, I tried to put a 24" Conn 14K bell into the bell end of my Protec Large bag, and it's a no-go. I just couldn't make it fit in there such that the zipper could be closed. I don't see any easy way to modify the bag to work, either.

So, it would appear that a custom bag is your only choice.

Rick "back to the problem of commuter traffic coming into Dubai from Sharjah" Denney

Don't feel bad. No less an authority than Mr. Cronkhite declined the opportunity to solve this problem. He didn't even bother to quote an outrageous price to send me packing. I think he was afraid that if he quoted a price I might take him up on it.

The custom Altieri bag is on order. They actually giggled when I suggested that size might be a problem. They report building a bag to fit a Reynolds that was 53" tall with a 26" bell. Think "Bill Bell's Pants".

The 36J is only 42" tall with a 24" bell. Piece of cake. I passed on the faux cowhide pattern and went for the traditional black with red piping. Just like every other one you've ever seen. I know...boring.

[TubaTodd]

I await lab test reports from our Resident Genius and mid-East traffic engineer.

Okay, I tried to put a 24" Conn 14K bell into the bell end of my Protec Large bag, and it's a no-go. I just couldn't make it fit in there such that the zipper could be closed. I don't see any easy way to modify the bag to work, either.

So, it would appear that a custom bag is your only choice.

Rick "back to the problem of commuter traffic coming into Dubai from Sharjah" Denney

Don't feel bad. No less an authority than Mr. Cronkhite declined the opportunity to solve this problem. He didn't even bother to quote an outrageous price to send me packing. I think he was afraid that if he quoted a price I might take him up on it.

The custom Altieri bag is on order. They actually giggled when I suggested that size might be a problem. They report building a bag to fit a Reynolds that was 53" tall with a 26" bell. Think "Bill Bell's Pants".

The 36J is only 42" tall with a 24" bell. Piece of cake. I passed on the faux cowhide pattern and went for the traditional black with red piping. Just like every other one you've ever seen. I know...boring.

Now you'll have NO excuse NOT to bring it to rehearsals? I am curious to hear it. I remember sitting next to the previous owner's son when he played it in a Celebration Winds rehearsal about 3 or so years ago. He and the horn sounded good.

[sloan]

Why would I bring the Conn to *that* ensemble? You and Martin have the BAT end of the spectrum covered. If I bring anything other than the King it might be the Besson EEb. But, the Besson (in my hands) isn't quite ready for prime time, yet. As soon as we get through Carmina Burana on Sunday, the Besson becomes my "Christmas Tour" instrument (unless Russian Christmas Music shows up in one of my folders). Note to self: practice...

I have a collection of horns that are fun, interesting, and challenging to play in my basement...and then I have the horn I bring when I have a responsibility to other people in the ensemble. You get 1 guess as to what horn that is.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

My current plan *is* to bring the 36J to Ft. Myer. I don't feel particularly obligated to the participants in the Mass Reading Session.

Ken "how would Greg react to the new Eb helicon???" Sloan

[TubaTodd]

1 BAT, 2 BAT....Red BAT, Blue BAT. BAT shmat....bring the horn.

To answer your question....I don't know if Greg would notice. What we SHOULD do is this. Have Martin bring his bell front Holton 345, you on the Eb helicon, have Dave bring a sousaphone from his school and I should borrow Newel's CC cimbasso. I think Greg would hear us then.