My kingdom for a sousaphone gig bag

[kontrabass]

A *good* one. I'm on my second ProTec gig bag in as many years, and the strap on this one is starting to break after just ONE MONTH. I schlep this thing on my back a lot since I don't own a car.

I need something sturdy, maybe made of leather, but the ProTec I think is the only one on the market, so I need something custom made.

I contacted Glenn Cronkhite a while back but he was unable to help me out as he can't do the measurements of a sousaphone long-distance. Dolly Bags seems to be not currently operating, from what I've read on this board.

Any ideas...?

[cjk]

I have seen an Altieri Helicon bag. That tells me they might (?) be willing to make a sousaphone bag.

I would avoid leather if I were you simply because it is heavy.

If I were you, in the short term, I would attempt to locate a shoe repair or luggage repair place and get them to attempt to reinforce and fix your ProTec.

Evidently Yamaha makes a sousaphone gig bag:
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical- ... mode=model" target="_blank

Gard too, but I had heard that Gard stuff was not available:
http://www.gardbags.com/sousaphone_bags.php" target="_blank

[SousaSaver]

I have an old style King Gig bag in vinyl. It provides almost zero protection, but is great for storage.

The Yamaha gig bag is excellent for what it is. Again, it doesn't provide much in the way of protection, but if you just need to get it from A to B, then it would work. There are back pack straps, but I cannot imagine they are any more durable than the Protec bags.

If I am not mistaken, the Protec bag should have a warranty. Go to the dealer where you bought your bag, or email Protec directly and let them know your issue. Tell them your frequency of use and exactly where the product is failing.

There isn't a wide variety of Sousa gig bags to choose from. Let us know what you do!

[LoyalTubist]

My ex-mother-in-law made me a gig bag for my Mirafone 186. I love it. Too bad I'm not married to her daughter anymore or I'm sure she could make a fortune constructing gig bags. She lives in Central Java, Indonesia.

[imperialbari]

Around 1995 I talked on the phone with the German maker Glassl, who made fibre tubas and sousaphones, which were sold with gig bags. I wanted a bag for my Conn 26K Eb sousaphone. He warned that the straps would tear out the seams, if the bag was loaded with such heavy metal instrument.

Since then I bought a Supersack bag, which does not have backpack straps. Rather it has a strap running al the way around the perimeter. The length can be adjusted, so that the bag can be hung over one shoulder.

Before buying the Supersack (can’t find them on the web anymore - they were German) I considered cutting a circular piece of plywood. Maybe adding sort of a low drum kettle to its edges (not in the area for the body knee). Mount backpack straps on one side and straps to secure the sousaphone on the other side. Then I would have had someone sew me a cover out of the soft lined nylon fabric used for pilot jackets. It should be secured around the plywood plate by means of a drawstring.

Today where I am on crutches I would improve on that idea. First I would buy a high quality long backpack frame with comfortable and adjustable straps. To secure the optimal cross of lightness, stiffness, and strength, I would let myself be inspired by discussions with a guitar maker and make a plate out of thin plywood glued to outer layers of carbon fibre. That plate should be mounted securely to the backpack frame. Same stuff for the drum kettle portion.

Klaus

[imperialbari]

Just came to think about a way for the OP to still make use of his current gigbag.

Get an appropriate backpack frame like mentioned above. Stitch the gig bag to the frame with strong latches all along the frame tubing. Maybe use strong latches on the inside also. Cut a thin plywood, plastic, or carbon fibre plate (or doughnut) to be put inside the bag to fend off from the backpack frame denting the sousaphone. Cover that plate with soft fabric to avoid scratches. But first of all make sure the bag isn’t too tight to allow the new inside contents along with the instrument.

This takes costs and effort like my suggestion above here, but then I understand the OP needs heavy duty stuff for professional work.

Klaus

[Søren]

I have had very good results with my ProTec sousa gigbag. It have been dragged all over Denmark for 10 years and it is still going strong. I have slept in it and been in a couple of fights with it on my back, and not even my trusty 14k got damaged.

I reinforced some of the lining when I got the bag and made a few modifications to the straps. I think that helped a lot. Are your bags breaking where the straps are attached to the bag? This will happen easily if you do not reinforce the attachments.