Glenn Cronkhite cases...now's the time

[Ferguson]

Here's a repost from the trombone forum:

I've been friends with Glenn Cronkhite for over a decade now. He's a brilliant musician and leather worker, an erudite man, and has been making his custom lightweight cases for nearly 40 years now. For some years his production cases were made under license by Reunion Blues, though he's always done the custom work himself.

I just placed a stocking order with him, and he mentioned his business is slow at the moment. (Welcome to the recession.)

So I put this out there:

If you're thinking of buying a sleek lightweight case for your horn, and if you like to support locally made products (Berkeley, CA), you can do no better than Glenn Cronkhite's cases. They're the most beautiful and functional cases I've ever seen, and I've personally been using them for 24 years.

And now's the time to do it. His crew could use the work. (One of his guys is delivering pizza on the side. And that's just taking a job from a trombone player now, isn't it?)

You don't have to buy them from me (disclaimer: I sell them). You can find them at Hickey's, Baltimore Brass, Brian Taylor, Phil Parker, A&G, Thompson Music, Tulsa Band, Sanada Japan, Mandolin Cafe, Just for Brass, Kanstul, Shires, B&S USA, and many others. (Slidebone is not currently a Cronkhite dealer.) Pick your favorite local dealer and support what they do. Glenn will drop ship and you can have a custom (custom!!) case at your door in 3 weeks.

You can also order direct from Glenn if you'll prepay by check. That way Glenn makes a bit more buy selling directly. Hours: 10-5 Pacific time, 510 527 4490, fax 510 525 4674, gcronk@sonic.net" target="_blank" target="_blank, glenncronkhite.com

My sales are fine, so I'm not here to plead for business. I just want to spread the word about a good friend whose products are worthy and artful. Tell your trumpet, trombone, saxophone and tuba playing friends. Glenn's tuba cases (50+ sizes) are especially renown worldwide. There are plenty of threads here regarding his cases.

I prefer this thread not develop into a hard vs. soft case thread. Please take that elsewhere. I'm just posting here to give an encouraging referral. Same goes for "I got ___ case for cheaper" or "Reunion Blues is blah blah blah".

(If you do that I'll totally troll you all.)

Best,

Steve Ferguson

[imperialbari]

I have at least 6 US-made Blues Reunion bags, so I am no basher of the idea. On inspiration of this thread I went to the Cronkhite site to see, if I could get a bag for one of my non-brass instruments. That site is not doing good service to its owner. No catalogue, no listing of models, no dimension specs. Maybe a relevant point to start a marketing effort.

Klaus

[PMeuph]

I have at least 6 US-made Blues Reunion bags, so I am no basher of the idea. On inspiration of this thread I went to the Cronkhite site to see, if I could get a bag for one of my non-brass instruments. That site is not doing good service to its owner. No catalogue, no listing of models, no dimension specs. Maybe a relevant point to start a marketing effort.

Klaus

Good point. However, I have always found relevant info concerning the cases on the OP's webpage. Many models are listed there.


http://www.hornguys.com/tubacases.php

[Rev Rob]

I wanted to have a Cronkite gig bag made for my King 1241 tuba. I down loaded the measurement form, made careful measurements, even took photos and emailed all the information to Glenn. He replied that he could not create a bag as he did not have any patterns. It can't be that hard to find an old King and check it for measurement confirmation and use it for a pattern.

From Glenn's attitude about this, I figured he didn't want my business. So I moved on.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

I wanted to have a Cronkite gig bag made for my King 1241 tuba. I down loaded the measurement form, made careful measurements, even took photos and emailed all the information to Glenn. He replied that he could not create a bag as he did not have any patterns. It can't be that hard to find an old King and check it for measurement confirmation and use it for a pattern.

From Glenn's attitude about this, I figured he didn't want my business. So I moved on.

Upright, or recording bell?

[Rev Rob]

Upright, removable. But I wanted to carry and keep the tuba intact.

[averagejoe]

I prefer this thread not develop into a hard vs. soft case thread. Please take that elsewhere. I'm just posting here to give an encouraging referral. Same goes for "I got ___ case for cheaper" or "Reunion Blues is blah blah blah".

(If you do that I'll totally troll you all.)

1) Praises can not be heaped enough on Glenn and his work.

2) If we as a country want to succeed then we need to relearn the value (and attached cost) of excellent work.

3) For all the talk of the 'economy' and 'jobs', there seems to be little talk of supporting local business and craftsmen. Let's remember they more than cheap imports from China support American families.

4) I've been putting it off but plan to place an order today for a bag for my MW.

5) If you do talk about, ""I got ___ case for cheaper" or "Reunion Blues is blah blah blah". I'll be right with Steve in trolling your *** hard.

I agree.

[sloan]

I wanted to have a Cronkite gig bag made for my King 1241 tuba. I down loaded the measurement form, made careful measurements, even took photos and emailed all the information to Glenn. He replied that he could not create a bag as he did not have any patterns. It can't be that hard to find an old King and check it for measurement confirmation and use it for a pattern.

From Glenn's attitude about this, I figured he didn't want my business. So I moved on.

+1

I'm a huge proponent of Cronkhite cases (I own 3, and have often praised them on TubeNet and elsewhere) - but I was disappointed 2 years ago when he turned down a custom job (for a 36J, upright detachable bell that I wanted to carry intact). So...I went elsewhere. The bag I ended up with is more than adequate - but I would have preferred (and was willing to pay for) a Cronkhite case. Alas, he did not even quote a price.

The clear message was that "custom" was no longer an option - he could only accept orders for cases where the design work had already been done. I have no complaints about that policy - but it seems a bit strange to be stressing the "custom" aspect now when trying to drum up new business.

I would try again - but now I already have an adequate case.

[Tuba-G Bass]

He made the case I use for my Miraphone Contrabass Trombone, a couple of winters ago,
I slipped on the ice, and landed on my back and left side, the case perfectly protected the horn.
I've been using it since 2007 and no problems at all! Superb workmanship!!

[tclements]

I am going to chime in in favor of Glen's cases as well. No matter how heavy the tuba (like the 3050) I have NO problem bungeeing the tuba to the back of the Harley and taking it to work in one of Cronk's bags. Great bag, good value, great guy. Glen revolutionized gig bags for us. Let's all go out and buy a bag today!

[tofu]

I second the motion, and would also like to remind the Chairman - via a review of the minutes of the last meeting - that tonight will be the third-and-final reading of the resolution to add "133. No nose-picking." to the fraternity rulebook.

There have been questions regarding rule #133. Many are concerned. Here is just one of many inquiries:
... [omitted]

You have to love TubeNet where we have folks who stand up and won't be intimidated by threats of being Trolled!

I too have one of Glenn's leather bags and it is excellent.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

I have several of Glenn's cases. Nobody makes them better!

[Ben]

Paging Mr. Gadalfi...

[cbettler]

I'm resurrecting this post because I just bought a Cronkhite bag and wanted to put a review out there. My case is outstanding all-around. The craftsmanship is excellent, and the design, particularly regarding weight distribution is vastly superior (IMO) to any other cases I've owned (which includes Humes and Berg and Altieri). The ordering process was very smooth (I ordered directly from Mr. Cronkhite via email/website) and FAST (2.5 weeks from order to receipt, awesome for something that is handmade/custom). I have a navy and black cordura bag that is stoutly padded and fits my CC like a glove. I would definitely recommend Cronkhite bags over anything else out there, and I think it was worth every penny. Just my two cents.

CB

[swillafew]

Great bag, bad website.

[cambrook]

No one doubts the quality of the product - Glen makes great bags, I've been very happy with mine.

However, a few people have found him less willing to do the custom work that he says he'll do.

[Paul Tkachenko]

I'm just waiting for a bag for my YFB621, been waiting a while, but that's OK.

I wanted a Cronkhite sousa bag, but he doesn't do them anymore.

I'm already saving up for my 4th Cronkhite bag.

[J.c. Sherman]

LJV, when you shift verbal constructions from "wankers" to "utopian" in the same paragraph, the stylistic dissonance makes my brain hurt.

Did you say something?

[imperialbari]

LJV, ... did you say something?

Ah, hem...

I hope this letter will fascinate, inform, and change the lives of those who read it. It's possibly the only letter out there that's bold enough to make the uncompromising statement that J.c. Sherman, Utopian Wanker's shell games are intellectually and morally indefensible. Before I get moving here, let me point out that I enjoy the great diversity of humankind, in our food, our dress, our music, our literature, and our forms of spiritual expression. What I don't enjoy are J.c. Sherman, Utopian Wanker's iracund ebullitions, which erase the memory of all traditions and all history.

If J.c. Sherman, Utopian Wanker got his way, he'd be able to inculcate self-aggrandizing expedients. Brrrr! It sends chills down my spine just thinking about that. I am making a pretty serious accusation here. I am accusing him of planning to keep us perennially behind the eight ball. And I don't want anyone to think that I am basing my accusation only on the fact that if we take up the all-encompassing challenge of freedom, justice, equality, and the pursuit of life with full dignity then the sea of unilateralism, on which he so heavily relies, will begin to dry up. I will never give up. I will never stop trying. And I will use every avenue possible to unveil the semiotic patterns that he utilizes to fight with spiritual weapons that are as puzzleheaded as they are illaudable.

I can repeat with undiminished conviction something I said eons ago: J.c. Sherman, Utopian Wanker's agents provocateurs have been running around recently trying to appropriate sacred symbols for power-hungry purposes. Meanwhile, J.c. Sherman, Utopian Wanker has been preparing to effect complete and total control over every human being on the planet. The whole episode smacks of a carefully orchestrated operation. If you ask me, the picture I am presenting need not be confined to J.c. Sherman, Utopian Wanker's tactics. It applies to everything he says and does. He thinks that uppity poltroons should be given absolute authority to stretch credulity beyond the breaking point. Of course, thinking so doesn't make it so. Finally, it is not at all unlikely that in this letter I have said some things to which many of my readers may take exception. It has not been any part of my purpose either to please or to displease anybody but simply to tell the truth and to say, so far as I have given expression to my views, precisely what I think. And what I think is this: There is no time and little temptation for those who work hard on their jobs and their responsibilities to infringe upon our most important constitutional rights.

Why does my head hurt when I try to read this?

Because you don’t live in a mitten?

Klaus

[J.c. Sherman]

So... buy Cronkhite?



What the %$#@?!?