Gig bag for Holton 345

[niconitram]

I own a Holton 345 CC (original), and have this Pro Tec case that pushes down the third and fourth valve down when closed...

Does anyone have any suggestions for a gig bag that would suit his huge horn better???

Thanks

[Ferguson]

pushes down the third and fourth valve down when closed...

Is this bad? (Beyond possibly making the case more difficult to zip up?)

If he makes a size for it, the Cronkhite is a far cozier case than a Protec, and is a worthy investment IMHO. I don't know the 345 dimensions, but his biggest case listed is about 20" bell and 40" length.

Ferguson
/otherwise, got nothin'

[MartyNeilan]

I think I still have another Velcro pad thing made by Altieri that keeps the pistons in the down position while in the bag. Supposedly protects the stems. I don't regularly use it; PM me if you are interested.

[Ben]

When I owned a 345, the largest tuxedo bag was a snug fit. I do not recall if the valves were depressed due to tightness, Having the valves depressed seems the optimal configuration for protecting the piston stems.

[Rick Denney]

pushes down the third and fourth valve down when closed...

Is this bad? (Beyond possibly making the case more difficult to zip up?)

If he makes a size for it, the Cronkhite is a far cozier case than a Protec, and is a worthy investment IMHO. I don't know the 345 dimensions, but his biggest case listed is about 20" bell and 40" length.

A CC-345 should fit fine in a Cronkhite bag for a grand orchestral tuba (originally for a Yorkbrunner, probably), assuming it's the same dimensions as the GC-era Reunion Blues bag I have.

A BB-345, on the other hand, is a tight squeeze. It fits, but it's snug. And I'm not sure it won't also push down on the valves.

Speaking of which, I carry my BB-345 in a Protec bag and have for several years. The only mishap was when the shoulder strap slipped off my shoulder--a standard gig-bag-type mishap. I've never detected any issue with the way it does or does not push down the valves.

The main issue with the Protec Large is that it's too long, being designed for a kaiser rotary tuba that is 44+ inches tall. My BB-345 is 39 inches tall, and there's about six inches of emptiness at one end.

Rick "who does like the voluminous pockets, however" Denney

[Bob Kolada]

I think I still have another Velcro pad thing made by Altieri that keeps the pistons in the down position while in the bag. Supposedly protects the stems. I don't regularly use it; PM me if you are interested.

I put a small tupperware container over the valves of my small King Eb in my Altieri bag. It does the same thing but is cheaper and might tick off your roommates.

[cjk]

Speaking of which, I carry my BB-345 in a Protec bag and have for several years. The only mishap was when the shoulder strap slipped off my shoulder--a standard gig-bag-type mishap. I've never detected any issue with the way it does or does not push down the valves.

The main issue with the Protec Large is that it's too long, being designed for a kaiser rotary tuba that is 44+ inches tall. My BB-345 is 39 inches tall, and there's about six inches of emptiness at one end.

Rick "who does like the voluminous pockets, however" Denney

I carried a 4/4 Rudolf Meinl CC in the smaller Protec bag for a number of years. The bag was longer than the tuba. I had a blanket rolled up in the bottom for extra bottom bow "protection". The backpack straps were next to worthless.

I carry my 6/4 tuba in an Altieri bag. I didn't like these until I received one with a used tuba and actually used it. I like the big pocket and the pockets within the pocket. I like the somewhat vague fit. My 4/4 sized Altieri fits a number of different instruments pretty well. Since it's a top loader with a drawstring at the top, it's easy to morph to fit instruments of reasonably different heights. I've actually carried the 4/4 tuba in the 6/4 bag before.

[Bob Kolada]

Everything has already been said. The Cronkhite bag is best. I wouldn't care a flip if the pistons were depressed in the bag. I might actually prefer it.

Not if they were pushed down at an angle, or if the bag flexed enough to mess with them. Those are bad things.


...yet another thing tuba players seem to not grasp (gig bags and valves)...

[Rick Denney]

...yet another thing tuba players seem to not grasp (gig bags and valves)...

Yeah, Bob, you argue with Joe (who, of course, hates "dent-bags") about whether they can damage the valves by pushing them down. Let us know how that works out.

Valves have a large surface area and low friction. Unless you hang the button up on the handle while trying to force the tuba into the bag, I can't imaging a force a bag could apply that would put more lateral pressure on the valve than I routinely do with my fingers.

Rick "whose been carrying tubas in gig bags of all makes for decades, and never had a valve damaged" Denney

[niconitram]

Thanks for all your replies guys!

The Pro-tec seems to be made for a Kaiser-type horn, and I just find it annoying that it pushes down the two valves (a bit of a keener here...). On top of that, the straps are ripped and am weighing whether I should have some put back (In my neck of the woods, that is Montreal, one person makes custom cases : the one I had made for my PT-6 18 years ago still survives, but the case wasn't comfy...) or just by a new and better one.

Cronhkite (excuse the spelling) would be the answer. I know most of theses cases where thought of for Yorkbrunners and so on, but I was concerned that the 345 was bigger...

Are they costly?

I've been out of the tuba world for more than a decade and am a bit out of it! Good to be back and to have a chance to be geek (speaking for myself) again!!!

Thanks again fellows

Nicolas "the comeback 40 something"

[sffz]

I purchased a Cronkhite bag for my 345 about 1 year ago. The dimensions were similar to his bag for the Gronitz PCK. That is what he sent me and it fits wonderfully.

Randy

[PMeuph]

The best place to get a Cronhkite bag is Hornguys in California. The prices are listed on this page.

http://www.hornguys.com/tubacases.php" target="_blank

[Bob Kolada]

...yet another thing tuba players seem to not grasp (gig bags and valves)...

Yeah, Bob, you argue with Joe (who, of course, hates "dent-bags") about whether they can damage the valves by pushing them down. Let us know how that works out.

Valves have a large surface area and low friction. Unless you hang the button up on the handle while trying to force the tuba into the bag, I can't imaging a force a bag could apply that would put more lateral pressure on the valve than I routinely do with my fingers.

I don't need to be an engineer to know to avoid trying to fly a car to the moon and I don't need to be a repairman to take just a little more care with my valves (what does it hurt?).

[Rick Denney]

...I don't need to be a repairman to take just a little more care with my valves (what does it hurt?).

That phrase "what does it hurt" could be used to justify all manner of unnecessary activities, each of which might impose different risks. I'm not sure the risk of avoiding damage from something that doesn't cause damage (based on probably over a hundred years of experience reported in this thread alone) is any less than the risk of creating damage by an avoidance strategy.

Rick "who solves problems" Denney

[Tundratubast]

I measured up my 345 and Glenn made a bag for it. So he does have a template for a BBb 345. It is a very nice bag, not to tght, just snug enough to keep it from moving. And yes, the piston are depressed when the bag is closed. never had a problem with a bent stem. Great bags.