Euphonium gig bag advice

[nadeh]

Hey everybody.

I was looking at buying a gig bag for my Besson Sovereign. I want to get a bag that is protective, has room for music folders and other accessories, but I also want a bag I can take as a carry on to an airplane.

Here are some of the options I'm looking at.

http://www.wwbw.com/Soundwear-Professio ... 23296.wwbw" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.wwbw.com/Miraphone-Euphonium ... 18630.wwbw" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.wwbw.com/Gard-Mid-Suspension ... 70686.wwbw" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.wwbw.com/Soundwear-Performer ... 21408.wwbw" target="_blank" target="_blank

I'm worried about the size of some of these, especially the soundwear. It looks way too bulky to fit inside of a normal airplane overhead. Let me know if you guys have ever used/traveled with any of these, and what you would recommend.

Thanks!

[PMeuph]

Around here, no bag will fit in some of the smaller airplane overheads. As such, I have used hard cases to fly with various horns. The Yamaha flight case case not really suffered any damages except for scratches.

The only bag that I have used (in those you mentioned) is the sound-ware bag. It was alright for carrying the horn but it is heavier than most other bags. It would be too big for most overheads that I've seen.

_____
Unsolicited Advice:

Personally, I have been using a dolly (Hand truck) for several months and will never look back. It was cheap, light and with several bungee cords I can transport any instrument or package I need to walk with.

[jeopardymaster]

I use a Ritter bag for my Imperial. Hard case would not be a problem weight-wise but the one that came with the horn had seen some major action, which left it suitable for instrument storage but not for transport. The Ritter, although relatively inexpensive, is a great bag - good protection, good ergonomics, lots of storage.

[jeopardymaster]

After re-reading the original post -- I would not use the Ritter for air travel. Besides, the hard case still has a stencil of the previous owner's billet on it - "HMS Heron." Very cool.

[eupher61]

If Cronkhite bags turn silver horns green, I'm sure Glenn would like to know about it. That would not be something he'd like to know has happened.

Nothing like a Cronkhite bag, except a hard case.

That said, I bought a Gard bag for my Conn Eb. It's really a good little bag. They could use a little extra padding under the pocket for front/side valves, and probably some on the side for the side 4th valve, but I'm impressed. It doesn't offer nearly the protection of the Cronkhite, though. The rain cover is a fun little bonus.

[Highpitch]

I've used an Altieri for several years, and had very good luck with it.

You can carry your little goodies and music in it, use the handles like a suitcase, or the straps and wear it like a backpack. Backpack mode is probably the safest mode of carry.

Well made in the USA.

No problems causing damage to the horn. It protects as well as a padded bag can.

I can't say that about my original Besson hard case. It causes lots of 'spot' rubbings.

Maybe why the bag works OK for me it I take care of where I put it and don't use it to beat on things.

DDG

[Bob Kolada]

That said, I bought a Gard bag for my Conn Eb. It's really a good little bag. They could use a little extra padding under the pocket for front/side valves, and probably some on the side for the side 4th valve, but I'm impressed. It doesn't offer nearly the protection of the Cronkhite, though. The rain cover is a fun little bonus.

Make sure the wife isn't looking, grab a plastic bowl, and stick it over the valves as you put the horn in.

[eupher61]

Bob, I put a piece of cardboard in the pocket. Problem solved.

[MSchott]

I've used a cordura Reunion Blues soft case for my Willson for about 25 years. It's still in great condition. It does a great job protecting the horn. That said, if were to travel by air with my horn, I'd put it in it's hard case, stuff the bell, strap it closed and check it. Unless you are flying in a larger plane with big overhead compartments, I don't know if a euph with a soft case will fit in an overhead. I know Stephen Mead takes his horn as a carry on.

I travel a lot for business and carry on luggage that fits in the overhead on something like a 757 or A320 is narrower than a euph in a soft case. And a smaller plane like a CRJ would never fit a euphonium.

[oedipoes]

soundwear, best case out there!

[Brassworks 4]

I use the leather Reunion Blues.

But my advice to anyone complaining of scratching and tarnishing is to sew (or have someone sew) a light weight bag to use as a "liner" inside any gig bag. I slip my euph inside my sateen bag, bell down, stuff the extra fabric around the bottom and then inside the gig bag. I've never had an issue with scratches or tarnishing.

[euphomate]

For my Yamaha 642 euph I have used a leather Gard mid-suspension bag for three years. The mid suspension idea works a treat. An integral velvet covered cone fits inside the bell, centralising the horn in the bag, and helps protect the bell from impact. The velvet covered foam belt that creates the "mid suspension" component suspends the horn away from the internal sides of the bag. No problems so far with this bag and the level of protection it affords. The leather (buffalo hide) model probably provides a more rigid, durable external outer finish, but the fabric version is lighter and almost as good. Not a hint of tarnish on the silver plating either. A greatly underrated bag IMO.

[pgym]

For my Yamaha 642 euph I have used a leather Gard mid-suspension bag for three years. The mid suspension idea works a treat. An integral velvet covered cone fits inside the bell, centralising the horn in the bag, and helps protect the bell from impact. The velvet covered foam belt that creates the "mid suspension" component suspends the horn away from the internal sides of the bag. No problems so far with this bag and the level of protection it affords. The leather (buffalo hide) model probably provides a more rigid, durable external outer finish, but the fabric version is lighter and almost as good. Not a hint of tarnish on the silver plating either. A greatly underrated bag IMO.

Note that Gard makes four different tiers of products. The bottom two aren't nearly as good as the top two, so it's worth spending extra bux to get the better quality product.