Case/bag for Conn 28j 4v

[lmhs1970]

I recently purchased a Conn 28j with four valves and a 22 inch bell. This is my first tuba after 16 years playing trombone. It came without a case, and is rapidly becoming my main horn. I am looking to get a bag. I see that there is a Protec bag for big tubas, but the reviews seem to say that it doesn't work well with front valved tubas. My two trombones and my euphonium are all in Protec cases and bags.

[thevillagetuba]

I have only tried one protec bag, but had to return it because it didn't fit my horn. I always recommend Altieri bags, which are my favorite, because they will custom-make the bag to fid the dimensions of your horn and the bag sits higher on your back to help from hitting your knees/legs.

IMHO, the Altieri bags are the best bags on the market for comfort and fit.

[Dan Schultz]

According to published Conn catalogs... the 28J is a three-piston front-action tuba with a 22" bell. Perhaps you have a 32J. That's the four-piston version.

[lmhs1970]

It might be a 32J. The serial number puts its year of production at 1919, and the Conn Loyalist doesn't have the 32J entering the picture until 1924, but there is always a chance that their numbers are off. I admit it wasn't the wisest instrument choice for my needs, brass quintet, but I love the sound. It isn't my only instrument with an unusual serial number. I have a pre-war Elkhart baritone/euphonium (its a fine line in American instruments) with a serial number in the 107,XXX range.
I have looked at the Altieri bags. They look good, if a little pricey, for me. I had to take a summer job to buy the tuba, and don't want to overextend myself on the case. Since I purchased it, the main community band I am in has switched me over to tuba, and I'm taking a two year sabbatical from the other two to go to graduate school.
I will admit in the last three years my tromobone playing had become lazy and complacent due to job pressures distracting me. The change in instrument is forcing me to reevaluate every aspect of my playing from scratch, so it is a welcome change.

[Dan Schultz]

It might be a 32J. The serial number puts its year of production at 1919, and the Conn Loyalist doesn't have the 32J entering the picture until 1924, but there is always a chance that their numbers are off.

Just about anything is possible with Conn. They 'recycled' some model numbers and also messed with their serial numbers.

Is there a number or letter prefix on the serial number?

[lmhs1970]

The serial number on the Tuba is 156,4XX.... no letters or prefixes. The engraving matches some WWI era conn saxaphones friends have encountered. Those horns had specific characteristics with the keywork to date them. There is no actual model number on the horn, but it was sold to me as a 28J. I'm willing to believe either model number with this horn. I'm more concerned with the way it plays, and the sound it creates when I play is what I've always felt a tuba should sound like.
I'm actually shocked with my range on this. I don't have the wind to get really punchy down low, I'm working on it, but I can get useable notes above middle C.

[Dan Schultz]

The serial number on the Tuba is 156,4XX.... no letters or prefixes. ....

Sounds like an interesting horn. Can you post an image?

[lmhs1970]

These pictures will disappear once I put my work website up for the year. They will be available for another week, and I can use this page to add other pictures in the meantime. My trombones are both run of the mill late nineties Conn-Selmer products. The Euphonium is an interesting horn too, since so little is known about the Elkhart band instrument company, and the serial number makes absolutely no sense when paired with the bell engraving, but there are so few extant low brass instruments from the Elkhart Band Instrument company that all dates are guesses really.
The tuba was purchased from Dillon music. I played the only three tubas in the store I could afford. Interestingly the two I declined both dropped in price the following week. One was a wonderful King 2340, that was easy playing. The other was a Carl Fisher/Conn in silver that is probably close to needing a valve rebuild. The King wasn't bad, but compared to the two Conn's I'd call it a student horn. Once I found the tuba stand and heard what the monster was capable of it was no longer a competition. I played sousaphone in high school, and in the past 12 years have made a point of borrowing a tuba to play once a year just to keep the skill up for in case I ever needed to again. I've discovered I don't like the Yamaha 321, I found it an exhausting horn to play with limited response. I loved my friends Meinl Weston 98, and if I could have afforded to buy it the day he sold it I would have. I always enjoyed the sound, and playability of the old American horns, so when the need arose to buy one of my own that was where I looked.


http://burgessw.weebly.com/tuba-pictures.html" target="_blank

[Dan Schultz]

These pictures will disappear once I put my work website up for the year. ...

That's indeed a nice Conn. Not quite the horn I had in mind. Some of the early ones with the main slide in the leadpipe definitely had their model numbers 'recycled'. Sorry for being so full of questions.