Custom tuba soft case

[EMC]

Anyone know of a maker who can make me a truly custom case for an Alexander 155 with the 5th valve on the left side of the horn? I recently picked up my horn after sending it to have the 5th installed by Dan Schultz and he did an excellent job and I will post later with pics about it but now I'm looking for a good soft Case (may have to settle for a hard case) for the horn and Cronkhite has advised against any of his cases after taking a look at the horn, any and all ideas are greatly appreciated.

[EMC]

Here's a pic of it for reference, https://www.dropbox.com/sc/jg7o3c613tyj ... ApHe3Jb22a" target="_blank

[Ferguson]

Glenn Cronkhite does advise against LH 5th rotor tubas in his cases...but he also inadvertently makes a few cases designed for those exact horns (i.e. PT16 and many others). I have not heard of issues from players of those horns. I think his cases are still the best you can get for this style. Just set it the case down gently. You could also Velcro an extra block of foam inside the case near where the 5th paddle will sit. Look inside a Marcus Bonna trumpet case for an idea of one way to do it.

-F

[EMC]

I would agree with you that it doesn't seem like something that would be so far of a stretch to deal with but after talking to him myself he seemed unwilling to do it, so now I'm considering Markus Bonna or something along those lines, not a fan of Altieri bags but I just want the horn to be safe.

[pjv]

Go to a reliable outdoor sport shop, ask for the number of the person/department/company that does their custom work, have them make a backpack style (top loader) soft case with padding, straps and pouches exactly where YOU want it.
And now enjoy your awesome soft case with backpack straps that really work properly on a soft case which is strong enough to last a life time.

Thats what I did. And because I had it made like a backpack (with compression straps) it easily fits my smallest F tuba as snug my largest BBb tuba.

[EMC]

Go to a reliable outdoor sport shop, ask for the number of the person/department/company that does their custom work, have them make a backpack style (top loader) soft case with padding, straps and pouches exactly where YOU want it.
And now enjoy your awesome soft case with backpack straps that really work properly on a soft case which is strong enough to last a life time.

Thats what I did. And because I had it made like a backpack (with compression straps) it easily fits my smallest F tuba as snug my largest BBb tuba.

That actually sounds like a great idea thanks for that!

[Rick Denney]

I carry my 6-valve B&S F tuba, with two left-hand valves, in an old Reunion Blues bag from the days when they were made by Cronkhite. The bag was intended for a Miraphone 186, so the B&S is just a tad loose (it's not really that much smaller than a 186). That bag provides significantly better protection than any top-loader I can think of, because it had the right type of padding and it can be carried securely. I was using a top-loader before, and it had a handle with two attachment points, meaning that the case could easily yaw on the handle, and that accounted for a couple of collisions with the edge of the bell (that I subsequently had to roll out). Also, top-loaders pre-stress the bell rim, making it more vulnerable to damage resulting from those collisions. The GC-made bag has a handle with four attachment points (actually two handles wrapped together when the case is closed), and leaves the bell with a lot of room around it. And it doesn't have a bunch of straps hanging all over the place to get caught in my feet, which happened a couple times with the top-loader.

Unless the left-hand valve sticks out (and I can't get the picture to load), just get GC to make you a case for a 155 without the left-hand valve.

Rick "agreeing with Mr. Ferguson" Denney

[Rick Denney]

I believe the key (which applies to just about any part of a tuba that is located on most any side of a tuba) is to not treat a bag as if it were a case.

Agreed. That's just easier to do with the Cronkhite bags, which are easier to handle so that you avoid bumping into things.

Rick "who has never had good luck with top-loaders" Denney