Conundrum! MW Ursus 3225 Altieri Gig Bag Fitting

[tubacharlton]

I recently purchased a stock Altieri bag that would, it was claimed, fit the dimensions of a new Ursus. If you haven't seen an Ursus in person, they have a lot of valve tubing that placed quite a distance from the primary wraps of the horn (and quite "high" on the horn - much of it above the top bow). Needless to say, the bag, although seized for a 19" bell (Ursus has a 17,7" rim), is way too tight, so much so that the horn won't even drop all the way to the bottom of the bag (and if it had, would be very difficult to extricate).

Has anyone bought an Altieri for an Ursus, and if so, how did you adjust for the dimensional quirks of the valve tubing placement? As a comparison, the horn currently resides in a custom-made Cronkite bag that was built for a 3450 - the Ursus bell is 1/2" bigger so it's snug at the bell seam, but not overly so. BUT, around the body, despite being the same height/width, the bag is quite tight - again, due to the volumetric impact of the valve tubing placement. But, being a side-loading case, it can be made to work" for the time being.

As a side note - the placement of the tubing/slides "high" on the horn, combined with the slightly shorter 4/4 design of the horn, make the 1/3/4 slides uber-accessible "over the top".

Any help from all the experts here is much appreciated!!

[thevillagetuba]

Altieri bags can be custom-made based off of the dimensions of your horn and I've never paid more for a custom than was listed for a regular priced bag. I would return the one that you have purchased (if from a store/company) and request a bag that is made to the appropriate size. If you have any problems getting one made (which I wouldn't think you would) PM me and I can help you out as I have had a handful of them made-to-measure over the years.

[cambrook]

I'd try the gigbag that MW sell with the tuba.

[tubacharlton]

Yes - the bag that comes with the horn is fine; alas, is does not have a large pocket, which I want, and no shoulder strap, which I really want. As far as I am aware, the Altieri indeed has those features.

[binlove]

Could you have a luggage repair shop put a strap and pocket on the MW bag?

[thevillagetuba]

Could you have a luggage repair shop put a strap and pocket on the MW bag?

Those bags that come with MW/B&S tubas (Götz bags) are nice, but I doubt it would be cost-effective to try to have those modifications done as these bags are usually quite snug to the horn (think as precisely made to fit as Cronkite bags are--or at least the ones I have had from either brand have been) and the time and effort it would take to make the modifications so as to not impact the inside of the bag I'm sure would cost the same as an Altieri.

[Jay Bertolet]

Altieri bags can be custom-made based off of the dimensions of your horn and I've never paid more for a custom than was listed for a regular priced bag. I would return the one that you have purchased (if from a store/company) and request a bag that is made to the appropriate size. If you have any problems getting one made (which I wouldn't think you would) PM me and I can help you out as I have had a handful of them made-to-measure over the years.

^^^^This. Robert is exactly right. Donna Altieri is really great to work with, if the bag doesn't fit she is very good about making things right. Just let them know and they'll ask you to send it back for replacement/adjustment. Good luck!

[bort]

Götz bags can be ordered with a shoulder strap (two options -- fixed on the bag, or with hooks to be removable). Not an expensive customization, an extra 20 euro or so.

The Götz bags are great, just order the triple-padded version. No, there's not a gigantic pocket on the Götz bags, but I think it's a minor tradeoff, and much better than the large floppy/sagging pockets on the other bags.