Cronkhite status?

[MiBrassFS]

No shadow casting… just wondering what realistic wait times are currently running today.

Has anyone recently ordered and received a bag?

Thankyouverymuch!

[Pauvog1]

I bought a bag in Jan '24 and another around this past Christmas.

The first bag took about 16 weeks. The 2nd bag I paid an extra fee (around $100 or so) to cut the wait time and it took about 9-10 weeks or so, but that was with the holidays in there too.

Bags were great and the shop was very responsive. I'd order from them again, if the need would arise.

[DonO.]

I ordered one for my Kanstul at the end of last October and was told 12 weeks. It took more like 14, arriving in late February. I tried, I really tried, to get it to fit into some cheap off the shelf small-medium-large thingie but it was an exercise in futility. I couldn’t be happier with the bag. I got an exact, custom fit and great quality. The communications with the company are superb. Totally worth the wait. I have one on order now for my King 2341. Again, the wait will be worth it to me to get exactly what I want exactly how I want it.

[Mary Ann]

Seems to me a good business for someone to go into who has the desire and wherewithal to learn to do that. People will always want good custom bags -- and it is not easy to make them; I bet it is harder to wrestle with leather than it is to wrestle with metal.

[tubamuphone]

I ordered a bag on October 10th, sent an email in late January asking for an update, they were waiting on materials. I sent another email last week, it's been over 6 months, can I get an ETA? I was told they were going to move my order to the front of the line and hopefully get it done soon.

I've ordered a couple of bags from them since Glenn sold the company and I've been happy with what I've gotten, none of my previous orders took this long. Fingers crossed, I need the bag!

JB

[MiBrassFS]

Not sure I dig the whole pay an extra $100 to jump the line… but, I don’t know.

When do they charge? On order or on delivery?

[York-aholic]

Not sure I dig the whole pay an extra $100 to jump the line… but, I don’t know.

Doesn't Disneyland have pretty much the same deal?

[MiBrassFS]

Not sure I dig the whole pay an extra $100 to jump the line… but, I don’t know.

Doesn't Disneyland have pretty much the same deal?

I don’t know… The only time I was there, I played a week long gig at WallyLand (nearerish to you) about 40 years ago. I didn’t ride any rides.

“They paid me!”

[russiantuba]

Both Disneyland and DisneyWorld offer it. Just got back from DW and the wife buys it on cheaper days. You wait in another line of people who bought the same pass and were able to secure that ride.

In the music world, I’ve found repair shops will sometimes expedite horns for those with deadlines or emergencies (pros, etc). It’s not something I expect or count on, but normally I will ask “I need this done, how long will my horn be gone”.

For this service, for that surcharge, I would expect it to form another line of expedited bags.

[bloke]

For $800 extra, I'll drop off your tuba in town at the "music store", pay them a $100 "bump-up" charge, and I will guarantee it to be repaired to their satisfaction.

[DonO.]

Not sure I dig the whole pay an extra $100 to jump the line… but, I don’t know.

When do they charge? On order or on delivery?

They charge upfront, full amount. It’s worth it to use the web site for ordering. You get 20% off that way.

[tofu]

Not sure I dig the whole pay an extra $100 to jump the line… but, I don’t know.

When do they charge? On order or on delivery?

yeah - that’s a huge no go for me. Guy in this very thread posts he’s been waiting 6 months - meanwhile another guy says he jumped the line by paying an extra $100 bucks - which in turn lengthens the time the guy who has already waited 6 months for his bag is going to wait as now a bag ordered after his is now ahead of him in the queue. That’s complete BS. I’ve always thought the Disney thing was BS as well - but then again I don’t think much of Disney management since Walt’s brother Roy passed away. Chronkhite has had a good deal of time to get their act together and it seems instead of spending time on really streamlining their operations they spent most of it on a pet theater project and the owner sending blog stories about his past playing to bag owners.

[MiBrassFS]

Some supply companies do have expediting fees for urgently needed parts, etc.

This doesn’t seem to be in that same category. Feels more like a squeeze.

[Sousaswag]

I didn’t know they even offered that “rush” charge. FWIW, there are several stores now with bags in stock, but you’re limited to what they have and you don’t get to pick your color.

I ordered mine last year I think, and it was about a 16 or 18 week wait if I remember correctly. But that 20% off code still being valid is really nice.

[Lee Stofer]

I am a Torpedo/Cronkhite dealer, and just called President Steve Kreisel concerning the information in this post.

There is mention made of a rush fee on the website. Steve told me that they are expensive bags to start with, so someone
making use of this offer option is not commonplace. My understanding is that it has been used about 3 times ever, and Steve
has considered removing this option for the very reasons stated in this thread, as he does not want anyone to have an infinite
wait to get their bag, and allowing someone to get theirs earlier impacts the wait times for others. This was something that
happened during the tenure of a sales manager who is no longer with the company.

As for wait times, my business is in line, just like everyone else. Because of ordering and waiting over the past two years or
so, I have sold a number of bags, I currently have 6 different bags in stock, regularly place orders, and I have three orders
currently in the works. The most recent order for 6 bags, placed this morning, is forecast to be ready in 8-12 weeks. So, if you
are looking for a bag for a B&S PT-6 a Nirschl Cooley-York, a Yamaha YCB 826 or a Miraphone 186 and a couple of others, they will
likely be here in late July.

I find that it is best to know a bit about issues before being critical. The Cronkhite bags are expensive to buy, but they are also
very expensive to make. As it is, the profit margins on these are pretty slim. Plus, Steve had a waste problem on his hands, namely
what to do with leftover bits of expensive tuba bag foam. Being a dog owner, he decide to try using the foam in a dog bed, which
is turning out to be genius. Pet owners buy a lot of stuff for their pets, and the new dog beds are a hit. By taking a little time to
quickly sew up enough of these to have inventory he could sell, he now has a way to get rid of the foam where, instead of having
to pay to dispose of it, he is making a very nice profit margin having people buy it from him in the form of dog beds. He told me
that this increase in revenue has enabled him to give his sewer a raise, and hire another one, to reduce wait times. He also had
enough extra to be able to purchase a double order of tuba foam this time, which will eliminate some lag time in getting supplies
to make the tuba bags. Steve is working on the long game, and we will all benefit.

[bloke]

sidebar:

I've now become a bit arthritic and not quite as physically strong as I was ten years ago...

Those - who've read my innumerable posts - know that I have a set of (several) California-made bags (stored up overhead outside my master bath clothes closet (so as to avoid tossing them in a box and shoving them in the attic, etc.) but have migrated to using all hard cases (again: "even though").

Instruments carried in bags eventually end up with occurred-in-the-bags dents and creases.

Though it's tempting to get THE BEST BAG (if getting a bag-or-bags...just as I got THE BEST BAGS), the padding is still minimal, as is the protection.
Rather than sliding around in a bag, it's actually safer (at least, in my experience) to travel to a gig with NO bag NOR case and seat-belt a tuba into a seat. (perhaps using the car's emergency blanket). ...I do this with my (a bit dented anyway) recording tubas, since the two cases are a bit of a nuisance, and (again) they're slightly dented anyway.

With all of the econo-Chino tubas, it seems to me that cheaper bags are more appropriate for cheaper tubas...(no?) whereas a $700 - $1200 cloth or leather bag (with 1/2" - 5/8" foam rubber, etc.) encasing a used Chino tuba (realistic resale valve $1200 - $5500) is just a bit out of proportion...(but - again - I view quite a few things differently than do others).

I have some tubas that (well...) I sorta "treasure", which is (again) why I've decided (EVEN THOUGH they are cumbersome/heavy/I'm old/etc.) to go with cases...
ALSO (in the back of the vehicle) I put the hard cases bow-forward (in case of some sudden stop, etc.)

The Miraphone 98 PLUS its Jakob Winter case...??
That feels like it could be 70 lbs...(??) ...but I can manage it. It has wheels, and (as posted before) I drop my stuff off at the stage door, stick them backstage, and THEN go park...but I've stopped having to remove bag-allowed dents and creases.

[MiBrassFS]

I’m a case carrier, too. I don’t dig bags, but… I have a some years and miles on ME, so I’m starting to think ahead.

[bloke]

yep.

...part of the point, though...

If a Jinbao 186 (or some other NOT worth $10,000 tuba), perhaps NOT a $700 nylon to $1000 leather bag...eh?

Yes, they're heavier, but aren't some pretty-darn-good molded cases cheaper than leather bags (and no more expensive than top-end nylon bags) ?

BIG top-end bags can often exceed 10 lbs... BIG molded cases can exceed 30 (even 40) lbs... feature wheels (and - again - can be dropped off at the stage door prior to parking).

Another way to use a hard case (vs. a bag - without heading to the stage door first) is to remove the tuba from the case, set it bell-down on a piece of cardboard, stick the case back in the car, pick up the tuba and cardboard, flip the cardboard into the card, sling the (18 - 24 lbs.) tuba up onto a shoulder, and hoof it to the stage door - no bag/no case.

...but bloke, if I leave the case in the car, someone will see it and break into my car !

...so why are you willing to play that shady venue in the first place?

[MiBrassFS]

Yes, the bag to horn ratio you describe has never made any sense to me. But, each to their own.

People will live in a shack and buy a $70,000.00 car, too.

[the elephant]

I have paid the expedite fee at least once because I needed the bag for work and the horn was caseless. It saved time, but not much.