Messina Bags

[Tim Jackson]

How much does a Massina bag usually cost? Do you like them? How do they compare to others?
I like that they say it will fit like a glove. I'm looking for tight, light, and handles.

Thanks,
Tim

[bloke]

I actually work with her (fine trumpet player) in an orchestra occasionally. From what I've seen (admittedly only 6/4 tubas belonging to others), the fit isn't as precision for models or groups of models as with the top end California bags, but I have no idea whether the California type bags are the same quality they were now that they're made in Minnesota, because I haven't seen any from the new place.
I think the bags you are asking about are probably just as well padded as California-style bags.
Even though I'm now old enough to be considered actually old - and I'm sure I'm not as strong as I used to be, I have migrated to hard cases, because I'm tired of the little dents that occur just from having to transport a tuba along with a couple of other items at the same time, or someone at some venue bumping their whatever-case-or-equipment against my bagged instrument.

Pretty sure it is spelled Messina.

[arpthark]

I found them to be much bulkier and not as precision-fit as a comparable Cronkhite.

[Tim Jackson]

Well, the site says they make each bag to your measurements, and the fit is better than other stock bags on the market. If someone's bag doesn't fit well, was the bag made for that horn with submitted measurements? I'm glad to hear other opinions as if I'm paying for a new bag, I want a slim fit, and I guess I can ask what a typical bag weighs. This is for a 184. I'm careful and certainly don't want a case. I'm not around other folks coming or going to rehearsals. It's just me and my piano buddy.

Thanks for all the info!

TJ

[bloke]

Well, the site says they make each bag to your measurements, and the fit is better than other stock bags on the market. If someone's bag doesn't fit well, was the bag made for that horn with submitted measurements? I'm glad to hear other opinions as if I'm paying for a new bag, I want a slim fit, and I guess I can ask what a typical bag weighs. This is for a 184. I'm careful and certainly don't want a case. I'm not around other folks coming or going to rehearsals. It's just me and my piano buddy.
TJ

Thanks for all the info!
TJ

If they don't have a 184 there and they don't necessarily 100% trust others' abilities to measure, it's understandable that there might not be a nice snug fit. I'm thinking if you could get the 184 to them and ask them for a particularly snug fit, you might well get one...
Of course, that tack is impractical, risky, and costly, with the only practical version of that being someone else making that r/t anyway... I was actually successful in this type of endeavor in getting that bass saxophone case from the warehouse to myself by paying someone $100 in gas money rather than $300 in shipping cost.

[peterbas]

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[bloke]

The...Science

[arpthark]

Hey, that pic is my old Messina bag on the floor of my house.

For mine, it was a pattern for a model they were familiar with so I didn't have to measure. I'm not sure how to describe why I wasn't as happy with it as I am with a similar Cronkhite. It was fine. There wasn't much wiggle room in the case, so it fit well, but the case wasn't as sleekly made. Just personal preference. It protected the horn as well as a bag could.

[Mary Ann]

The two Miraphone bags I have ended up with fit exceedingly well and are more padded than any other bags I have seen, including Chronkite. Hagen 494 and Norwegian Star. The only problem with these bags is the floppy lid, and I have solved that with a binder clip and shoestring to keep it out of the way during the ten seconds I need it out of the way. Even I can lift it off either tuba without disaster. The location of the straps is a different problem. All bag makers seem to think that straps should be proportionally placed instead of a definite distance up from the bow, so that shorter people are continually banged in the lower thighs or back of the knees when trying to backpack a taller bag.
Solved that with a wagon.

[tofu]

If you’re planning on walking with the gig bag on your back at all you might want to see if you can find one to try and see how well your frame works with the bag. If you are just going to be carrying the case by the handle then not an issue for you. There are have been variations in the length of 184s over the years and of course a C & BBb will be different lengths - so it’d be a good idea to include (highlight) that info.

I ordered one of the firsts Altari bags for a Besson New Standard over 4 decades ago - got the bag - which was well made - went to put it on the horn and it was obvious it had been made for a front action horn & would not fit. Donna was surprised to find out that tuba bells could be on the left or right side of a tuba. She was great about it and quickly made me a new one, but after that I always made sure the bag maker had key info highlighted in the order. If you want an exact fit probably a good idea to measure yours. While a bag too long can be lived with - a bag too short can be a bit problematic.

[peterbas]

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[peterbas]

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[Mary Ann]

My way of getting the bag on my back is that I set the tuba on a chair straps forward, sit on the chair in front of it, put the straps on, lean forward, stand up. For me, it is carrying it with it banging against the back of my thighs that doesn't work, and if it hangs that low, it also tries to pull me over backwards due to the mis-distribution of weight. Taller people won't have this problem.
People keep thinking I'm going to fall over when I lean forward to stand up, but I don't. This also works for getting it out of the hatch in my car. I take it off the same way -- sit in a chair, take the straps off, stand up.

[bloke]

When I carried bags, I almost never put them on my back. Tuba bags are large and it's really easy for them to pick up dirt from surfaces without noticing that they have, and - even if I'm showing up for a rehearsal in some really casual clothes yet that are a little too nice to wear out into the shop, such as a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt that don't have any holes or stains - I don't want to take something off my back and then have some big dirt place on my butt or back that I can't even see. Further, I certainly don't want any sh!t like that on the back of my suit or tails coat. I've always carried bags by the center handle and with my left hand - since it's a bit heavy, and I play the instrument with my right hand.