Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
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I'm having trouble locating a gig bag for my Martin Eb:
32 inches tall
17 inch bell
front action valves
Everything short enough has a smaller bell
Everything with the right bell is far too tall
A custom-made bag isn't really a great option, given the ratio of bag cost to tuba cost is backwards. So I'm really trying to find something used or second-tier new. Doesn't need to be fancy, does need to be functional. Most of the time, to protect it from acts of Dog at home.
Or, any suggestions at least for a similar sized tuba? I can't really find that either, though I might be missing something obvious.
Thought Criminal
Mack Brass Artiste
TU422L with TU25
1964 Conn 36k with CB Arnold Jacobs
Accent (By B&S) 952R with Bach12
The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column
I've got a Gard gig bag for my front action Eb. I think it's their small bag. I bought it used and it's been great. My horn has a 15in bell, but it's about the same height as your description.
Jordan King 2341 with Holton Monster Eb Bell
King/Conn Eb Frankentuba
Pan AmeriConn BBb Helicon
Yamaha YBB-103
"No one else is placed exactly as we are in our opportune human orbits."
Put a few stadium seat cushions in there there and
Thought Criminal
Mack Brass Artiste
TU422L with TU25
1964 Conn 36k with CB Arnold Jacobs
Accent (By B&S) 952R with Bach12
The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column
Tuba Exchange used to sell a 3/4 size gigbag for a good price. I bought one for my little 4+1 York Eb (15” bell). I just tried my Martin Eb in it. The bell is tight, but fits okay. Length is just right.
They don’t list them anymore, but you might give them a call and/or keep an eye out for a used one.
Some old Yorks, Martins, and perhaps a King rotary valved CC
I'm betting the 32" is OD not ID -- and likely it would "just not barely fit." Otherwise, an excellent idea. If returnable, maybe worth the shipping to find out, if you had another use for it.
It's about to the point where you could get four beach towels and inch-thick foam rubber and just make one with pull strings for closure, if all you needed was a dent bag. Regular sewing machine could do it on the beach towels, and you could get some cool colors. Open at one end and just snug it shut with the draw strings. That's how the dolly bag for the NStar worked; bell on floor, put it on like a sock, turn right side up, snug the cords, ready to go.
The Gard Small Suspension bag would be a good fit and pretty protective. I'll have one for sale eventually if my Cronkhite bag ever shows up. It's a bit too small for my 982 clone JP.
You might look around the internet and on eBay at camping supplies and soft luggage.
If I had some $$$ instrument in an odd size and really wanted some sort of bag for it, I would look there to see if there were something - even if minimal or no padding.
I enjoy sarcasm as much as anyone, but I also don’t like to purchase bags or cases that cost as much as the value of the instruments they contain.
I don’t know what the market value is for (other than a Holton, York, or L&H with a 19-inch bell, which sports valuable parts for projects) a 90-year old three valve small-bore E-flat tuba, but I doubt that the value of most old three valve small bore E-flat tubas exceed the current retail pricing of high-end tuba bags, which are about the only sources where custom-fitted bags can be purchased – thus the duffel bag suggestion.
Additionally, this particular potential tuba bag consumer has a history of not keeping instruments for a particularly long time, and it would seem to me a little bit of a shame to purchase a custom fitted $600 bag for an instrument (whether a $400 tuba or a $40,000 tuba) that might be sold prior to the onset of winter.
I agree with all of that Joe except -- believe it or not -- this tuba is sticking around with me for a good while.
A custom fitted option is not something I'm going to pursue, exactly for what Joe said in terms of cost. I'm not going to buy something to carry around the tuba that costs more than the tuba cost itself.
But with that said, I've had a few really bad gig bags before in the past that were included with things that I bought. Sometimes I've replaced those and sometimes I didn't. Some of those tubas were very very nice, but dealing with an awful bag just kind of sours the experience. It really stinks to take a great thing around in a lousy case, or some kind of workaround.
So, I'll still be seeking out some sort of gig bag and not a duffle. I may have to pay a price that's maybe equivalent to what I paid for this tuba, but I don't think that's such a bad thing.
In terms of what the value is? In my mind, the value of this tuba is what I paid for it, and the future value is whatever the next person would pay for it.
The 3 + 1 version of this instrument is for sale at Dillon Music, and is priced to sit around for a while, IMO.
I'm glad I have it, it's fun to play and it sounds nice, and it's easy on the eyes. I just don't want to look like a fool carrying it around without a case, carrying it around in a dumpy looking duffle bag (my opinion -- you all do what you want!), or carrying it around in a $1200 leather Cronkhite. Just looking for the middle ground. The Gard bag might be the answer.
If one insures their instrument, do they get a discount for having a bag?
I am the fool who rocks* the bare tuba shoulder strapped to the back (think (Boba Fett's jet pack... if Boba Fett weren't himself in a hard case), but i do have to be alert when turning or sitting down... And that $50 Eb tuba... Is now in the shop.
Mr. Bort2.0, your problem is now my problem. Albeit i am pretty sure i have far lower standards to meet.
* For some very loose fashion definition of the word)
