I spent against my soon-to-come Easter gig check to pick up a Cordura bag for my Kurath. It is burgundy and is the generic "medium" size. All in, it was under $600. I trusted their size chart, which showed the Willson 3400FA Eb and the 3200RZ F (but oddly enough not the 3200FA) as well as the PT-10 series of F tubas. The Kurath is essentially the 3200FA with a generic rotor rather than the later ROTAX used when he switched over from the Kurath label to Willson. The 3400FA Eb and the 3200RZ rotary F are essentially the same bell and outer branches, so if these horns actually fit then mine also ought to fit. In looking over the fit guide, it appears my horn is one of the largest, so we shall see. If the chart is correct and my horn fits, then many of the horns that are clumped together to use that bag will have a really loose and floppy fit. That single thing would have driven Glenn insane. He hated loose-fitting bags.
I bought it on eBay. Torpedo has two listings, one for leather bags and one for Cordura. The drop-down menus include material (there is only one choice), one of four generic sizes, and a limited palette of conservative, single-tone colors. This means that they keep these specific sizes and colors in stock, so you do not have to wait for them to be cut and stitched together. I will get mine in about two weeks.
If your horn is in the fit list for a given size and is on the larger end of the scale, it will probably fit snugly, as it should. The Medium size was a ton of F and Eb tubas and some smaller CCs. The Large one included the Alex 163 and 173, Miraphone 186, and the 186 (old style) which is about an inch taller with a smaller bell flare. I used this same bag for my Alexander 163, and it was TIGHT and took about two years for the leather to stretch to fit, and after 12 years was still sort of tight. But it did fit and it did a great job of protecting against small bangs and bumps. I might get one of these for my 1971 186 at some point. I don't have the $$$ right now, and the blue Miraphone bag fits it very well.
I use the same model Miraphone bag for my Kurath and it's just too big to make me happy. And, of course, the next size down is too small. (Miraphone does not make a tuba with the same outer dimensions as the old Kurath/Willson F tuba.) I am hoping this Torpedo-made Cronkhite will have the same padding and the same quality build of straps as my old Glenn-made bags. I bought a beautiful, black leather one for the 186 and it was really slick. I was very pleased with what I received from them. However, we took in some cats just before I got this bag that destroyed my other leather Cronkhite bag, so I only used the new one a time or two. Then I wrapped it in plastic and stowed it away to preserve it. I gave up on ever using it and sold it recently. That was a $1200 bag. This new Cordura one is half that in cost, and my cats do not seem to like shredding Cordura. I am hoping it protects and fits my tuba as well as (or better than) the Miraphone bag.
I will post back with photos of the bag, both empty and with the tuba inside, to review the construction and fit.
By the way, the website has a new leather choice that I *love* called "Badlands" but I can never have it while these kitties are alive. Maybe in another decade.
Heck, *I* may not be alive in another decade. Oh, well…
This is what I bought…
This is what I would love to have one day…
