TubaForum.net

- This site is about the playing and the present/future/hopeful ownership of expensive equipment.
- Most of the playing of these specific types of instruments occurs within densely populated areas.
- Unlike 50 or 60 years ago, there are epic instances of burglaries and robberies in nearly all of these densely populated areas.
- It’s difficult - if not awkward/stilted – to talk around the subject of trying to keep our property from being taken from us…stuff that is very dear to us - including not-inexpensive and very nice carrying bags for the equipment.
- Nothing about this desire to keep and protect our nice things that we treasure (including effective strategies to be able to hold on to our things) - things that we discuss here - is false, political, or “racist” in any way.
- No one is obligated to read every post in every thread, and no one is obligated to tiptoe around others - who might find practical information and tips (such as “how to increase the likelihood of holding on to your stuff”) to be “triggering“.

This thread has reminded me I've been lax in posting MY SuperFine bag.

I asked Tom to build in some extra padding in the top and bottom of the bag and the extra handles (super useful).





I could not get the colors in the photos to match my eye exactly. The lining is a dark Navy blue, and the leather color is not quite accurate on my screen(s). The color reminds me of a lighter tan for a baseball glove, which is what I was going for. I do not mind the weight of leather. It's a trade off I'm more than willing to make for the stiffness of the bag and the extra protection it affords to minor dings. I also don't mind that it shows a few marks and scratches - it's not a museum piece, it's a working tool.

Disclaimer: I offered Tom extra money - to the point of naming his price - to make a top loader. Tom declined, and I understand how the manufacturing process for top loaders for tubas (especially leather ones) is WAY more difficult than side loaders. I had a somewhat negative experience with my Gotz bag fabrication and Tom provided the exact opposite of that experience. The extra padding makes for a very snug bag length wise, but it still fits - it just adds 10 seconds to my loading time.

These are the best quality bags on the market right now, be it leather or not. *Highly* recommended.

That’s a gorgeous bag, and congratulations.

I know that top loaders have their ardent fans, but clamshells can be treated like hard cases – setting them on backstage tables and opening them up as if there is a bottom and a lid. Further, top loaders tend to suffer from interior tears - due to dragging parts (that tend to catch on the lining) up and down - up and down - up and down.

sidebar:
Soon, I’m going to erect that wood storage rod (with the special hangers that cjk or someone…?? found for me) to keep my four California-made clamshell bags out of the way until I’m ready to pack up and head out of the house to play somewhere.
I’ll take pictures, and some of you can pretend to admire my work… LOL

matt g wrote: ↑Thu Jan 13, 2022 11:55 am ~sigh~

Not every topic/thread is an opportunity to be a curmudgeon.

@kingrob76 I like your bag. Color's not really my jam, but, it's not my bag. :)

I had one of the prototype top loader bags from Tom, and it was awesome. Slightly big for my tuba, but it was the real deal. Early on, I really wanted a leather top loading bag from him, and the sounded like that was going to be possible for a while. Like you, I pleaded unsuccessfully. Haha.

I'm constantly in the Superfine vs Gotz dilemma as well.

Tom's bags are what they say they are!

Matt, thanks for posting about both bags! I appreciate your sharing and helping to spread the word. All this Superfine love makes me very happy!

It is apparent that everyone has their own idea of what color is best. That is why I stock 13 colors plus Black. But my supplier has an additional 16 colors, so if you don't like the offers you can special request something at no charge. They have a light brown called Coyote that I plan to get.

Also, I just emailed them to ask about Camo. I can't blame some of you deer-hunters for wanting to bring a tuba along! With practice, you could probably eek out some convincing deer-mating sounds!...

Three Valves wrote: ↑Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:53 am Navy Blue is almost Black but has 100% more pizzazz!!

^ SO true!

@greenbean, if I end up picking up an F tuba one of these days, maybe I’ll convince you to see if you can source some digicamo for a bag…