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UPDATE: Besson 995 fits perfectly!

I just recently acquired a Besson 995 tuba with a 19" bell. I was hoping to get away with purchasing a Protec PL251, which appears to fit all of the dimensions, but says "up to 18.5" bell." What I would like to know is..

Would a 19" bell...

• be impossible?
• be pushing my luck?
• cause damage to the bag?
• cause damage to the horn?
• any and all of the above?

@Matt Walters replied to a post on this bag (and other Protecs) on the other forum some years ago. Someone else also asked this very same "pushing the limits" question with no reply. I was wondering if anyone had any first hand experience.

I have the bag in-bound from Amazon. I suppose I can give it a try and return if it doesn't work out.

TL;DR
The Besson 995 with 19" bell fits!

The bag just arrived. I am pleased with the construction. It is well made for the money. I like the removable wooden bell protector. My Besson 995 fits even with the bell protector in place. It's definitely a snug fit. It's not a struggle to close. But, I have to press the valves down to get it zipped up. It's probably safer that way anyway.

I only spent enough time with it to check the fit. In the box it went until Christmas.

Those are nice bags, I wish they made them in more sizes

Glad it worked out for you

Post Christmas pictures.

All zipped up


Open view


Bottom foam block


Bell view


It's still to early to give it a review or anything. The bag feels decently protective and made of quality materials. Only time will tell.

I owned one of those the last few years I had my Kalison DS. It was a decent bag, especially at that price point. I sold it with the Kalison last year mine had a little wiggle room with the bell insert thingy out.

I have one. Everything about it is fine except the backpack straps.. Sits much to low and the tuba whacks me in the back of the legs when I walk.

I also have the big one for my Holton 345. It's quite nice, but I don't like that 3/4 zip thing they have going on. This one looks more well-thought out in that regard.

I know it's not a been a lot of time since I got the bag, but I wanted to report back how it has been going. I've been storing my tuba in the bag even though I've not been taking it anywhere. The exercise of unbagging it each time I practice (at least daily) I suppose is helping break in the bag. The horn still fits perfectly, but now that it is broken in, it's a little less snug....but in a good way. When I first got it, it was probably a bit too snug.

Overall, it seems to be doing well. Obviously traveling with it and lugging it around will be the true test. So far so good.