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Gig bag needed for my new to me Kanstul 902-3B. This is a “3/4” size horn with three front valves. Bell diameter is 16” and height is approx. 33”. Spec wise, the only gig bag I can find that it wouldn’t be swimming in is the Gard small tuba model- up to 16” bell and up to 35” high. Sounds about perfect and I would just order it but problem is, every online store shows it not in stock/backordered. The Protec “small tuba” bag would be ridiculously large- their definition of “small” is 18.5” bell and 39” high. I would like to have it before mid-April,when I will be traveling to my Alma Mater for a band reunion. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Price? Under $300 would be nice.

The Miraphone "F tuba" bag looks close - spec'd for 33" tall x 16" bell (or thereabouts in its' native metric).

https://www.miraphone.de/gigbag-for-f-tuba.html

I bought a different model/size 2nd hand from @kingrob76 for my Mack horn and so far it's been great. I think he said that he'd been able to order it from Europe directly, for better overall price than getting it from a US retailer. The model I have has the carbon-fiber (I beleive) insert in the lid to protect the rim of the bell. In a little under a year of ownership, mine has sustained no damage, leaving the house a couple nights a week to go to community band rehearsals.

Tuba exchange has some 3/4 bags made that were I think 16x32. I have a small 15x32 York Eb in it but a slightly bigger 17x32 Martin Eb also fits.

I don’t think they still sell them, but if you come across one on the used market, it would likely fit.

Very frustrating. It seems the bag that best fits my need is the Gard Small. And you would think there would be multiple places to buy those, but there only seems to be one. WWBW, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Music and Arts, and all their little outlets and subsidiaries, but they’re all the same thing. WWBW says “ these case come from overseas and there’s no way to do a rush order”. It seems like someone in this country should have some. And the Gard website is useless.

I've had zero luck finding anything to fit my Martin Eb, which is the same size. I could order a new Cronkhite I guess, but that makes zero financial sense

This is a gap that Altieri used to fill very nicely.

One of the less boutiquey bag makers needs to manufacture something with maximum dimensions of 15 in by 36 in, to accommodate most 3/4 size instruments.
As a fairly large percentage of the smaller instruments are also student/budget instruments, it seems to me that people that own instruments like that probably don't want to spend more than $200 on a bag.

kingrob76 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 12:36 pm This is a gap that Altieri used to fill very nicely.

Yes, I used to have one that also worked very well with the little York Eb mentioned above.

Hey, Don. I have an Altieri gig bag I used for my Cerveny 653 . . . I can bring it with me the next time I come up to NWPA for you to try, if you like.

PM me if you’re interested.

So a guy i know bought a late 1800s tuba that has a rediculusy huge bell. He found a place that makes custom size gig bags. He said they asked him for measurements and sent him a large sheet of paper to outline the horn and send back. The bag is fantastic. He said it was pricey though. I dont remember the name of the place. You can see the tuba on his u tube page, the name is zwad. Otherwise, maybe an industrial sewing shop can make something for you. https://www.tripleemfg.com/ are good people, maybe a good alternative. Youd have to contact them and see. Just an idea. Trying to help.

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Grumpikins wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:05 pm So a guy i know bought a late 1800s tuba that has a rediculusy huge bell. He found a place that makes custom size gig bags. He said they asked him for measurements and sent him a large sheet of paper to outline the horn and send back. The bag is fantastic. He said it was pricey though. I dont remember the name of the place. You can see the tuba on his u tube page, the name is zwad. Otherwise, maybe an industrial sewing shop can make something for you. https://www.tripleemfg.com/ are good people, maybe a good alternative. Youd have to contact them and see. Just an idea. Trying to help.

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David Messina at Messina Covers does great custom work. But I recently paid about $550 including shipping for my bag, so might be out of Don's price range.

Grumpikins wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:05 pm So a guy i know bought a late 1800s tuba that has a rediculusy huge bell. He found a place that makes custom size gig bags. He said they asked him for measurements and sent him a large sheet of paper to outline the horn and send back. The bag is fantastic. He said it was pricey though. I dont remember the name of the place. You can see the tuba on his u tube page, the name is zwad. Otherwise, maybe an industrial sewing shop can make something for you. https://www.tripleemfg.com/ are good people, maybe a good alternative. Youd have to contact them and see. Just an idea. Trying to help.

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Curiosity led me to this:



Holy carpe diem!

Yes. The Van Caulert tuba is huge! And sounds huge. Some intonation quirks, but sounds awesome in person. Really something for pre electricity hand made magic. Thats the horn he had the bag made for, and the bag is fantastic too.

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Thank you to all who responded and to those who contacted me with offers of bags they thought would work for me. I have decided to order a brand new Gard bag from WWBW. I hesitated because they say they are out of stock but will ship to me on or before 3/20. If they are true to their word I will still have it in hand several weeks before I actually need it. I’ll let you all know how it goes.

travisd wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:58 pm The Miraphone "F tuba" bag looks close - spec'd for 33" tall x 16" bell (or thereabouts in its' native metric).

https://www.miraphone.de/gigbag-for-f-tuba.html

I bought a different model/size 2nd hand from @kingrob76 for my Mack horn and so far it's been great. I think he said that he'd been able to order it from Europe directly, for better overall price than getting it from a US retailer. The model I have has the carbon-fiber (I beleive) insert in the lid to protect the rim of the bell. In a little under a year of ownership, mine has sustained no damage, leaving the house a couple nights a week to go to community band rehearsals.

Specifically the bag that comes closest to my needs is the one that fits the F Petrushka, and I did consider it. Unfortunately nobody has it in stock. Best price is the Horn Guys, and they say takes up to 60 days for them to get one.

DonO. wrote: ↑Thu Feb 09, 2023 12:05 pm

travisd wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:58 pm The Miraphone "F tuba" bag looks close - spec'd for 33" tall x 16" bell (or thereabouts in its' native metric).

https://www.miraphone.de/gigbag-for-f-tuba.html

I bought a different model/size 2nd hand from @kingrob76 for my Mack horn and so far it's been great. I think he said that he'd been able to order it from Europe directly, for better overall price than getting it from a US retailer. The model I have has the carbon-fiber (I beleive) insert in the lid to protect the rim of the bell. In a little under a year of ownership, mine has sustained no damage, leaving the house a couple nights a week to go to community band rehearsals.

Specifically the bag that comes closest to my needs is the one that fits the F Petrushka, and I did consider it. Unfortunately nobody has it in stock. Best price is the Horn Guys, and they say takes up to 60 days for them to get one.

It's been a long time since I've had one of those bags... how much "give" is there in the bell cap?

My Martin Eb is 32" tall (so a little extra room in the Miraphone bag, but not a lot) but the bell is 17" (vs. 16.535" for the Miraphone bag).

Half an inch simultaneously sounds like "not a lot to worry about" and "a total deal-breaker."

Update. I got an e-mail saying my order has been shipped! I am a bit ticked off because they told me they had none in stock and couldn’t ship until March 20th, which of course made it ineligible for their Presidents Day discount (only good until Feb. 20). But apparently they did have one in stock, which if the web site had shown that, I could have had the discount.

Oh well. Trying to be philosophical. I like saving money, but I guess if the case meets my needs, not a big deal.

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 09, 2023 1:43 pm
It's been a long time since I've had one of those bags... how much "give" is there in the bell cap?

My Martin Eb is 32" tall (so a little extra room in the Miraphone bag, but not a lot) but the bell is 17" (vs. 16.535" for the Miraphone bag).

Half an inch simultaneously sounds like "not a lot to worry about" and "a total deal-breaker."

The spec on the bag that I have (the G170103 is 480mm. Measuring (little hard to do with the padding) it appears that the carbon fiber disc - and effectively the max diameter bell you'd want to put in there - is 490mm. You could probably 'fit' something 500mm in there if you had to, but would lose the extra protection. You're about 1.8mm (11.8mm over advertised limit) over - do you feel lucky?

Glad to hear you found a Miraphone gig bag that will work . . . They are very nice bags. Let us know how the fit works out!

I did send a note to ProTec about the need for an affordable generic 3/4 bag.

I'd wager they're already aware of that not-catered-to market.

A decade ago, Taylor Music offered some generic 3/4 bags, eventually decided to not fool with them anymore, and sold out of them.