A new source for quality gig bags

[Davidus1]

This was posted on Tubenet

www.superfinecases.com

I went to the site and the cases appear to be very very nice. I saw at least one person on Tubenet that said they have had one for a couple of weeks and really liked it. I want to make it clear that I do not know the owners of this company but am merely passing it on as the number of custom gig bags available is pretty thin. I'm thankful for companies such as this as well as Cronkite so that there is a place to get nicer gear for those desiring it. Check it out.

[Eupher6]

I just looked at their web site and apparently they have closed their shop this past June. They said they were closed for the summer, but would perhaps reopen. No indication that they've reopened, however. There's an email address on the site. A leather euph gig bag goes for $530, cordura for $430. Straps cost extra.

[davewerden]

Thanks for that update. FWIW, the message referred to, which is still there, is:

The shop will close on June 24, 2022 due to the loss of our lease. We will remain closed through the summer while we relocate and – perhaps – enjoy some time off with our families. Thanks for your patience! And keep an eye on this space for any updates on our situation.

And here is there Facebook page, which has not been updated for months:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Supe...0037580906472/

If they do come back, it would be hard to convince me away from Cronkhite. They have a long history of high quality (now owned by Torpedo Bags, which also has a great reputation from what I hear).

Superfine is an American company, which is a plus for me (California).

[Eupher6]

I'm afraid Cronkhite is just too expensive. I bought a new Cronkhite bag for my Kanstul 33-T tuba about 10 years ago (back when Glenn still owned the business -- and he had to make up a new template for this new tuba model as a bonus) and it's been absolutely great. I never use the hard shell case anymore (but then again, I don't travel with that tuba anywhere except locally).

I'm in the market for a bag big enough for my Adams E2. I tried the Gard bag that I'd heard much about, but it was far too small for my horn. That particular Gard bag, model 51-MLK, is a well-made, solid bag with lots of non-standard interior padding with hook & loop fastening, but it's just too small for the E2. Furthermore, my Boosey Imperial, built 1941, would also not fit. I'm convinced that Gard bag could only accommodate a non-comp horn like maybe the Yamaha 321 -- but certainly nothing bigger. So I'm returning the Gard bag to the seller for a refund.

I do note that Torpedo Bags sell their Cronkhite bags on Ebay, selling them about $70 cheaper than they do on their web site. They're still out of my price range, however.

I went ahead and ordered an Altieri bag (their large model) last night. Remains to be seen how that'll work.

[iMav]

Those Cronkite bags look GORGEOUS!

Dave, do you have a pic of your E3 in one so I could see how they fit?

[Shinn]

Wonderful, detailed review by Dave can be found here ~

http://www.dwerden.com/forum/entry.p...m#.Y1u5XCUpAWM

[Eupher6]

Wonderful, detailed review by Dave can be found here ~

http://www.dwerden.com/forum/entry.p...m#.Y1u5XCUpAWM

FWIW, Torpedo Bags, the new owner of the Cronkhite lineup of gig bags, seems to have worked through its backlog of a few years ago. Their web site does not show any need to wait (as long as you're ordering a stock bag -- custom bags that have to be built could very well have a lag time) and even their Ebay entry shows availability.

[Eupher6]

Wonderful, detailed review by Dave can be found here ~

http://www.dwerden.com/forum/entry.p...m#.Y1u5XCUpAWM

Thanks for linking Dave's comments. I read them with interest.

For my application, I don't travel great distances with my horn and certainly not on aircraft any more. (I note many players routinely travel with their horn in gig bags and there has been much discussion about how that's done to try and negate the need to stow the horn in the baggage compartment), but I digress.

My horn is the standard yellow brass bell, 0.08mm, silver-plated Adams E2. No sterling silver, so apart from the usual concerns about using a gig bag to begin with, I think the Altieri bag will offer sufficient protection for my horn.

The only thing I worry about is there is no 4th valve lock on my Adams. I kick myself every day for failing to have Adams install that crucial piece of protection when the horn was built. (I had to have the Adams team build a horn from scratch, cut down about a semi-tone because their horns all play flat for me.) There is nothing special about the horn other than that, but I should have had that 4th valve lock put on the horn and should've added a couple extra braces around the 4th valve slide and main tuning slide. So I'm going to see if a local reputable repair facility can handle that task for me. I cringe using a gig bag without having that 4th valve locked down.

[aroberts781]

I went ahead and ordered an Altieri bag (their large model) last night. Remains to be seen how that'll work.

I hope you like your Altieri bag, let us know how it goes with your Adams. It isn't the sleekest bag and there is a bit of extra room in the bag when the horn is in, but I have found mine to be very well made, has nice big storage pockets, is comfortable to carry, and the padding seems adequate for any purpose I could imagine a gig bag being used for. I have been using mine for about 6 years and still love it.

[Eupher6]

I hope you like your Altieri bag, let us know how it goes with your Adams. It isn't the sleekest bag and there is a bit of extra room in the bag when the horn is in, but I have found mine to be very well made, has nice big storage pockets, is comfortable to carry, and the padding seems adequate for any purpose I could imagine a gig bag being used for. I have been using mine for about 6 years and still love it.

Will do, and if there is extra room within the bag, there's always the option of cutting and fitting some fishnet-covered foam rubber inside the bag, using velcro to keep same in place.

[franz]

A few months ago I replaced the original New Standard case, old and inadequate, with a new, more modern one that was light, cheap and functional. I opted for this hard bag, https://www.thomann.de/it/ortola_807...AvE8EALw_wcBit weighs 3kg, fits the New Standard 3 valve perfectly (note: it does not fit the Prestige) and is about half the weight of the original Prestige case (5.7kg). I applied a pair of wheels to both cases in order to make transport easier as a trolley.

[iMav]

Wow. This is pretty tempting (under $400 and free shipping).