The Gannaway bag

[Jeff Wolf]

I've heard many good things about this bag, mostly how comfortable it is, but also that it is a good moisture control bag. I am curious about this, as other than the tanning process noted in the literature, how else does this bag control moisture? Are not all hide bags tanned? Is the gannaway leather tanned a special way? It's a sealed bag, so there's nothing internal to help out.

I'm a wet blower with a canmore bag, and the jury is still out on it, in my mind. Lots of advantages, but there is no heft to it at all. If the Gannaway offers some moisture help, I may head thataway, otherwise I'm thinking Bannytine.

Opinions? Thoughts? Comments?

[Gordon Jones]

Go to www.gannawaynz.com (http://www.gannawaynz.com) for details on how he makes his hide bag's differently.
After playing both Ross and Ganaway here are a few comments.

1) Ross ...brilliant when combined with his reeds to give what I belive to be the best sounding synthetic combination of bag and reeds.Almost no maintenance required. Pick up and play even after a rest. Negatives are difficulty in clean stopping( well not as easy as others )and the feel of the bag with the canister in it.
2) Ganaway...briliant on any reed with a beatifull feel under the arm..the pipe and you are one.
Controlled moisture that for me has provided me with many hours of playing cane with no moisture related problems. Maintence is the usual dressing I do quarterly particually as it is very hot here in summer. Cheaper than Ross and any reeds can be used.

I think its fair to say you can win the worlds on both and still have a good discussion on which is best. Certainly by mentioning Ross and ganaway you have thinned it down to probably the best. Others might offer some other suggestions.

[Chris Hamilton]

I think everyone around here knows my feeling on the Gannaway bag. All-around brilliant.

As for the moisture control, consider this: I played three heats at the Worlds in the cold rain last August. All I needed to do was empty my tube trap frequently and my reeds were stable and resonant the whole day. The five or six others in the City of Washington band who played the Gannaway on that day would relate a similar experience.

Gordon's comments about the comfort are correct. To me, it feels like a good sheepskin bag. Just the right combination of weight and shape and malleability.

Chris

[Ed Via]

I'll throw in my 2 cents. I bought a Gannaway from Chris H. about 2 months ago, and my persistent moisture control issues simply disappeared. And I don't even use a full-blown water trap with it; just a 9" length of plastic tubing, open at the end, to divert my breath to the back of the bag. And very comfortable. I love it :*)

Ed