Torpedo Bags
Torpedo Bags is a US-based manufacturer of premium handcrafted musical instrument cases, specializing in trumpet and trombone cases built with proprietary LOREDO leather and aerospace-grade composites. The company sells direct-to-consumer and via 50+ independent music store dealers worldwide, serving professional brass musicians, students, and discerning collectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Torpedo Bags does
Torpedo Bags is a US-based manufacturer of premium musical instrument cases, specializing in trumpet and trombone cases alongside accessories. Founded by Glenn Cronkhite — credited with inventing the gig bag — and acquired by Steve Kriesel in 2017, the company operates from a renovated 1922 silent-movie-era theater in St. Paul, Minnesota, with 11-50 employees. The product portfolio spans entry-level nylon gig bags (CLASSIC™ at $299) to premium leather cases (LOREDO™ at $450, BADLANDS at $642, OUTLAW LEONHART™ at $700) and advanced aerospace-grade composite cases (COYOTE™ and VOLPE'S VELOX™) currently in reservation phase pending facility commissioning.
Core technology includes proprietary LOREDO LEATHER™ sourced from a century-old USA tannery (3-4x thicker than competitors' upholstery leather), in-house high-pressure foam injection systems, 1680D ballistic nylon construction, and pre-preg woven carbon fiber with DuPont Aramid (Kevlar) Nomex honeycomb cores for the upcoming Velox and Coyote cases. All cases are handcrafted in the USA by a specialized sewing team recruited from a rodeo-gear company, trained on Pfaff and Juki cast iron machines capable of sewing through 1/2 inch plywood. The company has invested over $100,000 in carbon fiber R&D and operates CNC leather cutting, hydraulic clicker cutters, foam injection, and CAD/CAM/CNC equipment.
The business operates on a direct-to-consumer model through torpedobags.com supplemented by a global dealer network of 50+ independent music stores across 20+ countries (including Long & McQuade, Schmitt Music, Thomann, and Gakkido). Revenue streams include one-time case sales ($96-$700), accessories (mouthpiece holsters, straps, mute bags, lip balm), repair services ($40 minimum deposit), and contract manufacturing services with 60,000 masks/week capacity. Customer segments comprise professional brass musicians (including Bobby Burns Jr. of Earth, Wind & Fire), music students, and discerning collectors of high-end instruments. The company also operates the Glenn Cronkhite Custom Cases guitar brand and Disco Doggy Dog Beds (made from scrap foam).
Torpedo Bags firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Torpedo Bags
- Legal name
- Torpedo Bags, Inc.
- Website
- https://torpedobags.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Torpedo Bags is a US-based manufacturer of premium handcrafted musical instrument cases, specializing in trumpet and trombone cases built with proprietary LOREDO leather and aerospace-grade composites. The company sells direct-to-consumer and via 50+ independent music store dealers worldwide, serving professional brass musicians, students, and discerning collectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Torpedo Bags industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Musical Instrument Cases
- NAICS
- Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (3169), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports, Outdoor & Adventure Packs Manufacturing (Backpacks/Duffels) (IMAOAHAE), Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI)
Keywords
Where Torpedo Bags is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Torpedo Bags business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Musical Instrument Case Sales: One-time purchase of premium trumpet, trombone, and accessory cases. Main revenue driver with products ranging from $299 to $700 for single cases. Includes leather and nylon options with various accessories.
- Repair Services: $40 minimum labor deposit (billed in $40/30-minute increments) plus materials. Foam/liner replacements typically $60, most repairs less than that. Service designed to be cost-neutral, extending product lifespan.
- Contract Manufacturing: Custom cut, sew, mold, and rivet manufacturing services for medical gowns, face masks, leather goods, and other textile/foam/wood products. Capacity of 60,000 masks per week. Equipment includes German Kuris CNC leather cutting, hydraulic clicker cutters, foam injection systems, and CAD/CAM/CNC machines.
- Accessories (Mouthpiece Holsters, Straps, Mutes, Lip Balm): Accessories including mouthpiece holsters ($16-$69), shoulder straps ($20-$120), mute bags, conchos, and TorpedoBALM lip balm ($5-$432). Recurring accessory purchases for existing case customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CLASSIC™ Trumpet Case - Entry-level premium nylon case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | LOREDO™ Trumpet Case - Premium leather case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | OUTLAW™ Trumpet Case - Lightweight hybrid case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | PEACEMAKER™ Trumpet Case - Mid-range nylon case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | OUTLAW LOREDO™ - Leather hybrid case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | BADLANDS LOREDO™ - Dark aesthetic leather case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | BADLANDS OUTLAW LOREDO™ - Dark leather hybrid case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | OUTLAW LEONHART™ - Croc-embossed premium case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | COYOTE™ Triple Trumpet Case - Advanced composite case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VOLPE'S VELOX™ - Slim carbon fiber case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Trumpet Mouthpiece Holsters™ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Trombone Mouthpiece Holsters™ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | TorpedoBALM Lip Balm |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | MUTE BOOT™ - Padded mute bags |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | GNATCATCHER™ Bag Mute |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HONCHO CONCHOS™ - Decorative strap upgrades |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Shoulder Straps and Back Pack Straps |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Repair Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Torpedo Bags product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Torpedo Bags manufactures and sells premium protective cases for musical instruments, primarily trumpets and trombones, alongside related accessories such as mouthpiece holsters, mute bags, straps, and lip balm. The product line spans entry-level nylon gig bags (CLASSIC, PEACEMAKER, OUTLAW) to premium leather cases using proprietary LOREDO, Badlands, and Leonhart leathers, plus aerospace-grade carbon fiber and fiberglass composite shells (COYOTE, VOLPE'S VELOX). The company also provides repair services for its cases and contract cut-and-sew manufacturing for medical and textile products.
Product overview
Torpedo Bags is a manufacturer of high-quality music instrument cases and accessories, specializing primarily in trumpet and trombone cases. The product portfolio consists of two main categories: hard shell/gig bag trumpet cases (CLASSIC™, PEACEMAKER™, OUTLAW™, LOREDO™, BADLANDS variants, OUTLAW LEONHART™, COYOTE™, VOLPE'S VELOX™) and accessories (mouthpiece holsters, mute bags, straps, TorpedoBALM lip balm). Cases range from lightweight 1680D ballistic nylon designs to premium leather options using proprietary thick LOREDO™ leather. The company also offers contract manufacturing services and repair services for their products. All cases are made in the USA with a focus on durability designed to last decades of daily use.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Glenn Cronkhite: Guitar cases and accessories brand acquired alongside Torpedo Bags
- Disco Doggy Dog Beds
Products and services
- CLASSIC Trumpet Case Nylon gig bag with backpack straps, made in the USA since 2010, designed for trumpet players needing hands-free transport with mute bag and music pouch.
- LOREDO Trumpet Case Premium leather trumpet case made from the company's thick proprietary LOREDO LEATHER, available in Gun Metal Black and Chocolate Brown with shoulder strap.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cases last 10-20+ years of daily professional use vs industry average
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Torpedo Bags
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Torpedo Bags technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Torpedo Bags partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Long & McQuade (Canada)coreMajor Canadian musical instrument retailer with locations across Canada and online store. Carries Peacemaker single trumpet bag and other Torpedo Bags products.
- Schmitt Music Trumpet Shop (Minnesota)coreSpecialty trumpet shop in Brooklyn Center, MN carrying Torpedo Bags Peacemaker trumpet case.
- Groth Music (Minnesota)coreMinnesota-based music retailer in Bloomington carrying full Torpedo Bags product line.
- Heid Music (Wisconsin)coreWisconsin music retailer with multiple locations (Appleton, Green Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, Wisconsin Rapids) carrying Torpedo Bags.
- Dillon Music (New Jersey)coreNew Jersey-based retailer and online store carrying Torpedo Bags search results.
- Musikhaus Thomann (Germany)coreMajor German online musical instrument retailer based in Burgebrach, DE. Carries full Torpedo Bags product catalog.
- Gakkido (Japan)coreJapanese music retailer carrying Torpedo Bags products.
- Austin Custom Brass (Kansas City)minorCustom brass specialist in Kansas City, MO carrying Torpedo Bags.
- Buddy Rogers (Cincinnati)minorCincinnati, OH music retailer carrying Torpedo Bags products.
- Quinlan & Fabish Music Companyminor7-location retailer across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan carrying Torpedo Bags.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Torpedo Bags competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gard Bags: Gard Bags manufactures premium leather instrument bags including trumpet and trombone cases. They compete with Torpedo Bags in the leather gig bag segment with similar focus on professional musicians.
- Gator Cases: Gator Cases is a major US manufacturer of instrument cases and stands, including brass instrument cases. They compete directly with Torpedo Bags across multiple price points and have broader product range across instrument types.
- Bam Cases: Bam Cases is a French manufacturer of high-end instrument cases, including trumpet and trombone cases with premium materials and finishes. They compete with Torpedo Bags in the premium brass case segment.
- Reunion Blues: Reunion Blues manufactures premium gig bags and cases for various instruments including brass. They compete with Torpedo Bags in the gig bag and soft case categories with similar premium positioning.
- Protec: Protec is a Canadian manufacturer of musical instrument cases and bags, including trumpet and trombone cases. They are a direct competitor offering similar products at varying price points, with strong distribution through music retailers.
- SKB Cases: SKB Cases manufactures hardshell instrument cases including trumpet cases with rotation molding technology. They are a direct competitor in the brass instrument case market.
- Hiscox Cases: Hiscox is a UK-based manufacturer of premium instrument cases including brass instrument cases. They compete with Torpedo Bags in the professional and semi-professional brass musician segment.
- Marcus Bonna: Marcus Bonna makes premium brass instrument cases popular with professional musicians. They compete with Torpedo Bags in the high-end professional segment with similar focus on lightweight protection.
- Winter Music Cases: Winter is a German manufacturer of high-quality musical instrument cases with a focus on professional players. They are a direct competitor in the European premium brass case market.
Broad incumbents
- Yamaha (Musical Instruments): Yamaha is a global musical instrument manufacturer that produces its own line of instrument cases. As a broad incumbent, they offer brass instrument cases as part of a comprehensive instrument ecosystem, though cases are not their primary focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Torpedo Bags social profiles
Digital presenceTorpedo Bags financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Torpedo Bags leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Torpedo Bags subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Torpedo Bags funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Torpedo Bags M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Torpedo Bags
What does Torpedo Bags do?
Torpedo Bags manufactures and sells premium protective cases for musical instruments, primarily trumpets and trombones, alongside related accessories such as mouthpiece holsters, mute bags, straps, and lip balm. The product line spans entry-level nylon gig bags (CLASSIC, PEACEMAKER, OUTLAW) to premium leather cases using proprietary LOREDO, Badlands, and Leonhart leathers, plus aerospace-grade carbon fiber and fiberglass composite shells (COYOTE, VOLPE'S VELOX). The company also provides repair services for its cases and contract cut-and-sew manufacturing for medical and textile products.
Is Torpedo Bags a public or private company?
Torpedo Bags is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Torpedo Bags founded?
Torpedo Bags was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Torpedo Bags based?
Torpedo Bags is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Torpedo Bags make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Musical Instrument Case Sales are the primary driver. The others are repair Services, contract Manufacturing and accessories (Mouthpiece Holsters, Straps, Mutes, Lip Balm).
Who are Torpedo Bags's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gard Bags, Gator Cases, Bam Cases, Reunion Blues, Protec, SKB Cases, Hiscox Cases, Marcus Bonna and Winter Music Cases. Yamaha (Musical Instruments) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Torpedo Bags have an API?
No public API is recorded for Torpedo Bags.
What industry is Torpedo Bags in?
Torpedo Bags's product category is Musical Instrument Cases. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAF, Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads), with a secondary code of IMAOAHAE, Sports, Outdoor & Adventure Packs Manufacturing (Backpacks/Duffels). Its NAICS code is 316 and its SIC code is 3080.