How many tubas do you regularly play?

[ken k]

Boosey & Hawkes Eb for just about everything, quintet, pops orchestra, concert band and british style brass band work. Don't do orchestra stuff other than the pops so I really don't need a big horn.

I have occasionally borrowed the BBb King from my HS for the pops or some band gigs, and eventually would like to get my own.

Pan American BBb Helicon for dixieland and jazz gigs.

ken k

[Steve Inman]

One.

Or the other one.

Exclusively.

For months at a time.

Then when some musically appropriate reason comes up (usually the larger group "Christmas things", when I want to actually be a bit more "foundational"), IF I've been playing the Eb, I switch to the CC.

And either keep playing IT in quintet (as now), OR switch back to Eb in January for the primarily quintet things.

It's so much easier for my brain and fingers. One of these days I'll discover it isn't really that difficult to go back & forth, and I'll start doing that, and have a lot more fun as a result. (buc, buc, buc, cluck, cluck, cluck .... )

Cheers,

[Rick Denney]

In band, I play the Holton BB-345. In quintet, I play the Yamaha 621 F. Those are the default instruments.

If I need a bass tuba in band, I play the B&S Symphonie. Everything Wade says about his Cerveny fits my experience with the B&S. He may be able to play the Yamaha loudly, but the only way I can do so is to use a shallow mouthpiece and go trombone-like, which isn't always appropriate. I have to work with the B&S a lot if I'm going to perform with it, even at my level.

If I need a contrabass in quintet, I play either the Miraphone or the York Master.

If the Holton is too big for something in band, I'll bring the York Master instead. That doesn't happen often. It's also my backup for the Holton, and I'm playing it right now while the Holton is in the shop.

If I need something in adverse circumstances or if I'm going to have to stand, and I need a contrabass, I'll consider the Martin, which has fiberglass outer branches. I haven't had one of those circumstances since buying that tuba. The 621 is my standard F tuba for standing gigs.

If I need a sousaphone, I can accommodate the situation. That hasn't happened in the two years I've owned it.

In percentages, it's Holton 80%, Yamaha 10%, everything else, 10% total. But that's more a statement of my current playing situations than anything else. When I lived in San Antonio and played in the TubaMeisters, the percentages were Yamaha 80%, Miraphone 20% (those were the choices at the time).

Rick "who said nothing about need" Denney

[iiipopes]

Hey, Rick -- it's never about "need!"

And you ought to play a souzy more often. I had a blast last week playing a few gigs at the county/regional fair!

[dmmorris]

I stopped schlepping more than one horn to any gig!

I had 4 tubas. Sold the peashooter-F to a good home....I just wasn't using it.
Now have 3 tubas that I enjoy:
(1) 1921 Conn, 32K Helicon - outside or stand-up gigs, or with honkey-tonk-piano-trio.
(2) 1970's B&S, 4/4 - most of my playing.
(3) 1937 York, 4/4 - Much more core and a richer tone than the B&S, used for large-ish church ensembles and Ragtime ensemble.

I'm actually gonna thin the herd to just the B&S and the Conn because I really can cover all of my playing with those two horns. So the York will go on the "For Sale" board sometime later this year.

[Alex C]

Nirschl 4/4 CC is my default tuba on most gigs. For tuba quartet gigs (I actually do quite a few) my YFB 621S. The one I stupidly sold to Wade may have been equal but the first valve slide moved easily making the one or two small adjustments needed, simple.

I'm starting another thread for my next tuba comment.

[Bill Troiano]

Although it is nice to have many (or a few) different tubas to use for various situations, I've gotten by my whole career mostly owning one horn at a time, and at times, I've had 2. Back when I was breaking in, there wasn't much talk about size of horns and rarely did anyone play an F. This is back in the early 70's. After my degree study, I spent time studying with Harvey at IU. I was one of 20 or so tuba players there. I don't remember anyone having an F and of course, Harvey only played on his Conn CC. The 4/4, 5/4 quarter designation didn't exist yet, or wasn't talked about. Size of the horn didn't seem to matter either. Everything was 4/4 - 5/4 and you played what you had and strived for the sound you wanted.

That being said, I do think it is very cool how this has changed. A tuba is just a tuba to the nondiscerning listener, but to us and people who are aware, we can get many different sounds and colors from our instruments by changing their shape and size. And, yes they are still tubas.

I've owned many 4/4 CC tubas over the years and in the 80's I owned a B&S f tuba and a Yamaha Eb. I used them for various things, but I didn't need them. I guess the largest tuba I owned was a 188. I don't know if that horn is considered a 5/4, but at that time, it was the only horn I owned. I forgot about my Orsi, 4 rotary CC tuba built in the early 1900's. I don't use it. It just sits in my living room with a plant in it. I'll have to post some pics of it, as I"m sure many of you would be interested in it. Boy, I can sure ramble!

Anyway, these days, my main horn is my 52J with the plastic tubing where I removed the 5th valve. Matt will look at it next week. I also have my 621CC. The only reason I have that horn is becasue I couldn't pass up the deal. I can do everything I have to do on my 52J. It would be nice to have various tubas for the various situations, but at this time in my career, and $$$ to spend elsewhere, I'll live with these 2 horns. Now, if I get into a world class orchestra or embark on a solo tour...

[TubaSteve]

In all honesty, most of my horns are for the fun of collecting, not the need for different horns. That said, I find that I use my Meinl Weston 25 most of the time, but also will use the Reynolds Sousaphones for parades and the Reynolds recording bass when I want that really mellow sound, or outside in one of those portable band trailers. I have my Lyons 3/4 BBb that is my "throw in in the trunk, I have to be there in 10 min" horn. Not bad sound for such a small horn, but it is very easy to overblow. If I am in a situation where I fear the horn getting damaged, I will not bring the Meinl.

Steve

[Chadtuba]

I just have my Besson 983 that I purchased earlier this summer so for the moment that gets used for everything, but I'm not playing in a group larger than a big band where it only gets used on a few of the tunes. I have access to a nice Conn 5J BBb and a good sized 4 valve upright Holton I think(?) at the school I currently teach.

[samulirask]

B & S 3098 C
B & S 4100 F

Should be enough for everything. F tuba for ensembles and solos, C tuba for band and orchestra.

[jonesbrass]

Right now, I'm using my Cerveny F for 75-80% of my playing. I'll get out the Miraphone for things that dwell in the low register for extended periods of time or require a thicker, fuller sound. The Cerveny just plays so well that I find it even holds its own in a large concert band.

[Lew]

I use my Besson 983 eefer for most of my playing. That includes 2 quintets, a brass band, and one community band. I use a King 2341 BBb for another community band in which I'm the only tuba player. I have used a King double bell euphonium, King 4 valve Eb raincatcher sousaphone, and Henry Distin BBb tuba for Tuba Christmas. I will either use a Distin BBb helicon or my Conn 40K sousaphone for this year's Tuba Christmas. I use a King 1291 for outdoor community band gigs where I'm the only tuba player.

I have also been asked to use a sousaphone for things like dixieland ensemble pieces accompanied by band. I agree with Bloke that I prefer to use one horn per gig, but I have had a couple gigs this year where I brought both my Besson 983 and my Conn 28K sousaphone. that is a reall hassle, especially when I can't get close to the venue to unload.

[Norm in Bellevue]

CHECK THIS GUY OUT !
He plays two tubas on the same peice to great effect !

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7OemfKahzxk

This guy is Walter Hilgers. And thanks for the link. This is a much more exciting performance of the Bach than what the German Brass recorded on their DVD.

[MartyNeilan]

CHECK THIS GUY OUT !
He plays two tubas on the same peice to great effect !

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7OemfKahzxk

This guy is Walter Hilgers. And thanks for the link. This is a much more exciting performance of the Bach than what the German Brass recorded on their DVD.

WH is a tuba stud.

[Wyvern]

Well, to say a bit more about my tuba usage.

Melton 2040/5 Eb - I use for higher/lighter F tuba and ophicleide orchestral parts (e.g. Berlioz/Verdi Requiem most recently), often in wind band when the BBb player is present as I think the BBb/Eb combination works well, to play the EEb bass part in brass bands, for any brass quintet gigs and for the occasional solo.

B&S Neptune 6/4 CC - For big and low orchestral works (e.g. Prokofiev, Mahler, Shostakovitch, etc.), in wind band when I am the only tuba, to play the BBb bass part in brass bands and the lowest part in a recently formed tuba quintet.

B&S PT-20 4/4 CC - For all occasions when I feel the Neptune is too heavy and the Eb too light. I find it particularly good for orchestral parts which cover a large range, such as most British orchestral repertoire and I find it an ideal substitute for my previous Besson 981 EEb. I also fairly regularly use in wind band according to venue and music being performed.

old Haag 3 valve Eb - used for standing and marching gigs and any others where I am concerned about using one of my 'best' tubas for fear of damage.

I recon the percentage usage works out at about 40% PT-20, 30% Neptune, 25% 2040/5 and 5% Haag, although that varies by time of year and resulting type of gigs.

[Tubanese]

I use my MW2165 for orchestra and I use my MW45SLZ tuba for quintet, orchestra & brass ensemble. Then I use my Holton for wind ensemble.
So...
MW2165 - 45%
MW45SLZ - 45%
Holton- 10%