Just want to introduce myself and say thanks

[TubaBobH]

Although I have been actively reading innumerable TubeNet posts over the last year or so, I just registered today and wanted to introduce myself. I think my “tuba storyâ€

[Carroll]

Bob,

Welcome and nice to meet you.

Play on,

Carroll

[Dan Schultz]

Welcome, Bob. Can you post a picture of your King 1241? If you like, just email it to me.

Thanks!

[scottw]

Let me add my welcome! Your story does indeed read like so many of us--stopped while we raised the family and career, finally got back into it. And, you are right about how enjoyable it all is once again. I have a few regrets I allowed myself to stop playing, but there is no sense dwelling on it now. Enjoy!
Scottw

[TubaingAgain]

Bob

Wecome back my story is very close to yours. I didnt play the tuba for close to 28 years after high school. I started to play again 2 years ago. Started off by getting a new St. Pete didnt take me long to realize that was a mistake. Sold the St pete and bought a new Miraphone 191 5 valve. Currently playing with 3 community bands and having a great time.

Enjoy the moment have fun and play the greatest brass intrsument the TUBA

[tubatooter1940]

Welcome Bob,
Many of us have similar stories and are so glad we play tuba now.
We also have a "family band" where we squeeze into my music room and everybody gets to play an instrument selected by me.
At my age 66, I am seeking an understudy for me to teach tuba playing by ear,vocal and some guitar to replace me with the Creekers someday.

Dennis Gray
tubatooter1940
http://www.myspace.com/johnrenomusic

[Tom Beck II]

Hi Bob,
Good to see there are other folk out there in the prime of their lives able to enjoy a big aspect of abilities. If you ever decide to come out here and see what it's like between September and May, bring your mouthpiece as our Kauai Community Wind Ensemble meets every Thursday evening. I've got a Dalyan Eb and a Cerveny CC and the college has a few BBb not being used you could play on and we'd enjoy new faces at a practice. This Spring we're going to work on David Marshall's band arrangement of Tuba Tiger Rag and I'm going to be working with the three Kauai high schools' tuba players to put together a stage full of tuba tigers for that early May concert.
Continue showing that it's not over 'till it's over.
Tom2

[BriceT]

Welcome Bob!

[Tubaing]

Welcome back to the Tuba world.

[Tom Beck II]

In linguistics, the grammatical aspect of a verb defines the temporal flow (or lack thereof) in the described event or state. For example, in English the difference between I swim and I am swimming is a difference of aspect. see (http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_aspect)
therefore possibly a "big aspect of abilities" might refer to "playing a tuba." Just a thought. I'm not running for any "office" but I guess one must carefully choose terms no matter the direction intended.
Have fun,
Tom2

[TubaBobH]

First, I would like to thank all of you for the warm welcomes that you posted.

Also, Dan, I would love to post a couple photos of my old 1241. However, I’m not quite sure technically how to insert an image on this forum. So I will email you a couple of photos I took earlier this evening. Although my King is 35 years old, since I played it for 6 years, took a 27 year hiatus (during which it pretty much stayed in its case), and then started playing again a couple of years ago, it has only been played for a total of 8 years. And during those 8 years, it has been treated with TLC. It is virtually dent free and has developed a rich dark gold patina. It has achieved somewhat of a celebrity status at the repair shop where I have taken it a handful of times for some minor repairs/maintenance.

A quick story on my 1241. I played a three valve Holton recording bell tuba in high school (‘67-‘71). I have no idea what model. It had some intonation problems that I learned to cope with. But it also had a full beautiful rich tone.

When I started college, the University band had rotary valve Miraphone, or maybe Meinl Weston, tubas -- I can't exactly remember. They were just a few years old, so I am assuming they were manufactured sometime in the late 60s. In any event, I hated them. They sounded so thin and tinny compared to my old Holton tuba.

So the summer between my freshman and sophomore year I decided to buy my own tuba (with a lot of help from my parents). I was not majoring in music, but I was still a pretty serious tuba player. Being 19, the thought of buying a used tuba never crossed my mind. I tried numerous tubas in my mid-price price range, and absolutely fell in love with the 1241UB King and bought it. I thought it had the most lyrical, mellow and rich tone, rock solid intonation, and it could also growl with some substantial power when called upon.

Now for those of you “matureâ€

[Rick Denney]

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not a King fanatic. I know there are better tubas than King tubas...

You'd have to try pretty hard to find a better 4/4 Bb tuba than a well-matched 1241. And I doubt that I'm the only one who holds such an opinion. The 1241's were apparently matched by hand to their bells--whatever the truth of that, the old 1241's I have played seemed to have much better resonant feedback to the player than did later 2341 models with detachable bells.

My story follows the same broad outline as yours, but it's geographically reversed. I grew up in Houston and now live in Virginia. My hiatus was briefer than yours, with the result that I'm better in many ways than I ever was in high school. But then I was not a contender for an all-state band, and that left more room for improvement. My one year of playing in college put me fourth chair of four, with the other three former members of the Texas All-State Band. The difference between me and them was not subtle. My lack of a playable tuba and the resulting lack of summer practice meant that I did not make it into the group the next year, and that was the only playing opportunity at Texas A&M where I could borrow an instrument. That ended my tuba playing for some years. After grad school (done at night while working), I had time for such frivolities again and got back into it. It took a lot longer than three years to recover the ground I had lost, but during that time my standards also changed, too.

Rick "whose standards are always just out of reach" Denney

[TubaRay]

Rick "whose standards are always just out of reach" Denney

Let's hope they always are, Rick. I believe it has worked out pretty well for you, up to this point.

[TubaBobH]

The 1241's were apparently matched by hand to their bells--whatever the truth of that

That is exactly what I was told when I bought my 1241 back in '72 -- that at the factory the 22" bell had been "matched with" or "tuned to" the tuba. I have also heard that same story numerous times over the years. As with you, have I have no idea whether or not this is true. But it does seem to be a pretty consistent story. Maybe that is one of the reasons the old 1241s have such a good solid reputation.

I also remember that the owner of the store in Alexandria, VA where I ended up buying the King apparently had some strong connections with the King factory, and that he had heard from friends of his at the factory that they were beginning to retool for a new model number that was going to replace the 1241s (the 2341). His friends were upset because they felt that the retooling was being driven more by cost cutting/manufacturing efficiencies than by product improvement initiatives. Also, one of the results of these "manufacturing efficiency" changes was going to be less "hands on" adjustment, or fine tuning, work on each tuba. As a result, I was motivated to buy my 1241 that summer before the conversions took place. Therefore, I have always assumed that I may have one of the last of the 1241s manufactured. In any event, it makes for a good story to tell other tuba players over a few beers.

[iiipopes]

Indeed. I echo the above. It should last a century.