Tuba vs. Sousa

[Hank74]

Hello again,

I've putting together this poll to get a pulse as to what is your preference for us who play a regular tuba and a sousaphone. Which instrument is better in terms of posture, tone, everything. Cast your vote and then offer any comments.

[tubaguy9]

is this speaking in terms of what's out there or is this comparing a sit down tuba and sousaphone that are of the same quality?

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Not wanting to seem dull, but I prefer a sousaphone for marching/standing gigs, and a sit down tuba for a sit down gig!

[David Richoux]

I agree with Z-tuba Dude - it depends on the gig! If I am marching, standing outdoors, or playing in the Sousaphone section of the band, it is probably going to be a Sousaphone (or maybe a Helicon.) I have done some gigs marching or standing outdoors with a Tuba, but I did not really like the results.

Indoors, low ceilings, sitting on a stage, possibly amplified, short gigs - I am probably going to go with the tuba, but I still like the forward sound direction of the Sousaphone. I do not like to play the Sousaphone sitting in a chair - I have not used a stand since High School - but sometimes I will use a tall stool. I usually have a strap for my tuba, standing or seated.

As for tonal quality, for most of the music I do it is not a really big issue - I don't think the audience would notice - they just want to hear it! For New Orleans Brass Band gigs I almost always use the Sousaphone - the tuba just won't get it done.

[TUbajohn20J]

I only use tuba for concert band settings, solos, and sit down quintets. For ANYTHING standing, I'll use sousaphone. I'll use sousaphone for a standing brass ensemble, jazz group, marching band etc.. The way my schedule works, I use sousaphone mostly in the fall, and tuba mostly in the spring. If I'm just playing around at home, alot of times I use the sousa... But it's always a pleasure to pull out the 20J once in a while. But back to the original question. I prefer sousaphone..its more fun for me to play and I have more fun in the settings I use it in. Concert bands and solos (etc..) are fun too, don't get me wrong! 40K all the way

[bearphonium]

I march with a sousy, and when our marching band plays sitdown concerts (we do several baseball games, 4th of July concert in the park, some community celebration sitdown concerts) I stay with the sousaphone. I used to switch out for concerts, but it is a royal pain taking both a tuba and a sousy to a gig. Tuba ensemble and concert bands I play my concert tuba. No strap, but I am considering looking into using one.

[Dan Schultz]

I might play my Conn 'jumbo' all the time if I had a 'roadie' to schlep it around and hold it for me!

[PolkaNoble]

Standing--Helicon (my response was BOTH, no choice for helicon was available.)
Sitting----One of my Tubas
I don't always get to do exactly what I want to do.

[sloan]

Tuba for most things; helicon for TubaChristmas; Sousaphone for skating gigs.

[iiipopes]

Souzy. Especially since I had the upper loop of the first valve circuit converted to a usable slide. With great "false" pedals, no fourth valve needed, and the extra weight is not welcome.

[Virtuoso]

Personally, I find "sit-down" tubas are just as capable of being played standing up as a sousaphone...in fact... when I'm wearing a sousaphone I always seem to want to sit, and when in the orchestra with the rudy, I always feel the urge to stand up and solo/dance. But hey, whatever works.

[catkins522]

I would rather play a contrabass tuba than a sousaphone in a marching band/drum corps/parade band.

Charles Atkins

[Bob Kolada]

I like playing sousaphone- every one I've played has good intonation, and they feel "right" to play. However, they destroy my left shoulder after like 10 minutes.
I am trying to work up a suitable harness for my concert tubas as my Neotechharness is just terrible.