I'm a CC player who's FINALLY blending with BBb tubas!

[barry grrr-ero]

This has been a target objective for me for a long time: to get to a point where my CC sound fits in with my fellow BBb tuba players. Here's what it took: Neptune rotary; the larger leader-pipe, 3-piece 'Blokepiece' that was put together for this horn (Euroshank). While I've always loved the immediate response of a CC, I've hated sticking out as though I were a brighter sounding soloist in band situations. Problem solved.

I'm bringing this up because I just played the S.F. Oktoberfest with a variety of BBb tubas (two different bands), including a fat sounding Miraphone 191 (that guy has a monstrous low register!). We blended together like one player - except when one of us 'clammed', obviously. Yeeeeah!

Barry Guerrero
_________________

rotary Neptune CC + Cronkhite leather bag = more bucks for my Chiro!

[k001k47]

good job!

[Heavy_Metal]

The Bel Air Community Band has these two CCs and two BBbs, that consistently blend with each other:

DSCI0199s.JPG

From Left- Cheryl Wald- older Ziess (we think) BBb, Jim Laisure (big1096)- early 1960s Alexander 163 CC, me w/Alex BBb, Mark Chachich- 1975 Alexander 163 CC. This section got a lot compliments on its uniform sound at this year's ACB convention.

[barry grrr-ero]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

[Rick Denney]

The Bel Air Community Band has these two CCs and two BBbs, that consistently blend with each other:

DSCI0199s.JPG

From Left- Cheryl Wald- older Ziess (we think) BBb, Jim Laisure (big1096)- early 1960s Alexander 163 CC, me w/Alex BBb, Mark Chachich- 1975 Alexander 163 CC. This section got a lot compliments on its uniform sound at this year's ACB convention.

You may be the only community band in existence with a tuba section that has three Alexanders.

Rick "surprised" Denney

[Heavy_Metal]

You're probably right. Jim's Alex once belonged to the late great Dave Bragunier, who played it in the National Symphony. It came up for sale at Baltimore Brass at the same time mine did, so we both pounced, knowing what it would mean for The Section.

The host band at this year's ACB convention (East Winds Symphonic Band) had three Marzan tubas and (I believe) a King. They had a very uniform sound too, of course a Marzan rather than an Alexander sound. I was quite impressed.

We'll have two Alexanders at this year's Liberty Classic:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=75123" target="_blank

[bort]

3 Marzans? That's possibly more incredible than 3 Alexanders. I haven't seen 3 Marzan's together since this (OLD!) picture from Dan Schultz's Web site:



Barry -- so glad you stuck with the Neptune and that it's working out. At times, I miss the Neptune that I briefly owned!

[barry grrr-ero]

Thanks! Don't tell Bloke, but I vacillate between the Blokepiece and a Kanstul Geib. The Blokepiece lends a dark core that makes the Neptune blend well with BBb tubas. It's also better for the smaller wind ensemble I play in (Santa Cruz City Band), where we rehearse in a small-ish room to match. But the Geib is better for the wind ensemble at Cabrillo, where I play next to a VMI piston CC (PT-4, I think). I'm a tad better in tune with the Geib (octaves are slightly less cramped), but it's also a tad brighter. That rehearsal room is pretty big though, so the 'brightness' dissipates a bit. It's greatly a question of matching the other guy(s).

The lead-pipe stays constant: the bigger one is clearly better, regardless of what piece I stick in it.

[Heavy_Metal]

3 Marzans? That's possibly more incredible than 3 Alexanders. I haven't seen 3 Marzan's together since this (OLD!) picture from Dan Schultz's Web site:

It was 1970-something...........

I met some of the EWSB tuba section at the convention- ISTR the gentleman I talked to is a TubeNet member named Steve Kinsel, and there was a thread about this, but I can't seem to find it now. If anyone knows Steve, see if you can get him to post a pic.

The EWSB site is here, and I think there is a Marzan in the formal picture:

http://ewsb.org/" target="_blank