Visit To Mack Brass

[jtuba]

Is there a fun place to eat like a BBQ stand down there??

If you drive to Richmond twenty minutes away there is a nationally recognized barbecue called Hogs head cafe. The sides are amazing and everything is fresh. There is also Buzz and Ned's. PM me and I'll fill you in.

Ever make it to ZZQ or Smokh by the Diamond? ZZQ had the most tender brisket I ever had. I’ll have to look for Hog’s Head

[NCSUSousa]

[using the quote function, to get Tom's attention...]

so Tom...
John wants to know about barbecue in Petersburg...
How is this place?

King's is an old BBQ joint. As with any BBQ restaurant in NC or VA, the food quality is inverse to the upkeep of the building. This one's on the better food end of that spectrum. My father-in-law grew up around the corner from there and he eats there EVERY time he go back to/thru Petersburg.

[Three Valves]

I used to be a big fan of the Carolina style chopped BBQ and vinegar based sauce and coleslaw on the sandwich but I’ve been getting away from that lately...

Kings is looking good, they have both chopped and sliced pig!!

[DanClouse]

I bought a 421S yesterday after a couple visits- the 3/4 CC. Tom has proved to be an amazing host, a scholar of the market, and a really nice guy.

Props to him for seeing the potential of a top notch 3/4 CC - what the little Yamaha could have been, and carrying the idea forward to something that's really great. I sat with the horn this morning playing Bach cello suites and trying mouthpieces, and it's just a delight all across the full range. It's a really solid and versatile instrument. It's not 3/4 of a C tuba, it's the real deal in a small package.

I also tried out the ZO tubas on my last visit and put it squarely in the league with the Eastman and Wessex York copies. I only played in the garage, but it seemed to have a more distinct color than the others, and locked in a little tighter on the low G. I'm not in the market for a BAT these days, but I'm planning on going back up to try out his stock on a somewhat regular basis, just because there's cool stuff going on.

[DanClouse]

Warning: this answer may not make any sense, but it's where we are at 48 hours after buying the horn.

Warning 2: my wife is an excellent musician, so I trust her ears, even if I don't like or understand the answer.

The two mouthpieces that seem to be the most effective and transmitting my intent to the air are a PT-63 (mid-size bowl, big soft rim) and... a white plastic Kellyberg (plastic funnel, cheap, indestructible, glows in the dark). My wife likes the PT because it is in her words, "more round." I like the zing of the Kellyberg since it gets a lot of overtones and clear definition. Again, my wife's observation was that the PT is "a circle" and the KB was "a rectangle." Tuning tendencies between the different mouthpieces were negligible, the low range responded eagerly, and the high range "just worked." The KB was a bit easier to lock on pitches, but not drastically.

I have several Helleberg mouthpieces, of various makes, including a stock Helleberg, a 7b, the R&S heavy wall, copies from various manufacturers... and none of them were remotely like the Kellyberg in terms of color or response. And I have no idea why. I also have a pile of PTs of various years, numbers, and provenance, and nothing seems to get the combination of response and roundness as the 63. Those are not similar mouthpieces at all, but regardless the horn is still fun to play, makes a nice noise, and is a nice addition to my (currently small) arsenal.

Also, most of the playing has been in small to midsized rooms with wood floors and/or carpet. I haven't gotten it into a hall.

[Three Valves]

Drove up thru Petersburg, VA today on unrelated business.

Kings BBQ is a hit!!

Nice seating area, great prices.

https://www.kingsfamousbarbecue.com" target="_blank