Playing Stand missed!

[pwhitaker]

I'm using a Baltimore Brass stand with my Conn 20J which weighs over 50 lbs (the tuba, not the stand). Even on the back of a truck this stand never slips, unlike the DEG which I have since discarded.

50 pounds? My 20J was more like 30 or 32. Have you added lead plates to yours?

Rick "suggesting some quality time with a scale" Denney

I didn't weigh my Conn 20J. It has the recording bell and dates from 1953 with the Satin silver finish. The horn was shipped to me by Bloke on Greyhound and the total weight on the shipping manifest for the horn in its 2 cases (no crates or boxes, just the cases) was 86 lbs. It is certainly a lot heavier than my Rudy 5/4 BBb.

Maybe your horn is a later model with less metal.

I assumed the following is correct from http://20j.marchingsoutherners.org/history.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

"The Conn 20-J Upright Recording Bass was the Conn Musical Instrument Company's answer to the perfect tuba in the mid-20th century. A concert instrument by design, the 20-J produces a deep, sonorous tone. The bore size (diameter of the tubing) is larger than all others tubas created at the time. The horn has thick silver plating, making it not only heavy and cumbersome, but strong and durable.

The 20-J has three upright valves and a 24 inch bell. They weigh approximately 52 lbs each."

[Rick Denney]

I assumed the following is correct from http://20j.marchingsoutherners.org/history.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

"The Conn 20-J Upright Recording Bass was the Conn Musical Instrument Company's answer to the perfect tuba in the mid-20th century. A concert instrument by design, the 20-J produces a deep, sonorous tone. The bore size (diameter of the tubing) is larger than all others tubas created at the time. The horn has thick silver plating, making it not only heavy and cumbersome, but strong and durable.

The 20-J has three upright valves and a 24 inch bell. They weigh approximately 52 lbs each."

Don't assume that web site is correct. The weight exaggeration reported there has been pointed out here before. And I would be very surprised if the horn weight more than those old wooden cases.

Instead, go to your bathroom scales, and measure your weight holding the horn and not holding the horn. Then, you'll know.

Rick "preferring objective data to assumptions" Denney

[pwhitaker]

Not practical. I weigh nearly 25 stones and my scale only goes up to 350 lbs. The point of my post was merely to demonstrate that the BB stand is more than adequate for even large - whatever they may or may not weigh - horns. I'll spend my "quality time" playing, not weighing, my horns, thank you.

[sloan]

Does BB have a bag for their tuba rest, yet? right now I carry a BB rest in a DEG bag, but I'm looking to add another BB rest RealSoonNow.

The bag is a big win if you carry the rest in the bell of the tuba. So far, the DEG bag has provided sufficient padding to prevent disaster.

[Steve Marcus]

I've posted previously that I abandoned the idea of using a tuba stand because the K&M didn't go low enough. But the Baltimore Brass Stand goes low enough to make a difference. I'm storing/carrying it in my padded laptop case (except when I have to take my tuba AND my laptop to the same destination).

[scottw]

I solve the problem by carrying my music stand [interestingly, it uses the exact same legs as the BB stand], assorted necessary junque, and the BB stand in a nice carry-all bag with nice handles. Works great and I still have a hand free for doors.

[Roger Lewis]

Just for the record, the BBC (Baltimore Brass Company) Tuba Rest is the best playing stand on the planet! The K&M is too tall, and the legs stick out too far and you wind up tripping over them while carrying your $xx,xxx.xx horn - not a good plan. The DEG stand is just plain too flimsy. The only modification I made to my BBC stand was to build a circular flat surface to rest the horn on. I don't like trying to center the horn on that saddle in a hurry as the potential for damage increases with the haste with which the tuba is placed on the stand.

Another modification, a great treasure from LJV, was to put 5/8" "cane tips", available at any hardware store, on the ends of the feet. One orchestra I play with rehearses in a Catholic school where the floor has been waxed to the point of being dangerous. The cane tips keep the stand from sliding on the slick surface flooring.

If I could sell these stands, it would be the only one that I would carry. Great job Dave.

Roger Lewis
Tuba Specialist
The Woodwind and The Brasswind

[sloan]

The BB stand is my favorite, but I've gotten good service out of a DEG stand for many years - AFTER applying the "bike seat post quick release" modification. With this modification, the DEG stand works just fine until you start lugging heavy monsters.

The comparison was a bit closer when the BB stand still came with the old K&M (?) saddle. On balance I like the DEG saddle (which the BB stand now uses) - even though it's one of those things that are "flimsy" in the sense that it will probably wear out and require replacement (several times) before the rest of the stand shows any sign of aging. For really big tubas, it may be that the old saddle is preferable.

I still use the DEG stand at home (even with the 36J) with no trouble - and I still travel with the BB stand (in the DEG bag) stowed in the bell of my 2341. I have a "new, improved, DEG-style" saddle for it, but I'm actually still using the old one.

I suspect that when the 36J becomes mobile, it will have a BB stand with the OLD style saddle and the King will have a BB stand with the new (DEG) style saddle.
The only issue may be that if I stick a BB stand in a DEG bag and then stow it in the 36J bell I may have to send an expeditionary force to locate and retrieve it. It wouldn't surprise me if the whole package could navigate the curves in the bottom bow. That would not be good....

The Besson EEb doesn't really need a stand - but I think that may be the final home for the DEG stand.

[Rick Denney]

The only issue may be that if I stick a BB stand in a DEG bag and then stow it in the 36J bell I may have to send an expeditionary force to locate and retrieve it. It wouldn't surprise me if the whole package could navigate the curves in the bottom bow.

I've never lost my BB stand in its DEG case down in my Holton bell, but then I have long arms.

Rick "not thinking the 36J is any bigger than the Holton" Denney

[sloan]

The only issue may be that if I stick a BB stand in a DEG bag and then stow it in the 36J bell I may have to send an expeditionary force to locate and retrieve it. It wouldn't surprise me if the whole package could navigate the curves in the bottom bow.

I've never lost my BB stand in its DEG case down in my Holton bell, but then I have long arms.

Rick "not thinking the 36J is any bigger than the Holton" Denney

We can compare in January. And then argue about which dimension matters.

I'll open with "bell diameter" - clearly *the* most important measurement in a tuba.

[itai]

For Tubist1993: consider a BB stand over the K&M.

BB? Is that "The NEW BBC Tuba Rest, with quick-folding, non-slip legs, Features sturdy metal construction and a compact design. Black finish for professional appearance" from Baltimore Brass?

[bigbob]

If the holes in the seat plate are supposed to be ball bearings, then I would just say that not even I need that many bearings.

K

What do you do to operate that tuba assist? and who used to make it??.. any pictures of how the whole unit works??Who used to carry this Tuba assist?? Thanks...........bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

[Rick Denney]

I'll open with "bell diameter" - clearly *the* most important measurement in a tuba.

Not if the measure is whether an inserted BBC stand in a case will migrate around the bottom bow.

Rick "can we bring a tuner to the comparison?" Denney

[Rick Denney]

For Tubist1993: consider a BB stand over the K&M.

BB? Is that "The NEW BBC Tuba Rest, with quick-folding, non-slip legs, Features sturdy metal construction and a compact design. Black finish for professional appearance" from Baltimore Brass?

Rick "Yes." Denney

[MartyNeilan]

Back before playing stands became all the rage, many tuba players had a "block." This was something they would place on the chair, and then set the tuba on. One option was a wood block, another common one I used to see around NYC was a couple of Readers Digest taped together; that seemed to be a good size.
After not needing it for several years, I recently sold my highly modified DEG stand. A week later, I got my new Schiller CC, which was a great horn but the leadpipe sat a little low for my liking. I cut a piece of high density foam (firmer than most) in roughly a triangular shape and wrapped it with Gaffer's tape. Place that on the chair between my legs, place the tuba on top of it; problem solved...
and it cost me nothing (foam was leftover at work from an Apple computer that came in), weighs almost nothing, and is extremely portable; I just toss it in the mouthpiece / accessory compartment on my gigbag.

[Rick Denney]

...Place that on the chair between my legs, place the tuba on top of it;...

I used to do that. Then, I almost ripped my upper lip off my face when the tuba slipped off the front edge of a metal chair. Maybe your piece of foam would have prevented that, maybe not.

In any case, most chairs are not favorably designed for this purpose, especially with some tubas and some tuba players.

Rick "who'll leave it at that" Denney

[roughrider]

Amen to the resident genius of Tubenet! The tubassist is specifically designed to maintain position and control of the horn with minimal effort on the part of the player. It packs easily in the bell of my horn and takes very minimal setup when arriving at the rehearsal. I understand that the inventor of the tubassist passed away recently and that production of this product has stopped, those looking for one will have to look on this site or others like it to find one.

[Wyvern]

I understand that the inventor of the tubassist passed away recently

I am sorry to hear that! Wally Johnson seemed a real gentleman and a pleasure to do business.

Maybe someone else would like to take up the Tubassist and start manufacturing something similar?

Jonathan "who now hopes neither of his Tubassist break"

[bigbob]

I would be willing to try to make one or something similar if I had some pictures of the whole thing ...thanks for any info...................bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

[bigbob]

I tryed to look up wally johnson/tubassist in wika..nothing I then tryed tubassist..no.. tryed wally johnson got his phone #<S>I tryed every combination... Nothing Where would I look??I'de like to get a blue print or good pic of it on and off the chair can anyone help me?I have a bad back and would like to make one...............................................bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank