The Dark Tuba Topic: SPIT!

[tubatooter1940]

'' my girlfriend majored in computer science (it's even more of a mixed relationship because I am a Mac person and she is PC.)"

[/quote] by LoyalTubist


It must be true that opposites attract.

[iiipopes]

You know, some states used to have laws prohibiting such....

[XtremeEuph]

could be harmful to the tuba too, keep that in mind. But im sure not everyone goes and brushes their teeth before every single time they play.

[LoyalTubist]

I am aware that 55 years ago, in the state of California, it would have been illegal for me to marry either either my ex-wife or my current girlfriend because of race... my ex-wife is Chinese and my girlfriend is Vietnamese. But I always fall in love with someone who shares my core religious and moral values.

[windshieldbug]

This summer I found out the hard way that if you drink Gatorade during a concert, flys will buzz around your sugary spit puddle. Took me 3 concerts to figure that one out. Needless to say I switched to a less sugary drink.

And the flies that were buzzing around your tuba bell are just usually there?

[iiipopes]

I am aware that 55 years ago, in the state of California, it would have been illegal for me to marry either either my ex-wife or my current girlfriend because of race... my ex-wife is Chinese and my girlfriend is Vietnamese. But I always fall in love with someone who shares my core religious and moral values.

Indeed. Now if only more people would look at it that way, as my wife and I do as well, instead of looking for some nebulous "compatability" issue or just physical attraction. I believe that's why more (boy or girl) next door marriages work better, because those cores are already there, as well as the tolerances, growing up. Now to end before I get off on a tangent.

Oh, yeah, spit -- I think the spittoon is a good idea, as long as it is small enough to wash in the dishwasher -- good detergent, very hot water, and a sterilization cycle so it doesn't crud up.

[Dean E]

All you need to do is aim before you drain...

We are still talking spit here, aren't we?

How about modifying the horn's water valve to accept a small brass plumbing nipple the correct diameter for a Stadium Pal catheter and collection bag?

Simply hang the collection bag from a lower branch on the tuba, and have a contest to see which tuba section member can fill up the bag first! I don't know what the prize would be, other than fame and becoming an urban legend.

[THE TUBA]

This summer I found out the hard way that if you drink Gatorade during a concert, flys will buzz around your sugary spit puddle. Took me 3 concerts to figure that one out. Needless to say I switched to a less sugary drink.

And the flies that were buzzing around your tuba bell are just usually there?

Funny, I see vultures circle when I play outdoors…


Back on topic: At high school football games, the low brass would steal the water bottles of rookie woodwind players and fill them up with "instrument drainage." They would drink their water and we would laugh. Oh, how we would laugh...

[windshieldbug]

I had the water key filled in because I thought it was a bad sound node, and turned and dumped my horn just like the horn players!

[TubaRay]

Back on topic: At high school football games, the low brass would steal the water bottles of rookie woodwind players and fill them up with "instrument drainage." They would drink their water and we would laugh. Oh, how we would laugh...

There's always at least one sadist around.

[gwwilk]

I use old towels held beneath the water key as I open it and blow the condensation out, an operation easily performed with one hand. The towel gets more than a little damp after a long practice session, so keeping the towel on my right knee occasionally results in a damp spot. The towel will usually lay with a dry side down, though. I practice in carpeted rooms, and I adopted this method of handling the condensate when I resumed playing several years ago. I use a black or dark navy towel during performances. By the way, these towels never smell like old saliva as if someone were spitting in them. It really is almost all condensation.

Simple, effective, socially much less questionable than leaving puddles behind wherever I play. (I know, I know--also compulsive!)

[LoyalTubist]

It's been some twenty years since I've seen them play live, but, even though the roster has changed I'll bet this hasn't changed: The Canadian Brass never empty their spit valves during a performance (or before or after one).

[Rick Denney]

It's been some twenty years since I've seen them play live, but, even though the roster has changed I'll bet this hasn't changed: The Canadian Brass never empty their spit valves during a performance (or before or after one).

Maybe not so you can see it. But the second valve on a Yamaha 621 will fill up in a second, and that's just as true for Daellenbach as it is for me.

Rick "who seems to recall some CB schtick about emptying water" Denney

[LoyalTubist]

Well, at least they are conscious of it. I even saw the floor of the place where they played (air conditioned on a warm day) at Biola University in La Mirada, California. It was bone dry when they finished.