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Does anyone own a Baltimore Brass tuba rest? If you do, could you post a pic? Just curious.

Thanks!

mdc2d wrote:Does anyone own a Baltimore Brass tuba rest? If you do, could you post a pic? Just curious.

This pic (which I posted a couple of years ago) shows the Baltimore Brass stand on the left, and the K&M stand on the right.

The top on the BB stand in the picture was made by K&M, but this is no longer the case. The top has been replaced with a much lighter top, and the screws have been upgraded. (Mine is shown with a replacement tightening screw that has a larger handle.) The K&M top uses hard molded rubber, and my tuba seems to walk its way over on it, though it is very durable. The new top is made from polyethylene or nylon and is quite strong, with a more conventional foam pad.

The BB stand will fit in a DEG bag (especially with the new top) for storage in the bell of the instrument.

The legs pull out against springs and fold up. When in use, the legs are pulled into sockets by that spring to lock them in place.



Rick "anticipating a new top" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:[
Rick "anticipating a new top" Denney

My new top arrived today.

Greg wrote:This wouldn't happen to be the same foam top as is used in the DEG stands is it?

Yes. The upgrade includes a DEG-style foam top plus a new set-screw for the upright column. It's not entirely clear to me why the set-screw needed upgradiing - but that's what was in the box.

sloan wrote:Yes. The upgrade includes a DEG-style foam top plus a new set-screw for the upright column. It's not entirely clear to me why the set-screw needed upgradiing - but that's what was in the box.

The original set screw had a bakelite handle that was brittle and broke easily (mine broke early on as a result of a minor mishap). I replaced it with a screw with a much larger handle that I bought at, of all places, Tractor Supply, and it works well.

The new screw has a nylon handle that won't break.

Rick "who needs to give Dave a call" Denney

I have a DEG. Another problem with the screw is that it gets stripped every 6 months or so, and you have to replace it. I don't use it anymore.

PWtuba wrote:I have a DEG. Another problem with the screw is that it gets stripped every 6 months or so, and you have to replace it. I don't use it anymore.

The DEG is easy to fix (and, I prefer the fixed version to the BBC design). The DEG column is built just like a bicycle seat tube. Go to your local bike shop and ask for a "seat tube quick release skewer". It works like a charm.

That's because the DEG does NOT use a "set screw" to maintain the height of the upright column. It uses a side-mounted nut and bolt that compress a collar around the movable upright (again, just like a bicycle seat post.

The BBC design uses a set-screw. It appears to work OK.

I have just purchased the Wessex STD-30. I play a big fat Wessex leviathan 6/4 BBb horn and the stand is perfect. It's rock solid and easily transported. recommend it to anyone.

The BBC is a solid stand with a clever and quick set up system. It can on rare occasions slip when using a heavier tuba, and I have seen this happen on my own stand and as well as another stand used by a different player.

The DEG stand uses locking collar that will never slip if properly tightened. Judging strictly on clamping force, a locking collar is more secure than a set screw. However the DEG collar is plastic and will eventually fail. When mine failed I order a replacement from St. Louis Music (the distributor) and very quickly received not one, but four replacements (at no charge).

This is the part that will fail:

Is a tuba rest really superior to using a drum throne? Silly question, I know, but . . .

I have used both a tuba rest and a drum throne. The tuba rest works very well and fits inside a cloth bag that I can very carefully slide down the inside of my King 2341 bell. The drum throne is used for my Holton "Mammoth 6/4 BBb. The bottom bow is too large to fit inside of my Hercules stand. I like the Hercules because it is well made and being able to put it inside the tuba means I have another hand free to carry something else. How much travelling to and from gigs makes the difference. I really only play my Holton at home so I do not need to worry about portability.