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So, this week i had a fun adventure. I had to send in the schools 20k for a valve adjustment. So, I had a choice. A. play the schools old out of date couldn't play into to save it's life fiberglass conn sousaphone, or my new 25j. And me being the adventuresome person i am took up the challenge. I kept the bell from the 20k and put it on my 25j. The next day we had after school band practice which consisted of 2 and a half hours of marching without any sort of strap. The horn felt like it was just gonna fall. And since most of the weight was supported on my left arm it went numb in about 2 minutes. The worst part though, I figured out the sousa bells don't go well on concert horns. I had remembered in the past marching with the 20j (which was alot lighter) and it not sounding to bad. The difference as you probably know is that the sousaphone bell is pointed straight out and recording angles up. But, it was a fun adventure.Still trying to get my arm to stop hurting though...

Check these folks out!
http://20j.marchingsoutherners.org/home.htm

Isn't this kind of like walking around with a Franklin Stove strapped to your chest?

TubaTinker wrote:Check these folks out!
http://20j.marchingsoutherners.org/home.htm

Thing is, you need the strength, vitality and lack of common sense of the typical 20 year old to pull that one off.

The 25J must have been a heavy mutha. At least the 20J has only three valves for weight. And, lack of a strap? Boy, howdy! I bet more than your arm is tired.

Gives a guy a whole new appreciation for Dolly Parton.

My high school band director (that's a while ago) came from a school where the tuba player had parents who bought a 24J for him. He marched with it and used a Wenger tuba holder when in the stands.

He stopped using it in football games when a wind blew it out of the holder, it fell over the back of the stadium and 45 to the concert walkway. He used a sousaphone for everything after that.

Still, marching with a 2X-J Conn has to be an unforgettable experience.

Alex C wrote:My high school band director (that's a while ago) came from a school where the tuba player had parents who bought a 24J for him. He marched with it and used a Wenger tuba holder when in the stands.

He stopped using it in football games when a wind blew it out of the holder, it fell over the back of the stadium and 45 to the concert walkway. .....

I think I had that one in the shop a while back!

The website is fascinating. Thanks for the link.

And I thought marching 5+ miles through Prague with a strapless Miraphone 187 was bad! (We were told it was to be a "short" parade!!)

Maybe TubaTinker could modify the leadpipe so it could be played as a shoulder tuba....kind of like carrying a cannon on your shoulder...

If it works I might be interested in that leadpipe!

I was thinking about that one Yeah, the next few days brought more than arm pain.
But, It was fun. I got the 20k back during our junior high game, so my horns back at home with the proper bell. That web site was what gave me the idea. I was just searching 20js one day and it popped up. the few times i played in the stands i put my right foot on the seat in front of me and my left down on the floor and used my leg as a rest. It was fun, but didn't sound near as good as the 20k. I cant wait till concert season when i can show them what its supposed to sound like.

Indiana University of PA used to use about 20 King bell front tubas in marching band. don't know if they still do or not. I think they used some sort of a modified bass drum harness to hold them.

ken k wrote:Indiana University of PA used to use about 20 King bell front tubas in marching band. don't know if they still do or not. I think they used some sort of a modified bass drum harness to hold them.

I've heard about one of the high schools near Jackson State University marching a line of King bell-front tubas... somewhat mimicking the JSU 20J line.

ken k wrote:Indiana University of PA used to use about 20 King bell front tubas in marching band. don't know if they still do or not. I think they used some sort of a modified bass drum harness to hold them.

Ken, When I used to march opposite IUP, they were using Miraphone 4V rotary bell-front BBbs (early 90's) . . . when did they use the Kings? Very nice sound and section, in any event. I'm sure Gary Bird's teaching didn't hurt with that, either.

yeah, i would think it would be a lot easier with forward valves because you could support it better.