TubeNet

I'm sure more information will follow but here's a 'sneak peek' at the 'Jumbo Summit 2009' that happened in Pentwater, Michigan on Thursday, July 16, 2009:



Left to right, the players are Tubenet's 'mammoth2ba', 'tubatinker', and 'neptune'.

I must thank 'mammoth2ba' for arranging my playing at Pentwater and to 'tubatinker' for kindly lending me his 4 valve Jumbo to play. It was an incredible experience to play one of these enormous sousaphones which even makes my 6/4 Neptune seem rather small (a Thor I saw today was like a midget)!

I actually recorded the concert and the sound from the Jumbos is unmistakable. Never strident and dominating of the band, but always providing a really solid foundation. Once I can, will post a sample recording for you to hear, although as a complete novice on sousaphone (I have never played one before!) and being unfamiliar to BBb in bass clef, probably most of the sound was coming from the other two

Something very noticeable playing Jumbo was how little resistance they give - very little feedback to the player. Also the sound behind the mouthpiece is more felt by the vibrations than actually heard. Of the huge weight, holding one of those up playing for an hour's concert is like some sort of pain endurance test - two days later I can still feel the bruises on my shoulder (really - not kidding). I have every admiration for 'mammoth2ba' and 'tubatinker' playing a Jumbo regularly - they deserve some sort of medal for fortitude in the cause of music!

Here are some more pictures from me of this incredible gathering. Could it be the first time three Jumbos have been played together since Sousa's Band? I hope it won't be the last!

Man, I wish I could have been there with the 38K! Great job!

Here is link to recording of "Band of America" at Pentwater
http://www.humyo.com/F/9306289-868397485

*Edit - correction for error*

Nice I love that tuba sound. I even heard somebody taking things down an octave. LOVE IT

Thanks for posting the recording. Kinda makes me want to get a sousaphone.

Neptune wrote:Here is link to recording of "Them Basses" at Pentwater
http://www.humyo.com/F/9306289-868397485

Are you sure about the title of the piece recorded being “Them Basses”?

The themes are different in this recording of the that title:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdsfAmKs7p0

Klaus

Klaus, you are correct that it's not 'Them Basses,' it's "The Band of America" by Paul Lavalle. I haven't played that one in over 40 years but I recognized it in 3 notes just like on the old "Name that Tune" tv program.

imperialbari wrote:Are you sure about the title of the piece recorded being “Them Basses”?

Well spotted Klaus. I linked to wrong track - "Them Basses" can be heard at http://www.humyo.com/F/9306289-868355739. That other track is "Band of America" as said by 1895 king.

Sorry, they are all new marches to me!

TubaTinker wrote:

I WANT ONE!

Never really enjoyed playing sousaphone, from HS marching band, to college, to the army bands, even outside paid gigs . . . but seeing those jumbos makes me want a good sousaphone, too. I've been thinking an old Martin 4V jumbo would fit the bill . . .

KiltieTuba wrote:You all look so small!

BTW, are those both of your horns on the right?

Yes.

Neptune wrote:

imperialbari wrote:Are you sure about the title of the piece recorded being “Them Basses”?

Well spotted Klaus. I linked to wrong track - "Them Basses" can be heard at http://www.humyo.com/F/9306289-868355739. That other track is "Band of America" as said by 1895 king.

Sorry, they are all new marches to me!

The formulas of these two marches aren’t too different, but we had a thread on Them Basses within the last year or two, so I won’t forget that one. Band of America is new to my ears. The basses appear to be rather prominent, but maybe that is because the mid-low brasses are not too loud.

You almost outgrew the gazebo. I see no bandmaster. Was he pushed off the stage?

Klaus

TUbajohn20J wrote:Nice I love that tuba sound. I even heard somebody taking things down an octave. LOVE IT

That arrangement is written divisi. Much of the piece is well below BBb.

goodgigs wrote:Say Dan, other then bell flair, do you think these horns are any bigger then a holton 435 ?

If you're referring to a Holton _345_, the Holton is not nearly so large as a Conn Jumbo Sousaphone Grand (Models 46K and 48K). Really not in the same category at all.

The bell tenon on the Conn Jumbos measures 9.5 inches in diameter, essentially the same as a 30-inch waistline (circumference).

Unlike many smaller sousaphones, you might also notice the 28-inch diameter bells of the Jumbos pictured remain quite conical in the flare to aid projection.

imperialbari wrote:I see no bandmaster. Was he pushed off the stage?

Klaus

No Klaus, the conductor was _blown off_ the stage!

Seriously though, there is _no conductor_ and _no rehearsal_ for this summer concert series. One of the band officers assesses the instrumentation for the evening (nobody is obligated to play, though many do play often), and calls out the book color and number of the piece to be played. I've missed very few concerts in the past 5 years, and am still occasionally sightreading.

The band has enough stalwarts, some of whom have played most Thursday evenings since 1947, that it is fairly easy to "assimilate" new members. Some players play one evening each _year_ during their week's vacation to the area.

Kudos to Neptune and Tubatinker for helping make what turned out to be a very memorable evening and concert.

When I first played with the band, one of the members told me _no amount of bass would be considered too much_ for this group. Jumbo Summit 2009 may have tested that concept, but I did not hear a single complaint......and there were many compliments!

imperialbari wrote:

Neptune wrote:

imperialbari wrote:Are you sure about the title of the piece recorded being “Them Basses”?

Well spotted Klaus. I linked to wrong track - "Them Basses" can be heard at http://www.humyo.com/F/9306289-868355739. That other track is "Band of America" as said by 1895 king.

Sorry, they are all new marches to me!

The formulas of these two marches aren’t too different, but we had a thread on Them Basses within the last year or two, so I won’t forget that one. Band of America is new to my ears. The basses appear to be rather prominent, but maybe that is because the mid-low brasses are not too loud.

You almost outgrew the gazebo. I see no bandmaster. Was he pushed off the stage?

Klaus

There were about 60 musicians present. The Pentwater Civic Band is basically a 'pick-up' group that was formed in 1947. The music is maintained locally but anyone who wishes can just show up and play. Many of the musicians knew each other but there were several in the group who were there for their first time. No rehearsals.... only concerts every Thursday evening in July and August. I heard someone say that they had a director at one time but decided it wasn't worth the effort. Some of the 'old reliables' choose the tunes and the snare drummer does a roll-off.

The recording was made perhaps 120 (or so) feet away from the bandstand..... plenty of distance to allow the bass frequencies to fully develop. We were standing on a wheel chair ramp behind the floor of the gazebo. The low brass (trombones and euphoniums) were actually quite prominent from our perspective. I could hardly hear our sousas from behind the bells.

Just a note.... several of the musicians also play with the World-famous Scottville Clown Band in a nearby town. Friday evening I enjoyed a performance by them at the music festival at Ludington. The Scottville Clown Band dates back to 1903 and was continuous until shortly before WW2... when many of members were called off to war. It reformed in 1947.

TubaTinker wrote:several of the musicians also play with the World-famous Scottburg Clown Band in a nearby town. The Scottburg Clown Band dates back to 1903 and was continuous until shortly before WW2... when many of members were called off to war. It reformed in 1947.

Actually, it's the ScottVILLE Clown Band:
http://www.scottvilleclownband.com/" target="_blank
but perfectly understandable that you'd mistake it, being from Newburgh!

"The Big Noise from Scottville, since 1903"

FWIW, about 8 of the "1947 reformation" members still play in the band(s).

Hi,
Thanks for the music and the pics!
Wonderfull to see /hear 3 jumbos together. Sadly that is very unlikely to happen over here... I don't know of any other jumbo's in Europe . And whenever our band is joined by an extra bass it makes more sense to bring the 20K for reasons of blending...

What mouthpieces do you guys use on them?
So far the wick 1 works best for me on this horn.

Cheers,
Mark

mammoth2ba wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:several of the musicians also play with the World-famous Scottburg Clown Band in a nearby town. The Scottburg Clown Band dates back to 1903 and was continuous until shortly before WW2... when many of members were called off to war. It reformed in 1947.

Actually, it's the ScottVILLE Clown Band:
http://www.scottvilleclownband.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank
but perfectly understandable that you'd mistake it, being from Newburgh!

"The Big Noise from Scottville, since 1903"

FWIW, about 8 of the "1947 reformation" members still play in the band(s).

I KNEW there was something wrong with that post when I wrote it! I looked it over several times and still made that mistake. Duh!