TubeNet

Hello to the learned and wise readers that make up the Tubenet community!

My name is Andrew and I'm a sophomore music ed major at WVU. I am looking into buying a new tuba, but I have a problem. I currently play a Conn 52j, which is pretty small, both size wise and bore wise, and if I have really felt like, and have had recently confirmed by my Prof, that I have outgrown the horn. I have been looking at getting an F tuba for about 5 months now, but now wonder if I should replace my Conn first. I plan on pursuing post graduate degrees in performance or pedagogy. I would just like to know what the learned scholars on the Tubenet would do if they were in my shoes. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Andrew

Get a Thor. It has that "hammer" sound.

Do you need a larger horn, larger mouthpiece, or both?

If it is another horn, first think realistically about what your primary performing outlets will be. If your current horn isn't cutting it, I'd go for a primary horn first.

Then, do whatever it takes to get to somewhere that has lots of both bass AND contrabass tubas. If possible, also have a knowledgeable listener, because horns sound different inside and outside a 6' radius.

Spend as long as it takes, but if this is going to be your career choice, do it right, and not because something seems attractive.

what exactly are you asking? what horn should you get? what is the process of purchasing a horn? should you get an F or replace the contra?

just clarifying...

-CT

Asking should I get a bass or replace the contra. Sorry to be unclear.

Your choice of bass will vary depending on your contra. My vote is to carefully (without being in a hurry) look to replace your contra, and hold off your decision on a bass until after you've done that.

Bloke,

The WVU studio always takes a trip to the convention (I probably spent 7 hours that weekend playing different F's, 3 of those on the petruschka), and I assume this year will be no exception. It's not that I don't trust my own judgment, I just don't mind either way. (plus, I'm not paying for the horn, still sponging off the parentals, so expert advice is always good for convincing them to do whatever needs done.) I'd like to have an F, but if I don't need it til grad school, fine. I think the biggest issue that will show me the way is that I have really outgrown my Conn.

WVUtubaman12 wrote:I think the biggest issue that will show me the way is that I have really outgrown my Conn.

That seems rather unlikely. If you want a different sound, that's one thing. BUT, there are a lot of people making big sounds on those (or similar) tubas.
My advice would be to keep your Conn and look into a bass tuba, but what really is in my mind is that if you can't play big on the Conn you probably aren't ready to devote a lot of time to another instrument (I hope that didn't sound too rude!).

Uncle Buck wrote:Your choice of bass will vary depending on your contra. My vote is to carefully (without being in a hurry) look to replace your contra, and hold off your decision on a bass until after you've done that.

Uncle Buck nailed it. If you're not completely satisfied with the Conn, look to replace it first.

See you at TUSAB-TEC in January,

MF

My prof isn't telling me to get a BAT or anything, I think he just wants me to invest in a horn that I will stick with. I've known since I got about halfway through last year that at some point in time I was gonna replace my Conn, and I think he is just prompting me to go ahead and do that. I can get the sound, believe me, the only thing my prof tells guys who can't get the sound is to keep practicing. He has a legitimate reason for prompting this, or he wouldn't be saying it to me. Thanks for the advice, I'm trying to take it all into consideration without allowing my head to explode, lol.

Andrew

Forgive me, but I think you should work on your technique and air control better.

A friend of mine plays one of the Conn 5XJ variants professionally in a regional symphony orchestra. He is retired Navy band, and can blow anything he chooses. Quite the contrary from "outgrowing" it, he can more than balance this midsized regional orchestra with a Conn, and has played all three of the major 5XJ variants to find the particular shading he is looking for.

That said, there are many, many different tonal concepts out there. A legitimate fundamental change in tonal concept is a good reason to change contrabass tubas. "Outgrowing" a tuba is not.

thank you for the advice iiipopes, maybe I don't understand why he wants me to switch. I am probably misinterpreting what he was saying to me, but I will try and heed your advice.

bloke wrote:I bought myself a three-year-old Toyota station wagon (enough room for a tuba, a guitar, a bass guitar, an amplifier, a suitcase, and a girlfriend) a year later with "recording session" money.

If you kept your girlfriend in the suitcase, you could have got a smaller car.

HI-
I think Bloke's advice is excellent--go try some horns out and see if you like them--either Midwest in Chicago in December, Army Tuba Conference in January, ITEC in May, regional ITEA conferences, major stores that carry tubas, etc. Many new models will be coming out for 2010--prototype Miraphone piston 6/4 CC, rotary MW Thor, a piston MW Thor with a 19 inch bell, the Gemstone/W. Nirschl CC-a sweet horn (if anything like the BBb, this will blow all horns away!) made in Brazil with Herr Nirschl's training/supervision with a sweeter price, a new MW piston F, Miraphone Bruckner CC, the Chinese/186 clone CC's that have been discussed here, etc. as well as all the current horns. Good luck in your search.

Regards-
mark
jonestuba@juno.com" target="_blank

What is TUSAB-TEC?? in DC??andITEC??and the ITEA??.....................................bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

bigbob wrote:What is TUSAB-TEC?? in DC??andITEC??and the ITEA??

TUSAB-TEC = The U. S. Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conference.

Usually the fourth weekend in January, at Fort Myer in Arlington, VA. Free and open to the public.

Rick "who'll be there as usual" Denney

.

I guess the NYPO could have persuaded quite a few fine players owning/playing huge tubas to play during the period between the retirement of Mr. Deck and the audition for a new tenured player. They hired a player playing the 19" bell and 0.689" bore Conn 54J. To my knowledge they didn’t sell their tickets at discount rates during that period.

I hardly would go for a Conn 5XJ, if I went for a CC. But still I think the best samples are fine tubas hard to outgrow for somebody asking for guidance here. I rather see two other potential explanations. There is the ever infectious tuba-itch, which I as a collector shall be the last one to blame anybody for. There also may be the less obvious agenda about getting rid of a less than lucky sample of the Conn 52J.

What I read from some TubeNetters is, that they feel themselves well equipped, I they have 4 tubas: large and small basses plus large and small contrabasses. In that context the 52J might be too much of a medium contrabass. Other TubeNetters follow a one tuba for all jobs strategy. In that context a good 52J wouldn’t be a bad choice.

Klaus

I know this is stupid but what is a contrabass and a peddelnote?I looked on wickapedia but not a clear cut answer..also what is lipping a note?? thanks.........Bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

bigbob wrote:I know this is stupid but what is a contrabass and a peddelnote?I looked on wickapedia but not a clear cut answer..also what is lipping a note?? thanks.........Bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank" target="_blank

Contrabass: CC and BBb tubas, as opposed to bass tubas in F or Eb.

pedal note: usage varies, but usually here means the 1st partials, the rarely used absolute bottom end - so, on a BBb tuba, the Bb below the Bb below the bass clef, and descending as far as valves permit. Wikipedia refers to this as a pedal tone.

lipping: forcing pitch up or down from where it would naturally come out. (This might actually involve breath as well as lip, the name isn't necessarily a guide to how to do it.)