TubeNet

Hello again,

I've putting together this poll to get a pulse as to what is your preference for us who play a regular tuba and a sousaphone. Which instrument is better in terms of posture, tone, everything. Cast your vote and then offer any comments.

is this speaking in terms of what's out there or is this comparing a sit down tuba and sousaphone that are of the same quality?

Not wanting to seem dull, but I prefer a sousaphone for marching/standing gigs, and a sit down tuba for a sit down gig!

I agree with Z-tuba Dude - it depends on the gig! If I am marching, standing outdoors, or playing in the Sousaphone section of the band, it is probably going to be a Sousaphone (or maybe a Helicon.) I have done some gigs marching or standing outdoors with a Tuba, but I did not really like the results.

Indoors, low ceilings, sitting on a stage, possibly amplified, short gigs - I am probably going to go with the tuba, but I still like the forward sound direction of the Sousaphone. I do not like to play the Sousaphone sitting in a chair - I have not used a stand since High School - but sometimes I will use a tall stool. I usually have a strap for my tuba, standing or seated.

As for tonal quality, for most of the music I do it is not a really big issue - I don't think the audience would notice - they just want to hear it! For New Orleans Brass Band gigs I almost always use the Sousaphone - the tuba just won't get it done.

I only use tuba for concert band settings, solos, and sit down quintets. For ANYTHING standing, I'll use sousaphone. I'll use sousaphone for a standing brass ensemble, jazz group, marching band etc.. The way my schedule works, I use sousaphone mostly in the fall, and tuba mostly in the spring. If I'm just playing around at home, alot of times I use the sousa... But it's always a pleasure to pull out the 20J once in a while. But back to the original question. I prefer sousaphone..its more fun for me to play and I have more fun in the settings I use it in. Concert bands and solos (etc..) are fun too, don't get me wrong! 40K all the way

I march with a sousy, and when our marching band plays sitdown concerts (we do several baseball games, 4th of July concert in the park, some community celebration sitdown concerts) I stay with the sousaphone. I used to switch out for concerts, but it is a royal pain taking both a tuba and a sousy to a gig. Tuba ensemble and concert bands I play my concert tuba. No strap, but I am considering looking into using one.

I might play my Conn 'jumbo' all the time if I had a 'roadie' to schlep it around and hold it for me!

Standing--Helicon (my response was BOTH, no choice for helicon was available.)
Sitting----One of my Tubas
I don't always get to do exactly what I want to do.

Tuba for most things; helicon for TubaChristmas; Sousaphone for skating gigs.

Souzy. Especially since I had the upper loop of the first valve circuit converted to a usable slide. With great "false" pedals, no fourth valve needed, and the extra weight is not welcome.

Personally, I find "sit-down" tubas are just as capable of being played standing up as a sousaphone...in fact... when I'm wearing a sousaphone I always seem to want to sit, and when in the orchestra with the rudy, I always feel the urge to stand up and solo/dance. But hey, whatever works.

I would rather play a contrabass tuba than a sousaphone in a marching band/drum corps/parade band.

Charles Atkins

I like playing sousaphone- every one I've played has good intonation, and they feel "right" to play. However, they destroy my left shoulder after like 10 minutes.
I am trying to work up a suitable harness for my concert tubas as my Neotechharness is just terrible.