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I was reading a post yesterday about the contrabass tuba.

Realizing there are some tubas that are made with a lower pitch than the regular BBb tuba/sousaphone, like the GG tuba used for drum and bugle corps, I'm interested in trying out this kind of horn to see how it plays.

So if you have the low GG contrabass and live in the upstate NY area and would be interested in communicating with me about it, please send me either an e-mail or pm.

Hank74

There are fewer and fewer DCI corps using G instruments since DCI passed their infamous "any key" rule starting with the 2000 season.

But, the senior circuit, Drum Corps Associates (DCA), still is mostly using G hornlines even though Bb/F has been legal. Check with Empire Statesmen or the Syracuse Brigadiers, and somebody can probably point you in the right direction.

www.statesmen.org
www.brigadiers.com

Slightly off topic: Am I to understand that this GG contrabass tuba is pitched a minor 3rd below the BBb, making it truly a "contrabass"? Or (as it is obviously meant to be marched), is it pitched a step above an F bass tuba? As you can probably tell, I am not coming from a DCI background! Thanks to anyone who may care to educate me!

scottw wrote:Slightly off topic: Am I to understand that this GG contrabass tuba is pitched a minor 3rd below the BBb, making it truly a "contrabass"? Or (as it is obviously meant to be marched), is it pitched a step above an F bass tuba? As you can probably tell, I am not coming from a DCI background! Thanks to anyone who may care to educate me!

Yes, it is pitched a minor 3rd below the BBb. It is obvious when you play one back to back with a BBb horn.

Miah wrote:http://tubadon.com/dream_contras_for_sale.htm
these are the "Mini Degs" but i have played this model of horn and it is not that bad.

Why are they called Mini ?

ThomasDodd wrote:

Miah wrote:http://tubadon.com/dream_contras_for_sale.htm
these are the "Mini Degs" but i have played this model of horn and it is not that bad.

Why are they called Mini ?

cause they only have 2 valves. when you have a 2 valve contra bass they tend to be alot lighter and smaller. if you've ever held a 3 or 4 valve contra you'de know what im talking about. i would suggest talking to the empire statesmen (www.statesmen.org) about trying out one of thier contras, there the best you gonna find in new york state, i do so love the 4 valve GG contra bass. thier new marching season is starting up so ou could probobly drop in on a practice with a mouthpiece. the one thing about contra music is that it is writen in two ways either in treble cleff or as if it were a C tuba i.e. a C is open D is 1+3 E is1+2 ect. hope this helps

hurricane_harry wrote:

ThomasDodd wrote:

Miah wrote:http://tubadon.com/dream_contras_for_sale.htm
these are the "Mini Degs" but i have played this model of horn and it is not that bad.

Why are they called Mini ?

cause they only have 2 valves. when you have a 2 valve contra bass they tend to be alot lighter and smaller.

Well, I'm no where near NY, nor will I be soon. But for the price those seam nice.

The Ones from mandarins look nice too, but 1) they probvably want more than I can pay, and 2) they want to sell the set together and I don't need 8 of them

hurricane_harry wrote:

ThomasDodd wrote:Why are they called Mini ?

cause they only have 2 valves. when you have a 2 valve contra bass they tend to be alot lighter and smaller.

Here's my personal 2-valver -


It's not terribly heavy -- 23 lbs last time I weighed it. The DEG 2v Super Magnums that came out right after this King were heavier and, unfortunately, more front-heavy due to their layout.

Nearly all of the contras currently on the market (both the GG versions and the BBb marching tubas) are set up to be balanced pretty easily on the shoulder.

They got the term "contrabass" not by being in the tuba family (some will argue that they never were), but by filling the lowest voice of the bugle choir.

DCI's history page:
http://www.dci.org/about/history.cfm

Good history including pre-DCI bugles & regulations (but missing the introduction of the contrabass):
http://home.hvc.rr.com/jmitchell1/

What's really interesting is hearing something like Bugler's Holiday being played on a trio of those G/D bugles, only requiring two changes in the arrangement.