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So, I was playing around on our sousaphone in our band rehearsal today, I'm a college student, and I was scolded for splatting and playing with an uncharacteristic tone. This really puzzled me though, because internally I felt the same as when I play FFF on a concert horn. When I play like that on a concert horn, the tone has never been described as splatty or uncharacteristic. Is there something about a sousaphone that makes a lot of our (as in tuba) member base biased to say a loud sousaphone is a splatty sousaphone? Or am I just wrong in thinking that they should be played the same when extra UMPH is wanted?

I don't get many chances to practice my volume on the sousaphone, but I usually do when I find time to practice on the CC that we have. How would you suggest mastering a nice sound at the upper-limit volume levels?

Outdoor playing aggravates all the things you practice. Force yourself to concentrate on breathing more than normal, you will be rewarded.

What kind of sousaphone was it? Yes, first, make sure that the technique is there. But there are also some souzys, like the Jupiters from a few years ago (and even possibly now) that the metal is so thin that no amount of proper technique and mastery will overcome the inherent splat of the horn itself.

Could be the bell right at the director. Could be you were just overblowing.

What kind of Sousy, and what kind of CC are you using? Many Sousaphones have a bore in the .687 range, while the new standard for piston CCs is .748. Rotary CCs tend to be even larger. I have a 20K with a .734 bore and if I try to pump air through it like I do my RM 50 CC (its bore being well over .800) the Sousy can get a bit barky.

Ah Red... one of my favorite characters from That 70's Show.

Now to the serious posts!
We use yamaha sousaphones. I'm not sure of the bore size though. After talking to a couple of other tuba players (after they read this) one brought up that the bore on the yamaha was around .728(I think?) So I guess I was just overblowing the horn :/

double post

D_goneCold wrote: Now to the serious posts!

I don't know...Dale seemed dead serious

I know it wasn't, Bloke, and I appreciate the insight.

We were outdoors and he is used to hearing me on concert tuba, but I only play loud on a concert horn when I'm practicing on my own. The problem has been solved and it's staying solved. Thank you all for your input!

DP wrote:Dumbass, don't act stupid. You know what you sounded like

Good use of Red! +1 x 10000000000000 on knowing what you sound like. It's all on you.

Doug