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I was curious if anyone has ever tried the Bubbie as a bass euphonium. That is, has anyone employed more of a traditional large shank bass trombone mouthpiece and/or attempted to produce a more traditional euph sound on the horn. I know, there are plenty of decent to good comp and non-comp euphs to be had in the same price range (so why even bother making such a consideration?)...

I guess I was noting how similar the bell size and bore profiles appeared to be for the Bubbie and a number of euph models. If a characteristic euph sound was achievable in the higher range, the use of a Bubbie might make the low C#, C, and B more achievable/centered (more so...than on a non-comp 4 valve euph at least). Euph does plenty of playing above the staff...what are the 5th, 6th, 7th, etc...partials like on the Bubbie? I have gleaned what I can from the handful or so Youtube videos posted...but was wondering if there were further comments from people who have played the horn.

I have a euph that meets my current needs...so I am not asking these questions as part of a quest to upgrade or replace my horn. Rather, as an aspiring horn collector who appreciates instruments with many different colors and tones, I was curious what input others might have.

Hmmm.... I thought that 'Bubbie' thing WAS a euphonium in F.

If those things are supposed to be tubas... I think they are 'missing the mark'.

Dan, it definitely plays in the range of an f tuba, not that of a euphonium. I sound like I'm playing a trombone, which lends credence to the suggestion that it could do duty for some in place of a cimbasso in a pinch. Don't know about euphonium.

I just use it to practice, usually on road trips. Whether it misses the mark seems to me to depend on where your mark is. I enjoy it very much, but I don't expect ever to perform with it. It is dead center of my mark for it, for the time being at least.

It seems to play much, much better with a mouthpiece in that range. It's not a euph sound then, more of a low trombone.

I found these instruments to be hard work in performance, too much resistance to allow for a decent sound or projection.

However, as a practice tool, I have found them to be very good, particularly with a mute in.

The receiver on my travel tuba will only take a large shank mouth piece I have tried and failed to produce a sound that I like with the following mp DW 1L, DW 4L and Kellyberg. I am awaiting a DW 2SL to try and see if a shallower cup will help with the sound and projection.
I do understand that it wIll never sound like a full size tuba but I need it to project more than it does for it to be anything more than a practice aid or novelty.
I have heard it played to great effect on YouTube and so have concluded that the fault lies with me but I have chosen to mess around with mouthpieces rather than improve myself
This little tuba is fun to play and is handy for travel and I have used it for gigs were I am not the only tuba or where space was an issue.
But it does remind every time I play that my buzz is not as good as I thought it was.

What is a Bass Euphonium? I have never heard of one till now what's its purpose?

KiltieTuba wrote:

sousaphone68 wrote:What is a Bass Euphonium? I have never heard of one till now what's its purpose?

Same principle as the Bass Trumpet.

A euphonium is a tenor tuba, so a bass euphonium must be a bass tuba!!!

For the Bubbie's projection, it is intended as a travel/practice tuba - although I do know people who have used with ensembles with varying degrees of success.

It is unforgiving of a poor buzz - does not hide anything - but that makes it all the better as a practice tuba.

I used the term "Bass Euphonium" as a logical descriptor for both the structure and the funciton of the horn that I was curious about. The horn has the bore profile of a Euphonium...but the tube length of an F tuba (actually...a little bit longer; smaller bore volume = longer tubing length to get the same pitch). Considering that the "compensated" side of a compensating euphonium "is" a miniature F tuba, was wondering if similar sound could be achieved with a Miro F tuba (sans the Bb side of the horn)? I suppose I could also describe it as a Wagner Euphonium (or Tenor Wagner Tuba). Regardless...it would clearly not be a "baritone."

Bombardonier wrote:Considering that the "compensated" side of a compensating euphonium "is" a miniature F tuba, was wondering if similar sound could be achieved with a Miro F tuba (sans the Bb side of the horn)?

This little tuba is quite a bit smaller than a euphonium - in fact only about 2/3 the size and with smaller bore. I would say a euphonium will project more

Anyone tried with a Bach 32E?
As it is very small bore I think a large mouthpiece a la DW1 and such is a lot too much. But as with small bore trombones that does not sound especially good with a to large mpc but very nice with a smaller one that fits the instrument Bubbie might sound terrific with a smaller mouthpiece, maybe with a deeep cup, that matches the bore size. Just a thought...

I tried it with a JK KBP 2C. Nice sound, not so good low range.

I am on such a road trip as I mentioned in my first post above, and I've gotten in and settled and tried some things. It turns out that I can make a sound reminiscent of a euphonium on it. But I don't think I could make that sound loudly enough to be heard in an ensemble.

FWIW, I'm using a Schilke Helleberg II F.