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Didn't have my O-99 on hand and had to do an emergency tuba session at church last night. Went and got the church's VMI 3301. WOW! I had forgotten how good it played! Wonderful, easy, full, rich sound. In tune with excellent response. I just wish it were not so blasted heavy, I might retire my beloved O-99. My tuba player moved on so it's been 3 years since I played that VMI but I won't wait that long again. Gosh that's a nice horn!

Have you thought about using a stand? The BBC stand is light, easy stow/transport and works well. Really makes playing heavy and/or ergonomically challenging horns a breeze -especially when it's a horn you don't own and can't modify to your personal tastes.

I don't mind the weight while playing. It's the schlepping I despise.

tbn.al wrote:I don't mind the weight while playing. It's the schlepping I despise.

You should hire this guy - he specializes in schlepping. I hear he also knows a thing or two about handling tubas!

schlepporello wrote:

I've never liked the few I've played, but I WOULD like to try an Olds someday.

Do many churches own tubas??? This is a new concept to me!

Churches with orchestras often have to own a tuba because many of the volunteer players don't own one. They played in HS where the instrument was furnished. The last tuba player I had played in college but owned only an old Eb that was barely playable. My church also owns a bass clarinet, drum set, timpani, glock and assorted traps for the same reason. If you want the parts played on a regular basis you have to do it. As Schleppy said they are not usually the quality of our VMI 3301 but I was able to use a dedicated gift to the orchestra to buy it when Roger was leaving WWBW and selling them at cost. We got an unbelievable deal.

The real intent of this thread was to simply praise the playing characteristics of the VMI tuba. However, this post may take the thread completely off course but so what, I'm the OP. The deeper problem that Joe touches on is the changing of the guard. Many times when churches change music directors it is to foster a change in the style of worship. The attendance begins to sag and the powers that be think they can prop it up by moving from a traditional worship service to a more contemporary style, or rarely vice versa. I have seen this happen over and over in churches and many times with disastrous results. It is amazing to me that church leaders really think they can fix serious problems in their churches by changing the style of music. If that is all a church is to begin with, then it needs to fail. Sorry, off my soap box. To respond to Joe's post, If a church wants to keep a volunteer orchestra then they had better be prepared to furnish the necessary ingredients, music, training, guidance, chairs, stands, playing opportunities and yes even some instruments. There will certainly be times when the instrument goes unused. For instance right now I don't have a tuba player. When I can get someone else to conduct, I play. When that is not possible we have to rely on a HS string bass player for the bass line. Not optimal, but a tuba player will show up eventually and when they do they will have a good horn just waiting for them. In the meantime we do the best we can with what we've got. If it is really critical I'll occasionally hire a pro .