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Re: Sometimes less is more
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 12:03 pm
by Rick Denney
The Orchestra Grand shank has a slightly smaller throat, which helps on really resonant tubas that don’t need quite as much air, and it adds a hint of anti-woof in top of the cup’s anti-woof properties. I use an Orchestra Grand/Symphony combination on my Hirsbrunner, but the Grand/Grand combination on my Holton. The Grand shank seems to be best on my new Eastman 534, but it will take a while to be sure.
Rick “who also has a first-gen one-piece Symphony and a Solo for F tuba” Denney
Re: Sometimes less is more
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:41 pm
by iiipopes
Stryk wrote:After playing a Mt Vernon Bach 18 for 35 years, I switched to the Sellmansberger line about 5 years ago and am a HUGE fan of them. Specifically, I use the Symphony and Orchestra Grand with a Symphony shank. Lately I have been fighting lung issues stemming from my use of Singulair (separate post) and can't quite keep up with the airflow needed for these. Joe suggested trying the Orchestra Grand shank, so I gave it a try. Because of how it is made, it give me a slight bit of subtle resistance (as Harvey Phillips used to say) that I needed. For me, it is the answer. Thanks again, Joe!
bloke wrote:With my very-vintage/new-to-me 16-1/2" bell sheet-metal 186-C, it's a bit of a toss-up, for me, between
> a Symphony cup/Orchestra Grand back-bore
~
OR~
> an Imperial cup/Imperial back-bore
The purpose of that instrument's acquisition was/is "a not-small C tuba, yet with a sonority distinguishable-from/distinctive-from the sonority of my M-W 5450". Either of those do that.
That having been said...
The M-W 5450 offers and extremely-accessible-yet-"hot" low range...
so - with that instrument - I use a Symphony/Symphony set-up and with a larger shank-size for more set-back from the choke-point, as well as the 1/8-inch-deeper "Profundo" rim.
I've almost always used my Solo cup with any F tubas that have been here (including that one which will not be sold until after I can no longer play).
For a very short time, I used the Imperial cup with that instrument (which offered a more-bland sound - such as is offered by many current-production F tubas). I used it in a (successful/small-potatoes) audition, but suspect that NOT using the Imperial with the F tuba would have been just as successful.
I use the Imperial cup/small-shank Imperial back-bore with a TALL "Profundo" rim - exclusively - for my compensating 19"-bell E-flat ("jazz") tuba...to promote the "it's a great big tuba" façade, while also offering clarity and punch to the patrons as well as to the other musicians in the band.
B-flat sousaphone...Imperial/Imperial with regular rim (adds clarity and punch without being overly-bright).
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Thanks very much for your reviews/comments, Terry and Rick.
I also use the Imperial (older 2-piece model) with a standard lexan Helleberg rim and a spacer cut to 1/2 its original height (before the Profundo rim was made) on my Bessophone (186 with Besson 17" BBb bell) for all the same reasons: slightly smaller throat, clarity, response, helps with my breath control.