MW 2000 ergonomics.

[WoodSheddin]

Don't pull slides.

Tell that to my 3rd line D.

Just blow the note in tune.

[dtemp]

Don't pull slides.

Tell that to my 3rd line D.

Just blow the note in tune.

Touche.

[WoodSheddin]

Tell that to my 3rd line D.

Just blow the note in tune.

Touche.

So am I a Mac and you are a PC?

[DBCooper]

Only if you speak Japanese.

[dtemp]

Just blow the note in tune.

Touche.

So am I a Mac and you are a PC?

I would never admit to being a PC.

[windshieldbug]

Do you have to be PC to be a PC?

[Jarrod]

[Note - I have checked the archives on this, but I'm looking for new / fresh perspectives.]

I’ve been playing a MW 2000 for about 3 years now (has it really been that long?). I love the horn, but have never seemed to get used to the ergonomics. The right hand is not a problem, it’s the left. I can’t seem to free my left hand up enough to manipulate slides. Putting my hand under the top bow makes me feel like it’s going to tip over all of the time unless I put a kung-fu grip on it. Putting my hand over the top bow helps, but then my upper body feels strained and I fell like I can’t get a good breath. I’ve tried using a stand and that helps a little, but since my K&M broke after 2 months, I’ve been trying to figure out a different way. When I put the horn on the chair it’s too low so I have to put it on my lap. I’m 6’ tall, so it’s not like the horn towers over me, I just can’t get comfortable behind it.

Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you fix it? I realize that everyone comes in different shapes and sizes, but I’m just looking for some help from people who have had / do have this problem.

Thanks.

d(who’s thinking being of ‘average height and weight’ isn’t all it’s cracked up to be) temp

We can solve this problem by selling me your tuba for $8,000

[dtemp]

You have a $12K+ horn - don't screw around with a piece of **** stand, ya cheap *** . GET A GOOD ONE.

How can I argue with that? BBC rest = mine.

Having trouble reaching the slides or the setup isn't comfortable? Go to a brass repairman, and let him make some pull rods or rings.

I see what you mean here. It's not I have problem reaching the slides, it's that I've been trying to keep the horn in place with the same hand that I've been trying to pull slides with. I'll surely invest in a new stand, I can see that helping a lot.

Thanks everyone.

[DavidJMills]

For me the best tuba stand is a low tech drum throne by Tama, Stage Star. It's fully adjustable with a drum key like screw, not pre-drilled pin locations.The platform is just a padded seat, so you don't have to fit the bottom bow into a groove, and it is light weight, cost me circa $35.I've tried the other tuba stands and this one is totally non -confining and if tension and stress is an issue, this setup allows maximum freedom.DMills

[WoodSheddin]

Lap playing and tension go together like biscuits and gravy, like beer and wings, like stink on ****.

http://tinyurl.com/g8gar
Nope. Buy a role of this stuff and wrap it around the bottom of the horn where it contacts your left thigh. The stuff is STICKY. The horn will not EVER slide off your leg again and the stuff is also very durable. I use it on both horns and no longer have to hold the horn up. It sticks to my leg and stays where I lay it. Tension gone and no need to haul around a stand and constantly readjusting the height for different chairs.

The only real downside it that it only comes in blue.

[DaTubaKid]

I think it depends where you place your horn. Whether it is inbetween your legs or on a leg or even on the chair varies the forces from the tuba being applied to your body.

[tubatooter1940]

I use a tripod stand that grips the tuba for hands-off support. (unless there is a strong headwind) I also bought a four-legged drum throne that folds and always stays locked down with a thumbscrew at my favorite height.

[WoodSheddin]

the horn still exerts force on the leg(s) (that whole "gravity" thing), which requires and equal or greater force from the leg(s) to hold it up, thus there is tension.

Doc

Actually it doesn't with this material. You don't have to rest the horn directly on top of your thigh because the stuff is so sticky that you can rest it even lower but not all the way on the chair. It sticks there. Without this stuff you would need to squeeze your legs in order to hold the horn up, but with this stuff you don't. The horn just sits there and you relax your legs. There is slight compression of course, but no tension is needed to counteract it.

Perhaps I am not being entirelly clear, but I can assure you that there is no real tension involved if the material is sticky enough.

I do understand what you describe as I battled with the same problem before finding this stuff. Set the horn on top of the thigh and it is too high. Rest it on the chair and it is too low. I also own a stand I bought years ago, but that is one more thing to haul around and it always seems to not be set in exactly the right height for the chair or even the moment in time where I might prefer the mouthpiece to line up.

Dycem is only about $12 or so plus shipping and I would highly recommend it to anyone to at least try out. I have been using it for a year or more and it has made holding the instrument effortless regardless of the chair I am sitting in.

I tried using the material seperately as a sheet but that was again something else to manuever. I finally wrapped it around the bottom bow at the left thing contact point and it now acts almost as a cello peg and I don't have to try to keep it in position like when it was seperate.

[tuba kitchen]

I have a 2145, a similar horn with a similar problem. I have had extensive work done regarding this problem.

First, (may seem unrelated) the right hand thumb ring has been replaced and adjusted to accamodate the right hand without bending the wrist. I know this seems not so important, but a bent right wrist causes tension in the right shoulder.

Second, I put my left hand through the bow, and there I had a light spring action first valve system built so I can move the slide effortlessly.

Third, I use anti-slide material on my lap for extra stability, especally when I am wearing very "slidey" pants (one notices slidey pants mostly and suddenly in stressful concert situations). I tried fixing some of this stuff to the left side of the bottom bow, but after a while it came off.

I tried a KLM stand, but for me it doesn't work as I need the bodily contact for my flexibility.

[WoodSheddin]

Tell that to my 3rd line D.

Just blow the note in tune.

Just like trumpets, horns and trombones don't make any adjustments to play in tune.

I did not say play out of tune. Make adjustments. Blow the notes in tune. The MW 2000 is an especially good instrument for intonation.