Tuba Harness Inquiry

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:15 am

In the TubaMeisters, we always play standing. We have gigs that sometimes last as much as 4-5 hrs. I usually use a Blue Note strap with my Miraphone 186. It works quite well. I get tired, mind you, but one would expect to get tired. My shoulder holds up pretty well. As an added bonus, I can adjust things so that the instrument will hold in playing position without my having to hold it with my arms/hands. So I guess this means it is pretty well balanced(I DO hold it. I just don't have to).

I also sometimes us a regular strap(somewhat like a camera strap) to which I have added a padded cover which I purchased at Walgren's. This works equally well as the Blue Note. The strap has metal clips which attach to the loops Miraphone included on the instrument. I did, however, have one of the loops moved to the opposite side of the horn.

All in all, this is pretty comfortable. If I were having to march, and if I had one, I would probably use a sousaphone. It is probably a bit more comfortable.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:23 am

I have the Meinl-Weston harness, and find that it does a very good job of spreading out the load over both shoulders -- and it's padded.

Of course, my M-W tuba fits it well. I loaned the harness to a player with a Yamaha 641, and he found it barely usable, due to his tuba's strap rings having much smaller openings than the M-W's. I was looking at another tuba (forget which), and noticed that the strap rings were in different relative positions, which would make use of the M-W harness awkward. M-W does sell an accessory strap to adapt tubas without strap rings, so there are other possibilities.

I would say that if the M-W harness fits, it's the best and most comfortable solution; I would buy mine again in a second. Perhaps you could borrow one, or buy one with a return privilege. If you were in the greater Boston MA area, I would offer to let you try mine.

Allen Walker

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 12:54 pm

schlepporello wrote:Thus, my inquiry. Of those of you who have used harnesses, which seemed to work better, the Meinel Weston harness or the Blue Note strap? I'm not worried about the added expense of the M/W harness, I'm mainly concerned about which will be more comfortable.
Thanks in advance.

I have both the M-W and the Blue Note. The M-W is definitely more comfortable, since it distributes the weight to both shoulders. And, you can completely let go of the tuba and it will stay in place. However, it is much more expensive than the Blue Note, is more difficult to put on and take off, and, as purchased, it will not work with Miraphone strap rings.

The Blue Note is a nice strap too and may very well be all you need. It is also designed to work with any tuba.

So, I would suggest that you try the Blue Note first and if it doesn''t work, go for the M-W. You can use parts of the Blue Note to make the M-W fit the Miraphone.

Baltimore Brass sells the Blue Note for a good price and I know that the Brasswind carries the M-W.

As a final thought, if you are going to play standing still, the tall version of the K&M playing stand is great, especially when combined with the Blue Note.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 3:12 pm

Hi Schlep!

I've used most everything from rope to rifle slings. I bit the bullet a while back and bought a Meinl-Weston harness. Last weekend I did a three day German band gig with my LARGE Carl Wunderlich GDR BBb upright. Each day was five hours standing. The harness does a great job. I'm sure it would work just fine on your Mirafone.

CJ Krause · Post by **CJ Krause** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 10:17 pm

CJ Krause · Post by **CJ Krause** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:27 am

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:38 am

schlepporello wrote:The Meinl is what I'm leaning towards. I really need something that's gonna make that 187 a lot easier to support if I'm to march with it again. As for the differing opinions as to whether the MW's latches will hook up with the Miraphone loops or not, I'm just hard headed enough to figure out a way to make it work if there's any difficulty.

Hey Schlep!

The hooks on the Meinl-Weston harness work well with my GDR rotary. On my Mirafone 183-4, I had to expand the loops just a dab. Sometimes I even use the harness when I'm seated as it really makes page turns quite easy.

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 5:25 am

The Bohland & Fuchs solution is slightly different from the Meinl-Weston harness. Yet it is in the best spirit of the TubeNet.

A "locally" well known tubist, according to a posting of his own, once chose the trombone for marching because of its lighter weight. I guess he no longer has that option made available to him in his present job, where he is caught inside a curl-o-phone.

The B&F solution:

I you may find, that I stretch the topic, then please consider the stretch involved with this "kidshifter" (term by Denis Wick). And no! It is not for sale, I just bought it. To handle the handle in a musical fashion is no small task, however:

The photos by the very nature of their server placement are temporary. They may be seen via my galleries at a later time. The index reference words then will be Bohland & Fuchs valve trombone and B&H Imperial bass trombone in G and D.

Klaus

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:35 pm

Just remember to put wheels on the peg. Or mount it on a monocycle.

Klaus

Z-Tuba Dude · Post by **Z-Tuba Dude** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 9:11 am

I have seen the MW strap in the past, but remember being frankly confussed by it!

It had an awful lot of hooks on it! What about that hookat the bottom?

Please enlighten me!

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:30 pm

Doc wrote:Don't you feel any back pain with the strap? I have enough weight on the front tugging on my back without having a tuba there also. Any problems?

Doc... I'm 6'0" & 240 pounds. Soooo.... I've got a little more in front that just the Carl Wunderlich tuba. With my M-W harness, I can do a five-hour stand-up German gig for three days straight without problems. Look at it this way... not only can you do page turns without putting the horn down... you can also down copius quantities of Amber Bock without spilling a dtop!

vmi5198 · Post by **vmi5198** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:52 am

I have a Blue Note strap, and the things that sold me on it were: A) Comfort and B) Portability. I don't have a lot of extra room for a big harness, and the strap can easily tucked into your case or gig bag. The beauty about the Blue Note strap in particular, is that you adjust the size of the straps to your tuba rings, and it can then be disconnected leaving a clasp on each ring! When you need to use the strap, just click it into place for the perfect fit! I really like this feature. In my situation, I need to be able to attach and detach the strap very quietly and not attract attention by the clanging of metal clasps. The Blue Note strap has PLASTIC clasps, so they are not near as noisy as metal clasps. My best choice for my situation!

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 4:49 pm

Do any of you guys know a harness that would work on a Yorkbrunner? The horn doesn't even have hooks and is so big and fat, but I sure wish I could find one.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:23 pm

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

vmi5198 · Post by **vmi5198** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 11:36 pm

The Blue Note Strap doesn't require hooks. On each end of the strap there are big loops which easily fit around the bow or any pipe on the instrument.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 4:24 am

schlepporello wrote:The jury has returned it's verdict, the Meinl Weston harness works just fine on a Miraphone 187. ..... I give the M/W harness 5 thumbs up!

Told 'ya so!! I used my MW harness for eight hours Friday night and for another eight hours Saturday night. (alternating with another group from Chicago... an hour on an and an hour off). Works great on my B & B stencil.

Wilco · Post by **Wilco** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:53 am

I've one custom made, thought I'd share this with you:

Most of the weight is supported by a strap around the waist. There is a second strap over the left shoulder. The key is to keep the tuba as close to the body as possible, reducing the actual weight.

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