Choice of tuba stands(playing)

[Rick Denney]

I've never submitted a post with a picture as part of it. How is this done? I inserted an img tag, copied the pic from my iPhoto Library and pasted it in after the tag, but no image. HELP!

You have to host the picture somewhere on the web, and what you put between the image tags is the URL to the picture.

Like this
{img}http://www.rickdenney.com/scratch/BB-an ... d.jpg{/img}

but with square brackets.



Rick "the BBC stand is on the left, the K&M on the right" Denney

[Rick Denney]

Thank-you Rick.

I really never understood how those tuba playing stands work, but now (of course, how silly of me) I see that TWO are required...

...one for each cheek, obviously...

...Did you have to special order the DD cup size?

You'll notice that the left cheek is a bit larger than the right, and that it sags a bit lower.

Okay, now you've had your fun. Get back to work on my tuba.

Rick " " Denney

[Lew]

I have never liked using a playing stand. I have just found horns on which the leadpipe is a comfortable height when the horn is on my lap. Even so, my King 1291 is so heavy that my legs would fall asleep after half an hour or so of resting it on my lap. They must have made the thing aout of the heaviest sheets of brass that they could find in the 1930s.

I bought a K&M stand to use with that horn and although still prefer not using a stand, the K&M works very well for me. The BBC stand was not available when I bought the K&M, but I'm not sure I would prefer it. For me the K&M is at the perfect height at its lowest setting, so I never have to worry about it slipping lower. The BBC is more compact for travel, but sits a little lower, so would have to be raised up a little to be a good height.

Your mileage may vary, batteries not included.

[John Caves]

Doesn't Gene P. in Chicago use the DEG stand?

[Rick Denney]

Doesn't Gene P. in Chicago use the DEG stand?

Yes, he does. And he also recommends the use of stands highly.

A lot of folks think the stands are geeky or just one thing too much to schlep. Fine. While they are performing those isometric exercises with their shoulders and legs to keep the tuba in position, I'm resting my tuba on something sturdy and have the opportunity to relax.

I normally play my F tubas without a stand, but I will never rest the tuba on the chair, and my Bb tubas require that. The leadpipes would have to be contorted significantly to get the mouthpiece to my lips on those tubas, with the tuba resting in my lap. Or, I would drop the bottom bow between my knees, and hold the tuba there by flexing my hip muscles. No, thanks. The F tubas will sit on my lap without that.

There is also the matter of acoustic damping. When resting firmly on the floor, the tuba is less able to vibrate against that damped body surface. It makes a huge difference with 'cellos and basses, and Gene insisted that it mattered also with tubas, but I could not tell the difference out in the hall when he demonstrated it. Clearly, he could tell the difference from where he was sitting.

Rick "tension = bad" Denney

[tubatooter1940]

Sometimes,playing in a trio or quartet, I need to play guitar or bass so I need to slide my chair to the left 6 inches and pull the guitar or bass off it's stand and across my lap and get to my vocal mike,quickly. Sometimes we don't take breaks and leave one of us with a guitar onstage while the rest of us hit the head and swing by the bar for a cold one.
I need a stand to fully support my tuba in wind or whatever. I got a looks-like-new Tubatamer yesterday from way cool fellow tubenetter tbn.al that may be the answer. I might play tuba standing up if the Tubatamer was on a box or riser. That sucker sure is heavy.

[MaryAnn]

Well, for schlepping, how about someone design and market a bell bag? I mean a well-padded bag designed to go in the bell and carry stuff, any stuff that you can reasonably get in it.

I've got one of those five-legged trumpet stands that unscrews and goes right in the bell for schlepping, and it's great. It weighs a ton but since it disappears down the bell it doesn't matter what case/bag you are using. A tuba bell bag seems like a device someone could make some $$ off of. It would come in sizes, just like tubas do.

??

MA

[josh_kaprun]

I have had a Tubassist for about 8 months now and have LOVED every second of it. It is VERY adjustable and has a nice, large curved platform to set your horn on. It is also very sturdy ... when you set it to a position, it stays there until you decide to chance it.
I got mine soon after I started to develop a herniated disk in my back. It had not really hit yet, but I was experiencing quite a bit of pain from practicing the old fashioned way of holding my horn on my legs. So, upon getting my Tubassist, I was not only freed me up physically so that I could focus more on my playing, it also ALLOWED me to keep playing regardless of what my stinkin' back says.

[Drbuzzz]

I haven't read all the posts, but here's my 2 cents...pardon me if it's redundant.

I had similar problems with the DEG stand and the stripped bolt. After shelling out cash for another one (which also soon busted), I decided to take the cradle from the DEG (which I really like) and placed it on a drum throne stand. I figured if a drum throne can hold up a 250-pound drummer, it will have no problem holding my tuba.

Here's the thing...that drum throne was about 1/4th the price of those dang DEG stands!! I have ordered extra pads from DEG, so I assume you could buy a cradle separately as well. I have had no issues for the past 3 years.

[Drbuzzz]

Let me also add that I used to carry the stand in a trumpet gig bag (one was given to me), and I always take my own chair to auditions…got tired of resetting the stand to coincide with the many different chairs out there. It is a pain, but I don’t want to worry about tuba placement when I need to focus on other things…one less variable in the audition process!

[bill]

Greg wrote:

I am getting interested in the tubassist....I looks as if it is dependent upon both body weight and two hooks that attach to the back of a chair. Will if work in a chair that does not have an open seat back?

The Tubassist has one front hook but the rear (and very necessary) attachment is with a strap using hook and loop material. You do not need an open back chair to use it. Just route the strap around the back or around one or both of the legs.

[tubatooter1940]

Here's the thing...that drum throne was about 1/4th the price of those dang DEG stands!! I have ordered extra pads from DEG, so I assume you could buy a cradle separately as well. I have had no issues for the past 3 years.

Another Alabama tuberist that knows how to "git 'er done".

[adam0408]

I hate to thread jack, but how do you guys that use stands deal with the feeling of being disconnected from the instrument? I have tried using a stand, and feel like it could benefit my playing, but I just can't get used to the feeling of not being close to my tuba. (if that makes any sense at all.)

[Rick Denney]

I hate to thread jack, but how do you guys that use stands deal with the feeling of being disconnected from the instrument? I have tried using a stand, and feel like it could benefit my playing, but I just can't get used to the feeling of not being close to my tuba. (if that makes any sense at all.)

Gain about 30 pounds. Then it won't be a problem.

Rick "who is plenty close to his tuba while playing" Denney

[Robert N. Calkins]

Thanks to those who filled me in with the online location that is needed for a pic. I teach in an elementary school and will be creating a web page where I could put pictures, so that will probably fill the need for posting pics to this forum. If anyone wants pics of the DEG "modifications" I made, send me a PM with your snail-mail address and I'll send you them via snail-mail.

[Alsuite]

David Mills uses a drum seat, i have started to use one and I have found
it to be well suited for holding the different tubas that I have. I use the TAMA seat, which is padded an also makes a nice seat just to sit during a lull.
Al

[Rick Denney]

What is wrong with many stands is that the performer has to go to the horn instead of the other way around.

Okay, without joking, let me address this.

BBb tubas extend below the surface of the lap, except for people who are very tall above their waist. I'm a little over six feet tall, and all my BBb tubas must rest at chair level.

Now, unless I amputate both of my legs, there is a limit to how close I can move my pelvis towards the tuba. So, I still have to lean in to get my lips to the mouthpiece. The only time I rest against the back of the chair is when I'm not playing.

If I rest the instrument actually on the chair, I have to turn the chair at an angle so that it rests on one corner while my posterior rests on the other corner. There isn't enough room on most chairs for me at the tuba unless I take the diagonal.

The stand sits in front of the chair (just like the Tubassist and other similar items) and allows me to sit in the chair normally, albeit with my leg spread pretty wide to be able to get close to the instrument. The stand in no way puts the instrument further away than I want it to be.

My F tubas sit on top of my lap and I don't use a stand with them.

You have not lived until the tuba you were playing that was resting on the chair slipped off the edge. That has happened to me a number of times, and several times with resulting blood loss.

I use a stand.

Rick "who can move with the instrument a lot more easily when not having to hold it up" Denney

[WakinAZ]

What is wrong with many stands is that the performer has to go to the horn instead of the other way around.

Agreed. I am 6 feet tall on a good day, but long-torsoed. I have a K&M stand I have never used because it has never worked ergonomically for me. I find myself leaning out to the horn, or having to teeter on the front edge of the chair. I keep thinking it will fit the bill for the next horn I buy, but it never does, so it sits in the closet.

Eric "who has a $45 solution for someone else's problem in mint condition" L.

[gwwilk]

I have three stands: the BBS, the K&M, and the DEG. I use the K&M at home and the Baltimore Brass stand on the road. The DEG's foam padding shifted around so badly and the tubing wouldn't easily maintain the heighth I wanted, so I bought the K&M to use at home. When the BB unit came out it replaced the DEG on the road.

One of the bassoonists in our community concert band teaches instrumental music in our middle school system. Before a practice last year he also arrived early and as I was setting up the BB stand he nearly ducked for cover because he thought I was chambering up an automatic rifle! Those metallic clicks can be unnerving to the uninitiated.

I agree with Rick that a few extra pounds body weight will really help get us closer to our tubas on playing stands. And I don't miss any sensory feedback because I've been using playing stands ever since I resumed tuba playing in 2003. I get plenty of vibratory feedback in my left hand and arm where I hold the tuba.

[scottw]

What is wrong with many stands is that the performer has to go to the horn instead of the other way around.

Agreed. I am 6 feet tall on a good day, but long-torsoed. I have a K&M stand I have never used because it has never worked ergonomically for me. I find myself leaning out to the horn, or having to teeter on the front edge of the chair. I keep thinking it will fit the bill for the next horn I buy, but it never does, so it sits in the closet.

I would hope you are not the player who sits with his back against the chairback? Of course you need to sit to the front edge of the chair; instead, though, of the horn slipping off your lap, you have it securely held on the saddle and your chest and abdomen up against the tuba as usual.
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