Suggest a small C tuba

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Post by Wyvern »

Not being a jazz player I cannot personally comment, but Jon Sass seems to do very well on a B&S PT-20 (he currently plays a piston, but used to use a rotary), so maybe worth checking out.
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Post by tuba kitchen »

are you planning to play melodies or bass lines?

for bass lines I use a miraphone 184 with a medium-large mouthpiece with a flattish rim. I also use this tuba sometimes in the orchestra for a substitute f sound (german orchestra).

this horn has great clarity and response, but I find it a bit thin sometimes. the intonation is excellent.
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Post by ArnoldGottlieb »

Rubberlips wrote:I play bass lines, but not walking bass. Only an acoustic double bass can walk convincingly, even an electric bass sounds wrong. They are more funk/soul oriented, often repetitive. Thanks for your suggestions about horn and mouthpiece.
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Small CC

Post by bill »

The Ya mama 621 did what you want a tuba to do for me. I used a Ya mama 65 and a Conn 2 to get that sound.
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Post by windshieldbug »

Third the 184. If you haven't played one, try it.
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Post by ai698 »

I use my little Weril CC for my jazz group.
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Post by iiipopes »

Third on a 184. But if you can't get one, I've used a Yammy 621 (.689 bore, smaller bell) for some "down home" stuff, and it would probably be alright.

Depending on the gig, a King BBb or various Eb souzys might fill the bill as well.

Since someone mentioned the Mahillion and the M-W "reissue" or "reinterpretation" of it -- the Johnson model -- and this sounds off the wall, but think about it -- it's basically the same instrument bore and valve wise -- a Conn 5J or 11/12 J. I know, they're in BBb, but the tighter bore with a Helleberg mouthpiece would also serve rather well.
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Post by ken k »

czerveny piggy.

there jsut happens to be one on the for sale thread right now (I have no connection to this BTW, but I saw it there while surfing.
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Post by eupher61 »

second the Weril
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Re: Suggest a small C tuba

Post by ASTuba »

Scooby Tuba wrote:
Rubberlips wrote:I'm looking for a C tuba suitable for jazz.
Conn 2J...
I will second the 2J/3J. I think they're a bit more nimble and flexible than the Miraphone 184's.
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Re: Suggest a small C tuba

Post by Uncle Buck »

ASTuba wrote:
Scooby Tuba wrote:
Rubberlips wrote:I'm looking for a C tuba suitable for jazz.
Conn 2J...
I will second the 2J/3J. I think they're a bit more nimble and flexible than the Miraphone 184's.
And cheaper!!!
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Post by iiipopes »

Yes, a 2J or 3J would be great. I thought I had already posted that as well. I guess it was on another thread.
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Post by MartyNeilan »

Check the For Sale...With a shallow bowl mouthpiece the horn I am selling may be what you want; and you turn around and put a large funnel mouthpiece in it and use it for many other environments.
viewtopic.php?t=23364
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Post by iiipopes »

For the price, you probably can't beat Marty's deal. Yes, if I were in this thread's situation, Marty's horn with the Blessing version of an 18 mouthpiece would be really great.

Hmm...Nah, I've got to refinance a house right now.
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Post by Conn 2J CC »

I agree with the four earlier posts regarding the Conn 2Js and 3Js. I haven't used mine in any type of jazz ensemble yet, but I'm sure it would do well for jazz. And at a cheaper price is true too. You might want to check out the Conn 2J on eBay for $1,500 with a new case that's discussed in the eBay section.
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Post by Wyvern »

nxt2laststarfighter wrote:Anyone play the new Meinl-Weston BBb-Tuba 2011TA "Heritage Howard Johnson Gravity". I've never even seen one but I would think it would make a good jazzer.
Yes I played one when I visited the factory earlier this year. Very nice light tone for a BBb. Would make a good quintet, or jazz tuba. However, I thought the front valve 2011FA was the better blower.
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Post by Allen »

I have read this thread, and am wondering one thing: How is the query "Suggest a small C tuba for jazz." different from "Suggest a small C tuba for music."? Is the field of jazz music smaller than any other field of music?

I suppose all we can do is give a little anecdotal information on the small C tubas we have played. Here's a tidbit from me: I played the Yamaha 621 small 4-valve C tuba for about a week. It had a good if small sound, and was quite agile. Pitch was quite good (except for the usual problems with 24 and 14 fingerings). I can see why some players like it for quintet work. I noted (this is for Bob) that it had no false tones at all. However, the hand position was impossible for me; it made my right wrist hurt. I talked to others about it, and it seems that people are either willing to put up with the terrible ergonomics or not. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers,
Allen
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Post by MartyNeilan »

Allen wrote:I have read this thread, and am wondering one thing: How is the query "Suggest a small C tuba for jazz." different from "Suggest a small C tuba for music."? Is the field of jazz music smaller than any other field of music?
Well, I think he put that based on the kind of timbre he is looking for in a small tuba. He seems to want something with a lot of "bark and bite" to it - something like a vintage York Eb-CC conversion with a 20" bell may not be the ticket.
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