How to strap a German rotary tuba?

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:04 am

On German rotary tubas the carrying hooks are placed just under the mouthpiece and in the middle of the bottom bow.

My question is, what is the best way to route the strap to carry the tuba for playing on the march?

Either picture, or description would help. Thanks!

Mojo workin' · Post by **Mojo workin'** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:33 am

In my experience of marching in many an ethnic/religious parade with all sized tubas, only misery is to be found marching without a sousaphone or helicon. The best solution for me has been to buy a Meinl-Weston harness, which are unfortunately expensive. It has been worth the investment, as routing a single strap will inevitably dig in to your trapezoid muscle, with or without a pad. The proper single strap method with a German rotary tuba would be over your left shoulder, rather than the slippage that can occur if over the right shoulder.

Many a man should better endure a day of chain gang hard labor than march a 20 block parade with a 6/4 tuba on a single strap in the blazing sun.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:28 am

"How to strap a German rotary tuba" Sound pretty kinky to me. But seriously, I had the hook that was under my mouthpiece moved to the other side(the outer bow). This solved the problem completely. With this fix, plus a strap I bought at The Container Store(that's right), I am in business. I can, although I usually don't, play the instrument without holding it at all. It balances very well.

I discovered this solution thanks to help from Rick Denney(our Resident Genius). Using plastice tie strips, he rigged my instrument for me until I could have the work done. Once I saw how well this would work, I was not so hesitant to get the work done.

Of course, another solution would be to buy a Blue Note Strap. With this strap, you can hook onto the instrument in any two places you wish.

cambrook · Post by **cambrook** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 12:15 pm

I haven't carried a tuba with a strap for over 25 years, so I've no experience with any of the currently available harnesses/straps. Has anyone tried the Neotech ones?

http://www.neotechstraps.com/product/de ... EGORY_ID=4

Good luck with your search

Cam

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:12 pm

Has WWBW miraculously dropped the price from roughly $100 to $15 (MSRP--$20) for the same strap??

Or is the on on their site different somehow? The only review of the product says it was the best $100 she'd spent...

huh??http://www.wwbw.com/Meinl-Weston-Tuba-H ... 0803.music

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:37 pm

I'll add an endorsement of the MW tuba harness. It does a fine and comfortable job of spreading the weight over both shoulders.

I use it for playing standing. I wouldn't march with any tuba strapped in front of me. Not only will my balance be off, I won't be able to see what I'm about to trip over. What an image: me hitting the ground tuba-first! I second the comment that one should use a souzie or helicon for marching.

Cheers,
Allen

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:41 pm

schlepporello wrote:That's gotta be a typo!
Just the same though, I'd jump on it like a bunny rabbit and see if I could actually get it for that. Their loss, your gain.
Maybe they'll get better track of what their computer techs are doing.

Upon further review....that $15 is for the add-on "extra strap", whatever that is. And, that's what shows in the index listing AND on the individual page for that strap, until you actually click to "standard" under "options". SO, the price is $99 for the MW Tuba Harness, through WWBW.

damn!

thanks for the warning...I would have gotten 2 additional straps with nothing to attach them to...

mTaUrBkA · Post by **mTaUrBkA** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:25 pm

What I have done is borrowed a friend's bari sax harness. I attached the clip just to the bottom hook which held the weight and I just had to balance it. Probably noot the absolute best was to go...but cost effective if you purchase one.

Eric B · Post by **Eric B** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:35 pm

eupher61 wrote:Has WWBW miraculously dropped the price....

I won't ever go there again. I ordered one in November 2006 and they had it on back order. I repeatedly called them from January until July. I finally instructed them to cancel my order. I called Roger Lewis at Tuba Dome and had it on my doorstop within 4 days. I love good service and professionalism. There are some great ones among us like Roger Lewis and Joe Sellmansberger. I'll give these guys my business for now on. Oh and yes, I recommend the MW strap.

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:38 am

I ordered the Neo Tech strap yesterday. Free shipping from Music 123...I'll report when I get it. It looks good, at half the price of the MW, and considering I'll be using it with either a small Weril or a B&S F, weight won't be a huge factor. I noticed the straps on the Neo Tech are a lot thinner than the MW, the straps that come from the upper back webbing around to the horn, under the armpit.

We'll see if I screwed up and cost myself more.