Electric Tuba Quartet

The Jackson · Post by **The Jackson** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:04 pm

There aren't that many tuba quartets (Not tuba/euph), but there are some. Here is the link to Cimarron Music Press's tuba catalog. There are other music publishers out there, but that was just off the top of my head.

If'n you're wanting to go with more contemporary music, you're out on arranging it yourself. If you guys have decent effects loops, nothing should be too out there and you can really have fun with it.

I think I know a thing or two about arranging and effects loops, so feel free to PM me if you want to.

tubafatness · Post by **tubafatness** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:16 pm

They don't do much with electrics, (or at least as far as I know,) but the European Tuba Quartet does tend to play stuff that's a little off-base. I would get some of their records to get an idea of what a tuba quartet can do, outside of playing more mainstream fare.

Aaron

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:54 pm

I'd go ahead and hook the group up with the amplification equipment they all want to use and play through a wide array of material to see what the new sound sounds good doing. The sound coming out of the speakers is what you have to work with and modify.
You will need 15 inch speakers to amplify a low tuba at high volume without breaking something. If your speakers have horns (tweeters) you may have to disconnect or turn them off before you crank up the bass.
I have lately been using a 300 watt JBL self - powered EON with the horn turned to zero and the 15 at half volume for just my tuba. Got my old trusty SM-57 one foot out from my recording bell on a boom stand. Got the volume knob where I can reach it and the speaker turned enough toward me where I can hear just fine. Everything else goes through the main p.a. system. Sounds great with no effects.

The Jackson · Post by **The Jackson** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:11 pm

Whammy pedals are the effects that can transpose pitch.

The real Digitech Whammy ($$$) has a really sweet harmonizing feature. Really neat stuff.

Dean E · Post by **Dean E** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:23 pm

tubatooter1940 wrote:I'd go ahead and hook the group up with the amplification equipment they all want to use and play through a wide array of material to see what the new sound sounds good doing. . . .

Four setups like Steve Dumaine used at ATEC would get everyone sent to jail. I'll bet he put out 125dB or higher.

He's at this link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaRK2Cs1vHA

tubafatness · Post by **tubafatness** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:00 am

Dean E wrote:
tubatooter1940 wrote:I'd go ahead and hook the group up with the amplification equipment they all want to use and play through a wide array of material to see what the new sound sounds good doing. . . .
Four setups like Steve Dumaine used at ATEC would get everyone sent to jail. I'll bet he put out 125 or higher DB.

He's at this link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaRK2Cs1vHA

Pardon me for being crude, but that is one badass performance. I wish more tuba players would go out on a limb like Steve did.

Aaron