The carriage rings on my 983 are not suitable to holding it up (they bend), so I'm looking for something to loop around (seperately) the top and bottom bows and meet in the back. I've searched the archives and a couple ideas came up...
I use a BlueNote.
The top ring on my horn is in the wrong place for me, so the BlueNote's self-contained connecting system (cordura strap with Fastek snap-in) works great. The bottom end, I swapped in a hook fastener for the snap-in (available at my local outdoors store/REI), so it clips to the boss.
The pad is soft and cushy - very comfortable.
My only concern is that the cordura might wear the lacquer.
So far, not a problem, but I haven't had many prolonged standing sessions, either (for shorter stands, I just hold it - strap is too much fuss).
I haven't tried it as a single-shoulder strap (I duck my head through), but it looks like it would work equally-well for that application, too.
I use the Neotech, & it's black. It's fantastic. The weight is spread evenly across your shoulders & back, the height of the horn can easily be raised or lowered without removing the tuba from yourself, and the design allows the straps to slide through their loops so you can move the horn around without dragging a strap across your uniform, shirt, jacket, whatever. I prefer it with the supplied loops around the bottom bow, so the tuba is suspended at it's lowest point. No strain on your back, and not that horrible drag on one shoulder that the traditional strap delivers.
I used a Blue Note strap for a Jazz combo last year. I still had to support the tuba with my left hand, and it was slightly uncomfortable, but worked ok for short half-hour gigs.
I'm a huge fan of the Blue Note strap. However, I heard from some guys over at the Tuba Exchange that they have gone out of business. I'm just glad I got mine before that happened.
Back in the day, when I was carrying a tuba around and playing it at the same time, it seems like I got myself a Golf Bag Strap. Worked pretty well, and plenty of padding.
montre8 wrote:I found a guitar strap at my local music store. It has cool Escher lizards on it.... the ends are leather thongs that can be wrapped several times around a stout branch just about anywhere. Really handy for finding the most comfortable position. It's very secure but I'm only using my little Eb if I have to stand anyway......
Mo
Yeah...I also use a modified guitar strap.
I think I might end up as a grumpy old man when I get old...
I highly recommend the Neotech strap. It holds the tuba in the right place to play and uses straps. Didn't damage the horn at all. I am in a crazy marching band and really put mine through the ringer. I had a problem with the first one, sent it back with my thoughts for improvement and they did it. The revised design was perfect.
What I liked best about it is that the weight was distributed to both shoulders. One more than the other but still comfortable.
One of the first times I used it was at the NY 100 tuba thing. I was checking out all the various pro and makeshift straps and liked mine the best.
Here's another vote for the Blue Note for playing while sitting - frees up a hand or two. Standing is a whole different ballgame that this guy does not do, but if I did I would be wearing my horn (sousaphone), not holding it.
Eric "lazy and crazy about ergonomics" L.
Last edited by WakinAZ on Wed May 07, 2008 10:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I've been using a bass guitar strap with my 621CC. As someone here (sorry I don't remember who) posted, it's the width of the strap displacing the weight and not the pad thickness that contributes to the overall comfort. I found that to be true, at least on a light weight tuba like the 621CC. Having several trad. jazz type of gigs coming up where we'll have a drummer and piano, I don't think the 621CC will cut it, so I would like to use my fairly new (newly purchased) Sam Gnagey tuba. This tuba is probably a little heavier than a 56J. I while ago, I was intrigued by the strap set up of Jon Sass. He used a thick leather belt around the waist, sitting on the hips, which had a U-shaped cup to hold the bottom bow. There's no weight on the shoulders with this set up. I contacted Jon and he gave me the web site of the maker of this belt in Germany. The cost turned me off to this idea, as it would have cost a few hundred for the set up through them. Has anybody tried this belt or a similar setup with a waist belt? It seems like a good idea, and I'll have to come up with something soon.
I've been using a padded camping strap with plastic clamps on the ends. I connect them to a sousaphone shoulder strap I secure to the bow of my horn (3/4 Amati), then sling it over my shoulder like a guitar strap. The only time I use it is when I'm standing. It works OK, but I just got a MW strap that I havent tried yet.
I use a Blue Note strap with my Rudy - It needs to have the bottom bow about 3" below the level of the chair I'm sitting in for me to play, and it's really awkward to hold a horn that size in that position. Besides, I do occassionally use those slides, and the strap lets me free-up the left hand without worry of the horn slipping . I also find it allows better technique on the valves because the right hand doesn't have to do anything to support the horn. Any truth to the rumor that Blue Note is out of business?
Rudy RMC50
Rudy 4345R
Mira 181-6GB
Gronitz BBb Kaiser (for sale)
Custom Kanstul 1662
King 4B
York pea-shooter
French Tuba in C
I highly recommend something which I know not its name, who makes it, or were you can but it. I believe its British.
Its like a pouch with straps (which go over both shoulders) made of hardened leather. The bottom bow of the tuba go into the pouch. The advantage is that it feels a lot more like it does when you sit.
Straps tend to strap you in. Most often with straps there's ONE playing position. You can't really move the tuba around too much without loosing contact with the mpc.
With "the sack" you have much more freedom of movement. I tend to rock my tuba a bit forward for higher notes and backwards for lower notes, so the bag works great for me.
Other advantages is that it requires no strap rings on your horn (most CC horns don't even have this) so you can use it on every tuba. As well, you can set the tuba down at will. Handy for a short rest and very handy when one needs to quickly turn the tuba around in circles to further empty the water keys. With straps you either have to unhook yourself, or worm out of your horn.
Still, I prefer an old professionally made sousaphone. They were made to stand in.
, and it's grey). http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/Im ... arness.jpg
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. I also find it allows better technique on the valves because the right hand doesn't have to do anything to support the horn. Any truth to the rumor that Blue Note is out of business?
