I dropped a tuba...

[Lew]

It could be worse. I was just in the shop having some minor repairs done to a horn and the repair guy showed me a trombone he was working on. The bell was smashed with multiple double folds. The owner apparently put it down in the case behind his car and forgot about it, running over it. The good news is that only the bell was trashed. The bad news is that while a brand new bell may play fine and look good, it will never be the same horn. He can only hope that he is happy with the sound when done.

[tubatom91]

The Conn 21J that I'm working on right now is beat to hell and back. multiple drops. On the back side of the bell stack it has a flat edge about 4in wide running from the bottom bow ring to the bell tenon. The bottombow guard is hanging by the two ends that are still somehow soldered on. Needless to say that the finish is just a bit worn . When all is said and done I'm not really afraid of "franken horning" it. Hopefully I will end up with a 6/4 4V BAT .

[scottw]

[quote="LJV"
BUT, the one I did to myself was once when I was goofing around jumping over traffic saw horses like a track and field hurdler in downtown Detroit. My foot snagged on the last one.

I was almost able right myself, but gravity won and I spun around and landed square on my back. Hard.

Where was the tuba, you ask? In a gig bag, strapped to my back. Where else would it be? [/quote]
Isn't it amazing when we make a really dumb-*** mistake like that one, that not only are we not traumatized for the rest of our lives but actually LEARN from the mistake?

[Rick Denney]

Lesson learned: I never use a gig bag. Period.

I've dented instruments in gig bags, and Joe calls them dent bags.

But the fact of the matter is that if I didn't use one, I would not be able to play a large instrument. A hard case for my Holton would not fit in any vehicle I own, and my back would not be able to carry it the places it must go.

The point: We must compromise with care, and accept the fact that reasonable care is the best we can do. We either use our tubas and subject them to the real worlds, and sometimes reasonable care isn't enough. That's why we have insurance.

Rick "life is a risk" Denney

[Wyvern]

I usually transport my tubas in gig bags and handled with due care they have (to date) escape unscathed. The only time I ever use a hard case is if the tuba is going to be handled by others such as if going in the hold of a coach (bus), or aircraft.

No way could I carry around my Neptune in a hard case - it would do my back in and personal health is even more important than protecting tubas.

[TUBAD83]

A high quality gig bag that your horn fits in correctly is critical--Don't cut corners when it comes to buying one. I too use a gig bag and to date no problems with acquiring dents (that only happens when its OUT of the bag!)

This is for Scottw: "The trail leg must be kept bent and short to provide a quick lever action allowing a fast hurdle clearance. The knee should pull through under the armpit and should not be flat across the top of the hurdle."

Gotta work on that form man!

JJ

[jmerring]

My deafness causes a bit of a balance challenge. Many of you already have read about this, but I think it is appropo to this thread. 2 hours before a concert, during the dress rehearsal, I fell down a few steps with my 1 year old Miraphone 186. We were moving the brass ensemble from the balcony to the stage - horns exposed (no cases). It was completely trashed! Thank goodness for insurance! I had to play on a POS Jupiter that the band owned (community band). OH, I was ok, just a bit scratched up (as if that were important).

[sloan]

Lesson learned: I never use a gig bag. Period.

I've dented instruments in gig bags, and Joe calls them dent bags.

But the fact of the matter is that if I didn't use one, I would not be able to play a large instrument. A hard case for my Holton would not fit in any vehicle I own,

not even the RV?

[jeopardymaster]

Not quite on point but close.

Back in junior high I switched from trumpet to tuba over a summer. I learned on an old silver Conn sousaphone that weighed about 50 lbs. Since he was short on tuba players, my band director was fairly keen on the project, but he was not a great one for details. Among other things in introducing me to the instrument, he told me to adjust the neck however I needed to get the mouthpiece where I wanted it.

I took the horn home and started up. It was a good start.

But after a few days I was deteriorating - really sounding terrible. I went in to school and met with my director for some "pointers" and he immediately noticed my problem. I had twisted that poor neck into a pretzel and worn several holes into it.

But, heck, I had taken him at his word - it was supposed to be adjustable! The neck had been a bit resistant at first to my efforts, but after a few twists - and as metal fatigue set in - it got easier.

[Rick Denney]

not even the RV?

Nope. It has a 24" door. I'll bet a hard case for the Holton wouldn't go through it. And even if it did, the person carrying the case would have to levitate it through the opening.

Rick "whose levitation skills are not up to par these days" Denney

[sloan]

not even the RV?

Nope. It has a 24" door. I'll bet a hard case for the Holton wouldn't go through it. And even if it did, the person carrying the case would have to levitate it through the opening.

Rick "whose levitation skills are not up to par these days" Denney

Every RV needs a double-door grand entrance....and a cargo lift!