Tuba Fads that Acutally SUCK

[Tuba Guy]

My solid red and blue, and my crystal blue (what the dog got to) don't have the step...my peaches and cream does...actually, i think it has a lot of steps, come to think of it...

That's odd, my red one (which my dog chewed) does have steps while my crystal green one doesn't.

A question to the guys who own these mouthpieces: Do you use these for your serious concert work indoors?

JJ

Occasionally. It's not my top chioce most of the time, but if it's early in the morning/cold, or i need a bit of a different sound, i might take oneof these out.

[The Jackson]

I've used my Kellyberg for serious orchestra and quintet performances. The Lexan only got to me after playing the thing for a few months, but, by then, I had another mouthpiece. The Kellyberg just stays in my tuba case in case of the worst.

[iiipopes]

Indoors? Well, yes. Until I got the PT82, the Kelly 18 was what sounded best for me on the 38K.

[Arkietuba]

PT50+ mouthpieces and other large ones......dying out...

I play a PT83, which is larger than most mouthpieces and I have absolutely no problem with intonation or with tone. I'm not saying it's the mouthpiece because I have a UMI Helleberg and I sound just as good on that (just not as "dark").

I'm not a typical tuba performance major in that I don't pay attention to what the "tuba world" is talking about so I haven't noticed bigger mouthpieces being a fad...maybe they don't work for you but they work for a lot of people (so don't write them off as a fad).

[imperialbari]

My solid red and blue, and my crystal blue (what the dog got to) don't have the step...my peaches and cream does...actually, i think it has a lot of steps, come to think of it...

That's odd, my red one (which my dog chewed) does have steps while my crystal green one doesn't.

Why so much fuzz about Kelly also addressing the needs for step-up models?

Klaus

[Dan Schultz]

I wish Jim Kelly would chime in on this. Those plastic molds don't exactly grow on trees. If the 'with rings' and the 'without rings' products are both his, I would be interested in know why he made the change. I notice that the 'without rings' version also has a sharper corner on the backside of the rim. It's obviously a different mold.... not one where the cavity has been just modified.

[lgb&dtuba]

I could be way off here, but I thought those mouthpieces were machined, not cast. I don't see any mold marks or seams on mine.

[Chen]

Bobo sound.

what's wrong with that?

I wish I could have his sound.
ps. Bobissimo is one of my favorite albums of all time

Fad: a temporary fashion, notion, manner of conduct, etc., esp. one followed enthusiastically by a group. Dictionary.com

Sounded like a big euphonium.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Bobo sound.

what's wrong with that?

I wish I could have his sound.
ps. Bobissimo is one of my favorite albums of all time

Fad: a temporary fashion, notion, manner of conduct, etc., esp. one followed enthusiastically by a group. Dictionary.com

Sounded like a big euphonium.

Euphonium = tenor tuba.
Bass (and contrabass) tuba = big (and bigger) euphonium.
Didn't realize they were in the same family, eh?

[Mike Finn]

Euphonium = tenor tuba.
Bass (and contrabass) tuba = big (and bigger) euphonium.
Didn't realize they were in the same family, eh?

When I tell people I play tuba and they ask 'what's that?' I just tell them it's like a big euphonium. Wait, strike that, reverse it.

[Arkietuba]

Arkietuba - AMEN!!!!!

I play what's comfortable to me, horn-wise, mouthpiece-wise, and otherwise!!!! It's been suggested to me that even certain solo literature should only be played on one key of horn, and I've even heard it go as far as the suggestion that solos should be played or not played on a particular brand of horn. I can accept that my equipment is my choice, and I don't appreciate it when people tell me I need to get a different horn, or a different mouthpiece, or what-have-you... I'm happy. I don't shove my equipment down your throat, so don't shove yours down mine?

Thus, I'm saying, in my opinion, a tuba fad that sucks is the notion that we need to be obsessed with equipment to the degree alluded to in my paragraph above. We all have our own beliefs, and we are entitled to them. Simply because I don't choose to play one model or make of horn does not mean I find that horn of less quality than mine, or inadequate for anyone else; it's merely an opinion, and a personal preference. Can we just get back to making music without obsessing over someone else's opinion of the right way to do so?!

I completely agree. I do what I do with my equipment and it works great. I've had no complaints from any faculty or guest artist...well, Steve Dumaine called me crazy for playing "Theme Varie" on my CC but it's my only horn and I made it work. I've never had a bad comment on my sound or technique or anything. What I use works for me and I don't criticize other people's equipment if it works for them. If you sound good, you sound good...it doesn't matter what gizmo or whatever you're using.

[sailn2ba]

I notice that heavy valve caps headed the list. What ever happened to monster weights?

[Kevin Hendrick]

I notice that heavy valve caps headed the list. What ever happened to monster weights?

Apparently, we got tired of weighting ...

[TubaRay]

I've never had a bad comment on my sound or technique or anything.

Never???! I get bad comments on both of these, daily. Usually from myself.

[Kevin Hendrick]

I've never had a bad comment on my sound or technique or anything.

Never???! I get bad comments on both of these, daily. Usually from myself.

We do tend to be our own worst critics, don't we?

[Wyvern]

We all have our own beliefs, and we are entitled to them.

I think that is a good principle to adhere to in all areas of life!

[imperialbari]

Of which principality?

[sailn2ba]

Is this cocktail time? I actually (not acutally) felt that the monster weights contributed solidity to my Cerveny 681. Now I can't find them anymore. I am interested in the experts' take on monster weights.

[windshieldbug]

Never worked for me...

[Kevin Hendrick]

Never worked for me...

"Mass"? With an "M"? Well, dang it, that explains it -- I've been using the wrong stuff! ("caveat posterior", indeed!)