Tuba strap/harness re-visited

[scottw]

Well, I tried to follow some advice, yet also tried to save a few bucks, too. I went with the Neotech and I failed to find a harness which will work. It is just too flexible and there are no directions which would point me in the right direction to manage all the sub-straps and fasteners. There was no way to achieve any kind of balance, yet keep it at the right height to play it. I can't even imagine trying to hook it all up just prior to a job! Maybe this rig works for some body-types and some tubas, but my body and my 186 isn't it.
So, I am right back where I was before. The only nice thing is that the folks at musician's friend gave me credit for my charge card and didn't even want the harness returned! I guess it goes in the cabinet with all the other stuff that just doesn't work out.
I really think the Meinl Weston harness makes the most sense; from what I've been able to learn without actually trying one, the harness is very rigid and the attachment is very easy and quick, hooking on the lower hook and adjusting to my mouth with the upper hook. Now, though, I am very reluctant to order one without trying it first on MY HORN. Baltimore Brass does not stock them [but can order], so that isn't an option.
I thought I'd share my experience with any of you who might be looking for the same thing.
Any further suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
ScottW

[Dan Schultz]

I have a Meinl-Weston harness I'll send you to try if you'll pay the postage. I'm not currently using it but would rather not just sell it. You would be welcome to try it out for the cost of the postage.

[Biggs]

Wait a minute. I use a Neotech harness with my 186 virtually every day with no problems. It was tricky, at first, to figure out what combination of the harness' attachments to use, but now it works very well. Here is what I did:

Take the felt-covered strap (the one with a female fastener on each end) and loop it around the bottom bow in a larks-head knot, with the fasteners between you and the tuba.

Clip both ends of the felt-covered strap together with a metal clip on the harness (if you're wearing the harness, you would use the right clip.

Cinch that strap as much as you need until the horn is at a comfortable playing height. In my case, I had to take in quite a bit of slack and ended up tying a knot in the strap.

If you are wearing the harness, the tuba should be attached to you at approximately waist-level. The second attachment point will be at your left shoulder. Take the short strap with a female buckle end and loop it around the tuba (somewhere around where the top bow curves down) in a larks-head. Just like before, the fastener should be facing toward you.

Cinch up the part of the harness with the male end of the buckle to whatever is comfortable and buckle it to the tuba. For me, the horn ends up being pretty tight against my left shoulder.

Using that set-up, I haven't had any problems in terms of positioning/support. Good luck!

[scottw]

A Sousaphone would be easier, but I primarily need a strap/harness for the Civil War band in which I play. I don't march, but there are a few strolling or standing in place for monument ceremonies, etc. jobs every year.My 37 year old Mira 186 looks like a period instrument [sorta!], but a Sousaphone just will not do. Now maybe a helicon?

[WakinAZ]

Dale's suggestion looks a lot like the Blue Note strap, even down to the the illustration/instructions: http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/Pr ... -TUBA.aspx I used one to use my back muscles to keep a heavy bell front horn vertical *while sitting*, leaving my arms free to balance the horn and work the valves. I wouldn't use one for stand up playing; then again, I don't do any stand up playing and currently use a Tuba Tamer even for playing while seated. Even my sousaphones get a Wenger chair: dizziness problems.

Eric

[PolkaNoble]

Sousaphone would be easier, but I primarily need a strap/harness for the Civil War band in which I play. I don't march, but there are a few strolling or standing in place for monument ceremonies, etc. jobs every year.My 37 year old Mira 186 looks like a period instrument [sorta!], but a Sousaphone just will not do. Now maybe a helicon?

Interesting.

For many years I played my (1970) CC Mirafone 186 4u in civil war reinactments. I used a (suitably heavy duty) bass guitar strap when I needed to stand or march. Worked fine. I never knew there was anything better out there, but I did not perform marching or standing over once or twice a year.

A bit over ten years ago I obtained a (1913) Eb Martin Handcraft helicon, so I use that for reinactments when i can get away with it. There is some doubt about their availability in North America in the early 1860's, but helicons have been depicted in civil war bands in illustrations that MAY BE contemporary.

I am struck by the similarity of out situations. One probable difference is that my geographic location dictates that I usually wear grey instead of blue.

[Dan Schultz]

A Sousaphone would be easier, but I primarily need a strap/harness for the Civil War band in which I play. I don't march, but there are a few strolling or standing in place for monument ceremonies, etc. jobs every year.My 37 year old Mira 186 looks like a period instrument [sorta!], but a Sousaphone just will not do. Now maybe a helicon?

Scott.... I put that Meinl-Weston harness in the mail this morning.

I'm playing my helicon tonight. It's the way to go for stand-up gigs but the harness will do until something better comes along!

[MaryAnn]

I should probably start a new post, but I have the same question about euphonium harnesses.

Two of us are in a pickle; I bought a front-valve, bell-forward Elkhart Conn that I find much more comfortable for me to use than my upright valve euph. My friend bought a MW 3+1 fancy euph, possibly a 556. I think it is the euph that Sotto Voce uses. We are both having bad problems with physical strain holding the instrument in position to play sitting down. I don't think either of us has any plan to play it standing.

We have both tried the baritone sax harness that he owns, and it works for neither one of us; the problem is holding the instrument up and at the proper angle to the body at the same time; it will hold it up but the instrument still has to be clamped to the body with one arm, which for me is more tiring than just putting a pillow of sufficient height on my lap. He has reverted to just struggling without any support at all; he's having great trouble with the hand that uses the +1.

I don't know about him, but when I need to fiddle with music in the folder, I need to get the euph completely out of the way, by setting it crosswise on my lap. So I need to be able to unhook whatever is in use, very easily and quickly. With the bari harness and other clip-on ("homemade") strap things I've tried, it takes me way too long to unclip and re-clip and I end up banging the bell or something before I'm done.

We're both fairly small people; he of course is bigger than I am, but not the general tuba-shaped person. Very thin, no belly to get in the way I of course am still the size of a normal 12-year old.

Suggestions?

MA

[scottw]

MaryAnn, this is a perfect application for a tuba rest. I prefer the Baltimore Brass stand, but I am not sure if they make the higher version needed for euph. I know K&M makes one. It would be perfect for your situation. You being shorter, even the regulat length tuba rest may work for you.Carrying another 6 lbs. of metal is well worth the effort when it comes to comfort.Try one and you will never go back!

[MaryAnn]

I've actually tried a tuba stand with an Eb tuba that I had similar problems with. It didn't work for me in that particular application; the tuba was awkward no matter how it was held up.

My instant reaction for a stand with a euph is that if I use a stand, I can't sit "in" the chair, with my back in the back. I have to sit on the every edge of the chair, which in itself is not comfortable for me. Maybe if I found a kiddie chair (similar to the one I used to post that joke picture of me with my F tuba a year or so ago.) But a kiddie chair is inherently closer to the ground, as well as having a smaller seat. Ya'll are just too big, and I can't see over you if I sit in a kiddie chair. I might get stepped on.

Thanks for the idea though as I'll think on it.

Is there a peg thingy that rests on the chair, instead of a stand thingy that sits on the floor with all those legs and all that metal?

I must be spoiled with my horn playing; I managed to get a horn that fits "exactly" on my leg at a comfortable angle to play; I don't need a finger hook or a duck thing or a flipper; it just sits there and lets me play it. I haven't found anything nearly so comforable for any tuba I own. They are kind of hard to play if the bell is resting on your thigh. Maybe I should go but a Bobo bass horn copy....


MA

[scottw]

I've actually tried a tuba stand with an Eb tuba that I had similar problems with. It didn't work for me in that particular application; the tuba was awkward no matter how it was held up.
My instant reaction for a stand with a euph is that if I use a stand, I can't sit "in" the chair, with my back in the back. I have to sit on the every edge of the chair, which in itself is not comfortable for me. Maybe if I found a kiddie chair (similar to the one I used to post that joke picture of me with my F tuba a year or so ago.) But a kiddie chair is inherently closer to the ground, as well as having a smaller seat. Ya'll are just too big, and I can't see over you if I sit in a kiddie chair. I might get stepped on.
Thanks for the idea though as I'll think on it.
MA

One of the first things I was taught was to sit a bit forward on my chair--not necessarily on the edge, though-- and keep my back straight and away from the chairback when actually playing. The stand comes right to the edge of the chair and I have never had a balance issue or the feeling of a lack of body contact with the tuba. The main reasons I went over to the Baltimore Brass stand was the legs: they are almost flat to the floor and 2 of them even tuck under the front legs of the chair. They do not interfere in any way.
With the infinite adjustability, and the freedom to instantly put the horn sideways, plus the rock-solid safety of the stand, I wouldn't be afraid to try it for $80. I just measured mine: the saddle sits at 26" above the floor, plenty high enough for all but the tallest euph played by someone 6'8"!

[WakinAZ]

...Is there a peg thingy that rests on the chair, instead of a stand thingy that sits on the floor with all those legs and all that metal?...

Yes: http://www.wwbw.com/Stewart-Euphonium-S ... 41424.wwbw

Eric "ergonomic" L.

[Wyvern]

Another option would be the Tubassist. They are made to go high enough to use with euphonium and the arm can come inwards over your lap to support close to the body.