my sousaphone story

[T. J. Ricer]

I haven't seen that rig, but that makes sense. . . I think TubaTinker has one much like that.

thanks, Mike!

--T. J.

[Dave Seip]

Ryan - no, not yet, thus far I've just been plugging directly into the board (with an SM-58 taped to the bell). It's hit and miss, not ideal, since some soundmen obviously have no idea what to do with me. I've got a few gigs coming up and will try renting a bass cab or two to try them out. As far as effects go, I've got ideas but I haven't gone there yet. Depends on what band I'm playing with too.

That's what I've been doing, although no tape anymore. I use a PG58 and just hang it inside the bell and wrap the cable around the horn to hold it in place. I like the sound overall, although I find that I often have to tell the sound guy to turn me down; if I play at ppp and the subs blow out, I don't have a lot of room to maneuver.

[David Richoux]

T.J.,
Have you seen Bob Stewart's rig with a pair of straps (at 90 degrees) that clip to opposite sides of the bell, and support a mic right in the center of the bell, and pretty close the the plane of the bell opening. That is one of the more elegant solutions I have seen to supporting a mic over/in a tuba bell.

Mike

That is pretty much what I have used for many years - but with just 3 straps. I have used it on everything from a big Sousaphone bell to a Yamaha 621 and I think the tone is quite good, running through my Cube 100 or the band PA system. Right now I am using a Shure M57 but I have tried all sorts of other mics from lavalier to bass kick drum - the 57 is what I saw Bob using a few years ago and it seems to be good for me too!

[Dan Schultz]

..... Wireless is the way to go. An expensive wireless isn't necessary. Tripping over cords is r-e-a-l-l-y dumb.

In a pinch, I've even used those 'cheapo' wireless lapel mics that are sold on fleabay for under $15.

[kontrabass]

by the way guys, what mouthpiece do you use for your sousaphonin'?

[kontrabass]

normally i just use whatever. i think i'm on a helleburg copy now. but i just wanted to make sure there's no wisdom i'm missing, like, "Oh, the new Heckelphone widemouth double-riveted 77G really opens up the bottom end on sousaphones"...

[Dave Seip]

Same one I use for everything else, a PT-64.

[T. J. Ricer]

I've been using the Kellyberg for just about all my sousaphone playing for the last several years for the simple reasons that if I drop it, it's OK and, because of its light weight, it doesn't pull on the neck, so I don't have to really crank down on the screw to keep the MP in one place (and it sounds good!). . . fwiw, I've been using the Bloke-Symphony with the lexan rim lately, as it is nearly as light as an all-lexan 'piece.

--T. J.

[kontrabass]

thanks hunter, that means a lot to me. thanks everyone else for checking out the site too!