Jumbo Summit 2010 + YouTube Video Links Added

[mammoth2ba]

Another year, another gathering of Conn Jumbo Sousaphone enthusiasts:

This year we had 4 Conn Jumbo Sousaphone Grands, Models 46K and 48K, turn out for the Jumbo Summit at Pentwater (MI) Civic Band's regular Thursday evening concert, August 19, 2010.

In the posed group photo from left to right are TubeNet members mammoth2ba, KiltieTuba, Steve Marcus, and TubaTinker.

The surprise of the evening may have been the discovery that Kiltie's and mammoth's 46K serial numbers differ by exactly _10_. All numbers match except Kiltie's ends in 77 and mammoth's in 87. Since the serial numbers are for _all brass instruments_ (presuming some cornets, trumpets, etc. were also built in 1925), those Jumbos could have been side-by-side when made. Quite a coincidence they'd be _played_ side-by-side 85 years later.

Other participants may have pictures and recordings to post, but have tried to attach three photos to get the ball rolling. One "playing" photo shows an Eb sousaphone closest to camera, offering some size comparison.

YouTube videos added August 24:

E Pluribus Unum March by Fred Jewell:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcmwT1K4cRk" target="_blank" target="_blank

Them Basses by Getty H. Huffine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xvYnDDi4aE" target="_blank" target="_blank

Here's a link to the 2009 Jumbo Summit, same venue:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34527" target="_blank" target="_blank

summit-a.jpg

summit-b.jpg

summit-c.jpg

[mammoth2ba]

Three additional photos, Jumbo Summit 2010:

summit-d.jpg

summit-e.jpg

summit-f.jpg

[Mcordon1]

Could the band even be heard?

[Dan Schultz]

Could the band even be heard?

In addition to what you see... there were two more tubas in the band... a Cerveny 4V rotary and a Yamaha YBB-201.

Yes... there was a very 'solid' bottom end!

[poomshanka]

"The Tubas That Ate Pentwater."

[Roger Fjeldet]

I love the sight of this group
A 46K is on it`s way from Canada to Norway - I`m really looking forward to play this Elephant and join the exclusive club of Jumbo-owners
Roger

[SousaSaver]

AWESOME! Now if this could only grow into some sort of conference...

[Wyvern]

Wish I could have been there this year! Have fond memories of Jumbo Summit 2009

[Steve Marcus]

Could the band even be heard?

I listened for the woodwind trills where the melody begins for the tubas in Them Basses to get an idea of the balance. I kept listening and listening...

My wife, who was sitting in the front of the audience, also said that she had never heard the bass melody lines so clearly in any other performance. Spousal support is essential if one is to acquire a Jumbo Sousaphone and, even more so, travel 9 hours round trip (or longer) with the horn to play an hour's worth of music with your Jumbo-touting colleagues (that is, if you wish to stay married AND the owner of a Jumbo simultaneously!).

The Pentwater Band members were extremely gracious and seemed very pleased to have the 4 of us there--all except one Cerveny 4/4 BBb player who had had enough and left about 2/3 of the way through the concert. He just couldn't hear himself. Although essentially a pick-up band, the quality of the playing was remarkably high. There is no conductor. There is simply a roll-off before each march (the same roll-off whether the march is in 2/2, 4/4, or 6/8). Tempi are usually fairly close to quarter note (or dotted quarter in 6/8 marches) = 120 and somewhat faster for the few blues/pop numbers. The regular band members were augmented by members of the Blue Lake Adult Band this year. The repertoire included the obligatory S&SF, but most of the marches were refreshingly lesser known pieces.

The Jumbo players were not trying to play overly loudly; this was not a raucous sound at all (unlike some other types of ensembles that use sousaphone). The tone was rich and full. It's simply that, as discussed recently on another TubeNet thread, the volume heard in front of the bell (not necessarily by the "driver" behind the bell) is essentially double what you would expect from a 6/4 concert tuba for the same effort. Now, there are excellent players who can fill the new Yankee Stadium with their 6/4 tuba if they wish. But none of the 4 of us is an Alan Baer-level player!

Sincere thanks to mammoth2ba for organizing the tuba parts into binders that contained clear plastic-covered copies enlarged to 8 1/2" x 11" from their original music lyre size--and for encouraging the Jumbo Summit activity!

[dmmorris]

I'm impressed that none of these have shoulder padding! I'm a big fan of having an inch or so between my shoulder & the main bugle of the helicon.....and I'm guessing these beast are a good bit heavier.

[Steve Marcus]

Did the Jumbos play the piccolo descant for S&SF?

DG

I started to play it, but then I noticed that the piccolos were standing as they played it. Bottom line (pun intended), we hadn't been invited, and it would have usurped the piccolos' moment of glory. So I went back to the written tuba line. Maybe next year!

[Lew]

I think it would be great to have a Conn jumbo, or the equivalent sized King or Martin sousaphone, but I have never seen one for sale. I do have a 40K and that took quite a while to find. I do love the way the 40K plays, but it would be nice to find a 48K some time. Then again, other than Tuba Christmas I don't think that too many groups would be happy to have one of these as a regular member of the ensemble.

[Toad Away]

Let the good times roll

Way to go Andy (my younger twin brother) and all,

Tim

[mammoth2ba]

I'm impressed that none of these have shoulder padding! I'm a big fan of having an inch or so between my shoulder & the main bugle of the helicon.....and I'm guessing these beast are a good bit heavier.

The bow that rests on the players shoulder on all the 2010 Summit Jumbos has a slightly wider, curved piece soldered to that bow......so the "contact area" is quite wide/large. It's not uncomfortable. A 2009 Summit Jumbo did not have that wider piece, and bore no evidence of one having been removed. When one sees 4 Jumbos side-by-side, there are a number of small details that are not exactly the same.

From my own experience, the wide (but bare) metal shoulder contact area on my Jumbo is more comfortable than the narrower contact area was on my Martin Mammoth......and the Mammoth had "supposedly beneficial" shoulder padding (leather+foam).

Perhaps surprisingly, at least one of the 4-valve 48Ks pictured (early 1930's vintage) weighs the same as a 1925 3-valve 46K......about 42 pounds.

[mammoth2ba]

AWESOME! Now if this could only grow into some sort of conference...

Perhaps a composer will be inspired to write something appropriate for Jumbo quartet?

Not much in the "repertoire" at the moment!

[Roger Fjeldet]

Do anyone know how many Jumbo`s made, and how many that exists today ?
Roger

[Shockwave]

I bet some of you playing the giant sousaphones wished you could have been in the audience listening to them. I'm curious if the lighter 48k has a different sound than the heavier horns. My converted 44k weighs 48lbs even with the smaller bell, but I've found that tubas made of thinner metal tend to have a smoother sound.

Do anyone know how many Jumbo`s made, and how many that exists today ?
Roger

Do you mean just Conn jumbos, or also the King, Buescher, and Martin XXL sousaphones? You could probably find out how many jumbos are known to the members of this message board. The rest are probably in the warehouse of the Tuba Exchange.

-Eric

[Roger Fjeldet]

I was thinking the Conn Jumbo`s for now - probably a much easier start to narrow down the search.
And also just for fun
Roger

[Lew]

...

Do anyone know how many Jumbo`s made, and how many that exists today ?
Roger

Do you mean just Conn jumbos, or also the King, Buescher, and Martin XXL sousaphones? You could probably find out how many jumbos are known to the members of this message board. The rest are probably in the warehouse of the Tuba Exchange.

-Eric

Or in Mike Lynch's house.

[mammoth2ba]

Why do tubas and sousaphones always believe they should co-opt the piccolo part in that march...

Edited post! : (and I "stand corrected")

I know the New Sousa Band tuba section played the piccolo part to "Stars & Stripes Forever" when Keith Brion led that group on tour in 1994. In the particular case of NSB, the piece was played through as written (featuring the piccolos), and then the last strain repeated (after some applause) featuring the tubas.

Since my earlier post, I've heard from Mr. Brion that the tubas were featured as a fun encore and without any claim of authentic Sousa practice.