Microphone and Amplifier for tuba

[Wyvern]

My band will doing an overseas tour to Malta in July. As I do not fancy putting my PT15 at the mercy of the airlines (and would not even consider risking the Neptune!), am wondering about taking my Melton 14 travel tuba. There will be two other tubas, and bass guitar so I could sit back and just enjoy the ride, but would like to positively contribute to the band sound.

I therefore wonder about use of a bell clip microphone on the travel tuba connected to amplifier? I remember seeing video of tornistertuba on YouTube producing really amazing sound with amplification.

Does anyone have recommendation of microphone and amplifier (preferably not too expensive) which would work well with small tuba?

Would it work to use the same amplifier as the bass guitar with two inputs? I have never used one to know

[imperialbari]

Jonathan, I am very convinced you can contribute without the amplification you are considering. I have worked with clip-on mikes and own 3 phantom powered ones. I don’t believe too much in mixing amplified and non-amplified brasses.

I guess we are speaking about the Hampshire Police Band. Last they were on Malta they had no bass trombone. Get the bassbone book for the trip. The highest note I remember playing on bassbone in brass band was G 3 ledger lines above the staff. Rarely went that high, and I guess it isn’t much different in a concert band, so you easily will be able to play that book. Another option is the baritone sax book, even if it takes a bit of trick reading.

Another matter is the chance of finding a clip on mike at a reasonable price while you are in China. Very small dynamic microphones weren’t common last I were in touch with that market segment, so phantom powered ones are more likely. As you don’t want preamps and whatever, make sure battery powering is an option. You may then get a small portable guitar amplifier like those of the American pignose brand. It will not ad to your output, but such set-up is useable in practice situations to learn about which articulations really are coming out of ones bell.

Klaus

[Wyvern]

Klaus, Thanks for the feedback. It is indeed the Hampshire Police Band, but I very much doubt if they will be short of bass trombone - there are 7 trombonists on the books and at least 3 play bass trombone as required. I would be very surprised if we did not have player last time. I presume you are going by the Police Day Parade video on YouTube, but that was a reduced band of only the most experienced marchers, so I can only guess whoever was the bass trombonist on that trip was not considered a competent enough marcher for inclusion (like me).

The Baritone Sax part is a possibility - I don't know yet if that is covered? Otherwise I will see if I can play the upper tuba part in divisi (I normally play the lower on Neptune).

Wish I could try a mic/amplifier to see if such a set-up does work! I am now getting a much fuller tuba tone out of the Melton 14, but still think it would be rather underpowered in concert band situation without amplification. The other (probably completely mad!) thought I had was screwing on a larger french horn bell if it fitted and I could get one cheap (such as eBay) to naturally amplify. Anyone know the thread size of french horn bells?

Quite apart from the security of my larger tubas, I would rather like to use the travel tuba as I am sure it would be far more convenient to use on tour.

[imperialbari]

Sharing an amplifier with the bass hardly will work. A good "natural" amplified sound takes a large system handled cunningly by a tech. And with the supposed line-up amplification wouldn’t be needed for much other purpose than ego boosting. The idea of playing the upper divisi lines is the way to go. If you hear other instruments playing an octave above the tuba in sections, where there are no yuba divisi, you may take your part up there also.

Horn rings are a much bigger topic than one would assume:

http://www.osmun.com/services/ScrewBell.htm

And then within Alexander rings there are 3 variants of tapers for the threading.

There also are questions about spun or hammered bells, and whether these will break up with a rattling sound or not when put on an isntrument with an after all radically larger bore than a horn (tuba bells often have been made with gussets to achieve a more uniform bell thickness):

http://www.osmun.com/prod/Schmid/Schmidbell.htm

Modern horn bells are in the range of 305mm or 310mm wide. Will they fit in your case?

Meinl Weston made a double horn for some sort of jubilee of theirs 16 or 17 years ago. So they have the knowledge.

Haven’t seen newer videos with the HPB since the last ones from Malta.

Klaus

[Wyvern]

Haven’t seen newer videos with the HPB since the last ones from Malta.

Remembrance Sunday Parade last November - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GePUm4Nu90

You can see me playing my PT-15 although the video has not picked up the sound as well as I would have liked! It is a smaller band than usual, as we only got the gig at 3 days notice when another band dropped out. Needless to say we have already been booked for this year.

[imperialbari]

You changed your posting? I looked at the St. Lucia video not aware of the geographics, and man did I get a shock. I though it was in the UK, and suddenly there were these all-black troops, which I associate with WWI USA. Only then I became aware we were in the Caribbean area .

About the Veteran parade a few notes:

Why hire a band, if one doesn’t march to the beat? Your bass drum was very audible and even i could hear the different beats to left and right foot.

And the bass drum also is the key for the next note. If you don’t use sousaphones as a visual and sonic effect, the bass drum is the main rhythm factor to keep the music and the marching together. I might have wanted that bass drum being a bit more ahead of the beat though. Maybe also a smaller and more concise instrument chosen for the road. As you may know from the excellent marine band of Southampton, the bass melody is best represented by the bass trombone, when there are no sousaphones. What is then the function of the tubas? I would say they are there for the band to keep the chord structure and the intonation together.

This is not an original observation of mine. Not at all. That is what the back row of sousaphones does in US military bands. Our lifeguard marches 5 abreast in 7 rows, 4th row being the percussion and the marching Glockenspiel called a lyre.First row has tubas on the end, 3 bones in the middle. Originally a rotary bass tuba at the right and a top valved BBb at the left. To control the intonation of the woodwinds down back, the 2nd BBb was placed in the 5th row. All tubas blowing inside towards the band. Had you marched on the right side, the band would have sounded better because the players had been able to hear the bass.

Klaus

[Wyvern]

You changed your posting? I looked at the St. Lucia video not aware of the geographics, and man did I get a shock.

Sorry about that Klaus. Posted the St.Lucia link, then realised there was the more recent Remembrance parade video.

What is then the function of the tubas? I would say they are there for the band to keep the chord structure and the intonation together...Had you marched on the right side, the band would have sounded better because the players had been able to hear the bass.

Interesting thought which I don't know if I entirely subscribe as it is not the British way? I always march on the left side, and the top valve Eb on the right side unless on the counter march. In the UK the tubas always march near the front with the upper brass and woodwind behind so they don't blow across the band anyway. I noticed in Germany the tubas all on the right row playing across the band providing the function you describe.

Back to the subject of amplification, it sounds like won't work for the travel tuba with concert band, so I really have the options of either doing my best with it un-amplified by playing the upper part taking care not to over blow and loose the tuba tone - or risk taking the PT-15?

[imperialbari]

Lets be cynical! You wanna go to Malta with friends and maybe even buy a ticket for missus. I had a trombone teacher once saying he never took his wife on band or orchestra tours: Costs are doubled, fun is halved. I don’t think that is your attitude, so who would blame you for taking part in the social fun.

How often have you been the lone tuba in band performances? Who would dare blaming you for taking a lesser workload this time? Would every 3rd clarinet or 2nd flute pass the test of standards set for tubists, as tubists are some of those who really can wreck a performance, if they can’t play?

Take the little F and put the spare arm around missus.

Klaus

[Wyvern]

even buy a ticket for missus.

Of course Mei is coming with me - I would not want to go without her.

Take the little F and put the spare arm around missus.

Now that's a thought!

[swillafew]

I could write an essay about all the work you are proposing, but instead I'll recommend the purchase of a worthy road case for one tuba.

[Wyvern]

I could write an essay about all the work you are proposing, but instead I'll recommend the purchase of a worthy road case for one tuba.

Not asking for essay, but could you briefly explain?

[Chriss2760]

Mic: Sennheiser e602-II.
Amp: Peavey TNT 115 BW.
I don't believe a better system exists for amping a tuba.
Check it out.

[imperialbari]

Mic: Sennheiser e602-II.
Amp: Peavey TNT 115 BW.
I don't believe a better system exists for amping a tuba.
Check it out.

Surely a great set-up, and then it doesn’t at all forfeit the purpose of bringing a little traveling F tuba.

K