Advantages vs. disadvantages of playing with a stand

[Lectron]

Same problem as some others where to place my feet with a big tripod between'em

This one might be a step in the right direction thou..
Can be had with extension for standing, and maybe some wheels for Bloke

[MartyNeilan]

Choice C:
Seat the horn on the chair between your legs, and have the leadpipe raised or lowered (unless you are lucky enough that it is the right position.)

Weight of horn is on the chair and not you; you are only balancing the tuba. Probably increased resonance as well.

[ppalan]

Lectron,
Is that stand actually available? If so, where are they sold?
Pete

[Dan Schultz]

I use a stand 99.9% of the time. The only time I don't is if I forget to take it along. The DEG stand is the 2nd best stand available next to the Baltimore Brass one. The only reason why I chose the DEG stand over the BB one is price. The DEG stand fits nicely into my Manhassett 'Voyager' stand bag (with the stand) along with a music folder, mouthpiece bag, and ConcertLight when I think I'll need it.

I generally locate two legs of the tripod behind the front legs of the chair I'm sitting in. I do that with the adjusting knob at about 45 degrees to the right of front so I can get to it easily with my right hand. I start by adjusting the stand height to a level about the height of the top of the chair seat and make an adjustment after raising the horn for the first time (with the horn laying safely across my lap. Sit up straight and align the mouthpiece to your face in a comfortable location. One thing I've noticed though.... if I adjust the stand so the mouthpiece is at the upper limit of my stance... it will be a bit too high after I actually start playing and have to adjust it back down a bit. I think this is due to the fact that both the chair (if cushioned) and my body tends to collapse a bit after sitting for a while. (maybe my *** just flattens out a bit!).

Now... with the DEG stand situated so two of the legs are behind the front legs of my chair... that puts the the third leg of the stand straight ahead. I position my music stand in the same attitude so two of it's legs are clear of the forward leg of the DEG stand and one is pointing straight ahead.

It took a few times to figure all of this out but I've found myself to be a creature of habit and just begin by setting things up the same way each time. I've only had a couple of times that this layout hasn't worked. Last night... the only chairs available were the ones in a dining room that had arms on them. In this case... I had to sit way forward in the chair and the back to legs of the DEG stand were IN FRONT of the chair legs. A little inconvenient because I had to stay well-aware of where the top of the stand was when I raised my horn.

I played a gig on Sunday where I had to move from one location to another rather quickly. When I moved... I left the stand behind. I really missed the stand for that 20 minutes but fortunately I was playing my King... which rests in my lap nicely and the leadpipe is at a convenient height.

I don't have any scientific evidence to back up my claim. But... I think the sound production from a tuba is more efficient the less contact it has with items that can stop the horn from resonating... such as the player's body. Sitting the horn on a stand and only touching it with my two hands and mouth seems to allow it to produce the timber I want.

The only disadvantage I can think of is when you forget the stand once you are used to it!

[Lectron]

Lectron,
Is that stand actually available? If so, where are they sold?
Pete

Not sure about the availability right now.
Seems to be in stock 21st November

Tools 4 Winds Tuba Stick

[scottw]

Lectron,
Is that stand actually available? If so, where are they sold?
Pete

Not sure about the availability right now.
Seems to be in stock 21st November

Tools 4 Winds Tuba Stick

Interesting look, but I wonder if all those nuts and bolts enable it to fold quickly and easily, w/o a wrench? No mention of weight, either. It seems, too, that it might lack the stability of the BBC or K&M or even DEG? Anyone ever try this?
The price seems way out of whack for us in the USA [compared to the other alternatives] at 115 euros + shipping from Germany.

[Mark]

I always use a stand. For me, the advantages outweigh the disavantages.

The disadvantages that bother me the most:

1) Positioning the stand so that it does not interfere with my feet.

2) Standing for conductor or applause.

3) If the rep requires a quick switch of tubas (e.g. Pictures), there may not be time to adjust the height of the stand.

[Kory101]

3) If the rep requires a quick switch of tubas (e.g. Pictures), there may not be time to adjust the height of the stand.

That's where my stand comes in to play. The mechanism that Neil has built allows for a speedy change. You simply set the height needed for both tubas and in 2 seconds you can switch to the perfect height for your tubas in the chair you're using.

Another plug for this stand...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=46729

[Lectron]

It seems, too, that it might lack the stability of the BBC or K&M or even DEG?

That stability is really something I'd like to avoid.
I would sometimes appreciate support/aid but not
the static positioning as many stands gives and even
tells you where to put your feet.

For crying out loud..I don't exactly sit still while playing....

[imperialbari]

Hardly, as he appears very pleased with this hollow mirror photo.

[eupher61]

Tying two threads into one, I've played F almost exclusively for 25 years or so. I've flirted with other things, had a BBb sousie, a CC Piggy, and do have a 3/4 BBb now, but between my PT-10 and my F helicon, I rarely use the BBb.

And, I use a BBC rest for the PT-10. My convex front doesn't mesh well with the essentially flat back side of the B&S, and I've felt discomfort when playing for a long time, just never thought about it. The stand/rest, whichever, is perfect. The only time I have any problem is when the chair is particularly lousy, or I sit on a stool which is too tall. It's made a lot of difference, and I have no problem turning, while playing, to try and figure out what is happening across the stage or in the audience.

[eupher61]

For the person whose "best position" is to tilt the tuba near 45 degrees - adapting to a stand might be a bit difficult. The stands work best if the tuba is more-or-less upright with its center of gravity over the stand.

I almost always have my tuba on the stand at less than a 45º angle, but certainly not straight up. Call it 60º, at most, no where near straight up. That's why the rest is curved, to accomodate the curvature of the instrument.

[sloan]

In the best possible position, [me] using a playing stand for more than a few minutes (regardless of the tuba) has always resulted in a stiff neck and a sore wrist.

It's a poor workman who blames his tools.

[Mark]

I would imagine that I would eat less dinner if expected to sit on a chainsaw.

I think you are confused. You are supposed to sit on a chair and use a chainsaw as a tuba stand.

[imperialbari]

What puts the "ape" in ape-ricot?

Or the intelligent design version:

Who put the app in appricot?

[Steve Marcus]

I use a BBC stand for many of the reasons that have been enumerated in this thread. I still own a K&M stand (any offers?), but I abandoned it because it doesn't allow the tuba to be placed at a sufficiently low height for a short player. The BBC stand does, and I find the manner in which it folds up very practical for sticking in a gig bag without adding significant weight while carting my gear.

One of the advantages of using a stand was reinforced this week for me: playing different horns and adjusting the height of the stand's cradle for comfort rather than making any adjustments to the position of the horn, body, etc. I keep the BBC stand in its lowest position for my 4/4 Nirschl and for a Neptune that I recently borrowed, while, as one might expect, I raise the cradle for my 983. I was initially surprised that I actually have to raise the cradle to accommodate a 2165. For all its huge girth, the receiver on the 2165, with presumably its original leadpipe at its factory-set height, is closer to the bottom bow than the other horns that I've mentioned. Raising the cradle of the stand eliminates any need to make other significant adjustments in playing position.