Splatting?

[D_goneCold]

So, I was playing around on our sousaphone in our band rehearsal today, I'm a college student, and I was scolded for splatting and playing with an uncharacteristic tone. This really puzzled me though, because internally I felt the same as when I play FFF on a concert horn. When I play like that on a concert horn, the tone has never been described as splatty or uncharacteristic. Is there something about a sousaphone that makes a lot of our (as in tuba) member base biased to say a loud sousaphone is a splatty sousaphone? Or am I just wrong in thinking that they should be played the same when extra UMPH is wanted?

[D_goneCold]

I don't get many chances to practice my volume on the sousaphone, but I usually do when I find time to practice on the CC that we have. How would you suggest mastering a nice sound at the upper-limit volume levels?

[swillafew]

Outdoor playing aggravates all the things you practice. Force yourself to concentrate on breathing more than normal, you will be rewarded.

[iiipopes]

What kind of sousaphone was it? Yes, first, make sure that the technique is there. But there are also some souzys, like the Jupiters from a few years ago (and even possibly now) that the metal is so thin that no amount of proper technique and mastery will overcome the inherent splat of the horn itself.

[JCalkin]

Could be the bell right at the director. Could be you were just overblowing.

What kind of Sousy, and what kind of CC are you using? Many Sousaphones have a bore in the .687 range, while the new standard for piston CCs is .748. Rotary CCs tend to be even larger. I have a 20K with a .734 bore and if I try to pump air through it like I do my RM 50 CC (its bore being well over .800) the Sousy can get a bit barky.

[D_goneCold]

Ah Red... one of my favorite characters from That 70's Show.

Now to the serious posts!
We use yamaha sousaphones. I'm not sure of the bore size though. After talking to a couple of other tuba players (after they read this) one brought up that the bore on the yamaha was around .728(I think?) So I guess I was just overblowing the horn :/

[k001k47]

double post

[k001k47]

Now to the serious posts!

I don't know...Dale seemed dead serious

[D_goneCold]

I know it wasn't, Bloke, and I appreciate the insight.

We were outdoors and he is used to hearing me on concert tuba, but I only play loud on a concert horn when I'm practicing on my own. The problem has been solved and it's staying solved. Thank you all for your input!

[Douglas]

Dumbass, don't act stupid. You know what you sounded like

Good use of Red! +1 x 10000000000000 on knowing what you sound like. It's all on you.

Doug