On playing BBb

[jeopardymaster]

I almost wrote "screw you too" but decided to let it pass.

[Bob Kolada]

I'd heard you had one Sam, thanks for posting your thoughts on the horn!

[iiipopes]

If my band director wasn't so crazy about the sound of the King I'd be tempted to play my Gnagey (a horn I truly love to play), but the King does fill a room like nobody's business.

Exactly. A used King (or Miraphone 186) will always be better than a new, er, I'll just leave it at that, for the same price.

[bigbob]

Oh Great now that I got my gnagey-phone CC you all talk about BBb.....bummer <s>

[bigbob]

Oh Great now that I got my gnagey-phone CC you all talk about BBb.....bummer <s>

If you have a beautiful horn that you love to play - that is all that matters! I seriously doubt that anyone listening can tell if you are playing a BBb or a CC, anyhow!

WELL! are you telling me that I play that badly???<S>Ha Ha I know.. no one plays in this neighborhood I'm glad it's still cold enough to have the windows closed..I play 6 times during the day in little 1/2hour sections my 4th valve seems a little off I hope I can fix it<s>...Sam any advice on tuning your first6/4 horn in CC?? ....................BB

[iiipopes]

The final argument for adopting BBb instead of CC: the fundamental pitch of the universe is Bb:
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sc ... olesounds/" target="_blank

[knarfman]

The final argument for adopting BBb instead of CC: the fundamental pitch of the universe is Bb:
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sc ... olesounds/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

The universe uses long tones too. The black hole's been playing that Bb for 2.5 billion years!

[toobagrowl]

Most so-called "intermediate" 4/4 size 4v BBb tubas play better in tune than do most so-called "professional" 4/4 - 5/4 size 5v CC tubas. I agree that CC tubas tend to project just a bit louder, with more 'punch' than comparable BBb tubas. This gives the impression of a "brighter" sound, even if the CC actually has more weight/fundamental in the sound. But in general, BBb tubas - to me - offer an overall smoother sound and better 'legato' playing to comparable CC tubas.
You can compare them with peanut butter.....

CC tubas: chunky peanut butter; BBb tubas: smooth peanut butter.

[Michael Bush]

Most so-called "intermediate" 4/4 size 4v BBb tubas play better in tune than do most so-called "professional" 4/4 - 5/4 size 5v CC tubas. I agree that CC tubas tend to project just a bit louder, with more 'punch' than comparable BBb tubas. This gives the impression of a "brighter" sound, even if the CC actually has more weight/fundamental in the sound. But in general, BBb tubas - to me - offer an overall smoother sound and better 'legato' playing to comparable CC tubas.
You can compare them with peanut butter.....

CC tubas: chunky peanut butter; BBb tubas: smooth peanut butter.

Since bloke performed the miracle of raising this three hour old thread from the dead, I (who spent my first couple of years on here advocating for BBb tubas but now own nothing but a CC and two Fs) will say that I will no doubt go back to BBb sometime, but for the opposite of these reasons. I find smooth legato playing much easier on CC and F. The thing I love about BBb is the chunky, pesante, growling seriousness of it.

[MartyNeilan]

The final argument for adopting BBb instead of CC: the fundamental pitch of the universe is Bb:
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sc ... olesounds/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Alligators like it, too.
http://m.upi.com/story/UPI-16101181327395/

[tofu]

[Michael Bush]

be it known, bad boys...

Boast your BBb belongings or bemoanings, but I - being the beast with the best - boast bling beguilingly.

Holton BB-345.jpg

~~~ Baltone CCb tuba - product of India ~~~

That is a magnificent looking tuba.

[Steve Marcus]

be it known, bad boys...

Boast your BBb belongings or bemoanings, but I - being the beast with the best - boast bling beguilingly.

O Hail to Thee and blast upon thy bodacious body of beautiful brass* with its bounteous bell.

Sorry, bloke, I was referring to the horn in all sincerity, not necessarily its owner...

*OK, the satin silver is splendiferous [while we're adhering to alliteration]

[Jay Bertolet]

From Wind and Song, Jake auditioned for Curtis on an Eb with the fourth valve strapped down.

Could you imagine that happening today? What do you think would happen if a student came in with a junk horn with a valve strapped down?

Funny story, that. I once played an audition for the Pittsburgh Symphony (back when Sumner Erickson won the spot). The excerpt from Benvenuto Cellini was on the list and I had the choice of playing it on:

1) A school owned MW 5rv F tuba that I absolutely hated. The valves stuck all the time, it had horrible intonation, and I had personally fought with that tuba for many months prior.

2) My own 3v top-action American Standard Eb tuba. I acquired the horn when I was in high school, while on a tour of the upper peninsula of Michigan. It was in the storage area of an old high school auditorium that was about to be torn down. The band director said we could have anything in there and I found this tuba. Half the braces were missing, as were all of the finger buttons. I brought the horn home and my mother thought it was not a playable horn so when she was decorating the house for my graduation party she spray painted it with gold paint, stuffed some flowers in the bell, and wired it to a tree in the backyard.

I brought both horns with me to the audition, thinking I would play both the morning of the audition and use the one I felt best on. You should have seen the face on the proctor when I carried that Eb on stage. Priceless.

[iiipopes]

The final argument for adopting BBb instead of CC: the fundamental pitch of the universe is Bb:
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sc ... olesounds/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Alligators like it, too.
http://m.upi.com/story/UPI-16101181327395/

There you have it: Bb it is; from here to eternity.

[Steve Marcus]

There you have it: Bb it is; from here to eternity.

That's even the key in which Sinatra sang "From Here to Eternity!"

[bort]

How did Bb become the starting point anyway? Part of my appeal for CC tuba is that it starts with no flats or sharps. It's like counting from zero or beginning from the starting line. Playing BBb always feels like counting from -2, or lining up a step behind the starting line. Of course, that also comes from having 3 years of playing on BBb tubas, and 14 on CC tubas.

I know, it doesn't really matter. But come on, I'm a tuba player, don't make me think...

[iiipopes]

How did Bb become the starting point anyway?

Adolphe Sax

[David Richoux]

The final argument for adopting BBb instead of CC: the fundamental pitch of the universe is Bb:
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sc ... olesounds/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Alligators like it, too.
http://m.upi.com/story/UPI-16101181327395/

There you have it: Bb it is; from here to eternity.

Way back in the late 1970s or early 1980s there was an international Eb "Hum" that went on for 24 hours - supposedly to resonate with the pitch of the rumble our earth puts out. We gathered several dozen musicians in the San Jose CA area to play for a few hours in the key of Eb when our time on the wheel came around. This was well before Teh Internets were popular, so I have no idea if anybody else actually participated in this silly thing, but we had some fun with it.

On a slightly similar pitch - one of my bands participated in several of the the Sausalito "Humming Toad Fish Festival"

[Jess Haney]

want