Low Volume Edge

[bigtubby]

Not wanting to beat the "Edge" topic to death but something mentioned in one of the threads has me thinking:

... I have always wanted to be able to sound just very slightly "edgy" in my playing on demand like a cretin snufuluffaguss without ever getting
any louder then I usually play. Ron can do it very quietly but also has a fine orchestral tune on demand too. I envy him. ...

I've been using a tiny Schuster "Army" model BBb mainly for one reason: I play with acoustic string instruments (guitar, banjo, etc.). Part of the Dixieland sound that was emulated by country musicians is a slightly overblown "edge". The little Schuster lets me go there without drowning everyone else out.

I own some full size and larger tubas that have better voices than the Schuster BUT they don't allow me that "edge" (bite, bark, growl, whatever) without becoming overbearing.

So my question is: Who is Ron and will he share his secrets?

Seriously, any input from the many experienced players here would be greatly appreciated. At one time I thought that it was mainly attack but heven't figured out how to do it without playing pretty loudly.

The sort of sound that I am after is like this Tuba Fats bit from the late 1990's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=movgiBhpcbM

[bigtubby]

Round-would strings, treble knobs up, & a 15W practice amp should do the trick.

How interesting that you would post this. This evening I plugged an ancient large shank mouthpiece into the La Sete instead of the American shank Bach 18 and Miraphone TU25 I've been using. It seems to produce precisely the effect you describe: more clarity and punch but with a loss of depth. It also seems to help me in the upper registers. Tomorrow I will record myself with these different mouthpieces to see if I'm actually losing the thick timbre ... is that the complete answer?

Thank you!

Edit
Round wound (wouldn't use anything else), tone toward treble and 6.5" speaker in a little amplifier:

[k001k47]

How would one produce low volume edge while singing? The concept is analogous ; he source of vibration is just in a different spot. (air is to sound as string is to sound. Tuba: amp. I guess the mouthpiece is the equalizer. . . I dont know) Also, add in that "how tight do I have to squeeze?" concept, or rather, abandon it.

That's how I think of messing with timbre. It's not the proper, or universal way of going about it: just my two cents.

Well, there you have it. I'll stop making a jacka** of myself now (do I ever?). As you were , gentlemen.

[k001k47]

How would one produce low volume edge while singing?

The Valsalva maneuver serves several biological purposes in real life. At least one of them will put some edge on your tone...

http://thedeepend-comic.blogspot.com/20 ... t.html?m=1

[k001k47]

Oh. That was the question. Guess I cant read.

[bigtubby]

Oh. That was the question. Guess I cant read.

The real question was asking for advice from more experienced players. Yourreply was very helpful and I thank you.

Working on it ...

[k001k47]

Oh. That was the question. Guess I cant read.

from more experienced players. Yourreply was very helpful and I thank you.

Working on it ...

You're welcome. I'm humbled.
I'm a 'gigless wannabe', and a pretty mediocre player, so take the words with a grain of salt.