Stand Your Ground...err...Your Tuba

[Steve Marcus]

This poll is only for those who place their tuba(s) in a tuba stand while playing.

This is NOT intended as a pro/con discussion of the merits of playing with or without a tuba stand.

Those who never use a tuba stand, please do not make an entry in the poll itself. Of course, you are welcome to submit any comment that is relevant.

Thank you!

[Wyvern]

For me there are some tubas for which the use of stand is unnecessary, others where it is a nice to have and others essential for comfortable playing.

I do not usually use with 3+1 compensated EEb tuba, but have on very long gigs, such as recent two day recording session where I find my back starting to ache if playing without.

Other tubas such as the B&S PT-20 and Wessex CC I can play without stand, but find nice to have if no problem taking.

While tubas i have played such as Neptune, MW 2040/5 and compensated BBb I find the use of stand essential. I will be uncomfortable very quickly if not using and will not play my best

[J.c. Sherman]

I use a stand only with my Eb Imperial; I used to use it on my Kalison DS.

Currently, I don't need it for my contras or my 622 F. They sit nicely on my lap

[Ben]

I use the stand for my big tubas (breathing, weight, and MP placement consistency)
I use the stand for my small tubas (alleviates neck pain from hunching)

win win for me.

[Timswisstuba]

I use a stand only when I need to play the 26J standing.

[bigbob]

I have been using a tuba tamer for the last 3 months since the knee replacement normaly I hold it in my lap but the stand is kind of nice...who knows I may use it all the time<s>...My wife calls me to eat I just stand up and go... where when in my lap I have to carefully put it down on the bell so it's flat on the floor and make sure nothings underneith of it....BB

[mjrctuba]

I started using the Baltimore Brass stand with my CC and now use it with all my horns because I like the way it frees up my body to concentrate on blowing rather than holding and blowing.

[oedipoes]

used my BBC tuba rest for the Willson 3100, but not any more,
I now use a piece of drawer liner to keep the tuba from slipping away from my lap and it works fine.

use the BBC tuba rest for my Besson 994 BBb compensator (still very much uncomfortable, but using a stand is for me the only way to play it...)

Wim

[tofu]

I don't use with bass tubas - sometimes with contrabass. It depends on the horn and the venue. If stage space is really tight I won't use it. It also depends on the ergonomics of the contrabass I'm using for a particular concert.

[bigbob]

I don't use with bass tubas - sometimes with contrabass. It depends on the horn and the venue. If stage space is really tight I won't use it. It also depends on the ergonomics of the contrabass I'm using for a particular concert.

tofu...what is the differance between Contrabass and Bass?? I have a 6/4 is it considered a Bass?? Thanks..BB

[ken k]

I have a Stewart Stand mounted to both my Boosey & Hawkes Eb Imperial and my old Beuscher BBb.

The leadpipe on the Eb is too low and the horn needs to be raised in order for it to reach my mouth. After years of using rubber drum pads on the chair between my legs, I started using the stewart stand. I liked it so much I had it mounted directly onto the tuba rather than deal with the velcro straps on the Stewart Stand all the time.



I did a similar thing when I redesigned my Buescher. The horn is reconfigured to sit directly on the floor in front of me. I mounted a stewart stand onto it also. The height is adjustable so I can play it sitting in a chair, on a stool, or standing.



The nice benefit of using a stand is not having to support the weight of the horn.

[Paul Scott]

I play a large Martin BBb tuba and will use a playing stand if a good, solid chair is not available. Since the Martin's leadpipe is fully adjustable, a chair with a large, flat seat (a Wenger chair, for example) is ideal for me and no stand is needed.

In my opinion the worst chairs are those white plastic folding "catering" chairs and if I have to deal with those I'll use a playing stand every time. I prefer the M&M stands because they have a lock-pin and will not slip.

[ghmerrill]

Here is the home-made stand that I use (and have used it with small a small Eb tuba, a full-size BBb horn, and my EEb 981 clone). It's not pretty, but it's very comfortable, adjustable, and effective. The components are a 3/4" piece of plywood, an "under-cushion" of dense foam (pirated from some kayak stuff), an "over-cushion" from WalMart, some pieces of PVC pipe, and a few pieces of hardware to make the adjusting and knob sub-assembly. I found that adding the under-cushion was necessary in order to achieve the comfort required for longer periods of time. With the ability to adjust the height of the support, it works on any kind of chair -- and makes the result comfortable as well. Being able to adjust the (horizontal) angle of the tuba is necessary -- especially if you want to use it for different instruments (and particularly if one is a top-valve and the other a front-valve). It fits (along with a bunch of other stuff) in the nice percussionist equipment bag I got a couple of months ago to carry all my tuba support junk in.

SeatStand.JPG

[aqualung]

Had to play a behemoth Besson 994, and I am short-waisted.

An inverted plastic 5gal bucket held the horn at the perfect height. Covered it with a dark cloth for concerts.

[Lew]

I have a K&M tuba playing stand that I have used, but only with my BATs. I used it with my Conn 21J and my King 1291. The main reason I used it was that those things felt like they were built out of lead. The King especially seemed like they found the heaviest gauge brass they could think of to build it. I could play with it on my lap, but my legs would hurt after a short time and the leadpipe was too high to be comfortable that way too. A long time ago I did have a smaller tuba for which I used a stand because the leadpipe was just too low for me to be able to find a comfortable playing position without bending over. I never really liked using the stand, but for some horns it was just a necessity. Fortunately I don't need it for the horns I am playing now (King 2341 and Besson 983).

[eupher61]

BBC for Martin BBb and B&S F. Conn Eb is easy enough to hold.

[jeopardymaster]

I use it pretty much whenever I play the Neptune, most of the time when I play the Gnagey or either BBb. Better with the BBbs because otherwise any tarnish built up around the bottom bow of the horn will wind up on my pants. Another reason to use it - it's way easier turning pages with the horn on the stand. Biggest reason ever to decide not to - it's one more thing to carry.