Stofer inspired Tuba "rest"

[davidgilbreath]

After many conversations with Lee about raising the leadpipe on my Kanstul 900-4v BBb (with his frequent references to co$t as well as cosmetic repair) Lee convinced me to come up with another way.

I have become more perspicacious about my posture since my cervical spine fusion surgery in June. Along with this, all five of my lumbar discs are mildly herniated but no surgery is required. Maintaining good playing posture, in addition to being the right thing, has become a great weapon against pain.

The BBC tuba rest didn't solve enough problems as I need to maintain support for my lumbar area whilst playing. Long story short, Lee suggested using some type of athletic wrap. I bought a $12 knee wrap from Walgreen and cannibalized the cup portion of the BBC rest; the end results (still working on refinements) are in the pictures below:


This keeps the "beast" off my thighs and raises the horn to a much more comfortable level. I no longer have to bend my neck to the mouthpiece and I can sit all the way back in an appropriate chair (my church purchased some good quality musicians' chairs). Airflow has improved (duh) and pain virtually eliminated. The other tuba player in the ensembles has his own invention (will post pic of it after our concerts are finished.) Next battle is with the ample belly, but that begins in 2014.

[Wyvern]

That looks a good idea David. A few British professional tubist have a spike fitting soldered on the bottom of their Eb tubas which serves much the same purpose

[Art Hovey]

Your creative use of materials is admirable. Does it stay in place on the tuba?
I have been using this one for about 10 years:

http://www.galvanizedjazz.com/tuba/tuba-support.html

It still works. I only had to replace the rubber cane tip once.

[ken k]

I have had stewart stands mounted on two of my horns. they work very well.





k

[eupher61]

The lumbar support was a factor for me, also. I ended up getting a Tama drummer's throne with a back support. The back rest is adjustable and at a great position for me, and the seat is small enough that I can use the BBC stand and still have the back support. I have about an inch of clearance behind me, so I can actually lean back during rests.

My solution is not nearly as cool as yours or Art's, though.

[davidgilbreath]

Jonathan, I saw the tuba assists you mentioned (a couple of years ago) and those were the seeds that started this whole endeavour/endeavor.

Art, your innovation was the genesis for my tinkering after I spoke with Lee. I knew that I wanted to use the cup from the BBC rest and your photo eventually led to using a piece of four inch long 3/4" doweling placed in the hole (with a crutch tip on the end). Yes, it does move around if I don't wrap it tightly but I often leave a little slack to adjust it to the specific chair in which I sit. When I sit on a very well-padded chair I put the doweling in. The crutch tip helps with stability and I can adjust the depth of the dowel to affect the height of the horn. I really wanted to use metal BBC one, but doweling is way too cheap not to use. What I'd really like is to use a K&G cup since it seems better proportioned for big bottomed bow horns.

Steve, I seriously considered the Tama throne but the cervical spine fusion necessitates that I have some upper back support as well.

Brothers Ken and Curmudgeon, I spent time looking at the Stewart and discussed it with Lee. One of the tuba studs in Atlanta (Lee can tell you more) had to take his ax to Lee for repair after using one. I didn't want to pay the price for a Stewart and then have similar issues as I can destroy an anvil with a rubber hammer.

I have included pics of my section-mate's improvisation using wood (he plays a King 1140). Neither of us are little guys but we don't completely envelop the chair bottom

[davidgilbreath]

Had to remove the rest last night as it proved to be too tall even with the padded chair. Found a high spot toward the front end of the seat and everything went well, except too many clams came to the party.

[eupher61]

you may want or need to find a chair to take with you. When I bought that Tama throne, I was actually looking for a low barstool-type chair, with a fairly small seat and a backrest more toward the thoracic. I never found it.

But, if you have one at home that works, I'd suggest taking that with you. You never know what you will be sitting on otherwise.

[Lee Stofer]

On my big band gigs, I always take a formerly Chili's bar stool, which is just the right height to play bass, and works well-enough for playing a big BBb recording bass, too, since I switch instruments during the gigs. If I ever forget to bring the stool, it is not a fun night . . . . . .

[davidgilbreath]

Steve, thanks for the input. I've been looking at chairs since a month before my surgery. Since I played at my own church, I already knew the quality of our chairs. It just so happened this time I got one where the padding hadn't compressed quite as much as the others, so off came the "rest". No issues at all in either concert.

My cervical spine fusion surgery has completely altered my SOP in an ensemble setting. Six of my seven groups always sit and the seventh will most likely do so as well (small dixieland/gospel group). When any of the groups play outside of the normal venue, I now ask about seating at first notice and make arrangements. I have an "emergency" lumbar support cushion in my truck just in case the chairs are pitiful. The "rest" always comes with me.

My surgeon has ordered me not to put any load over 20 lbs on my shoulders until I am 12 months out from surgery. (He has permitted me to tote my Conn-Wurlitzer in the Altieri bag since the combined weight is just under 20 lbs.) So I put my Kanstul in the MTS case and roll in like a tank (I'm 6'4' and 282+). That combination weighs about 50-52 pounds and I don't want to tote anything else (except for plastic stand and music). Six months of intense physical therapy has revitalized my range of motion. I can get plenty of exposed chair bottom due to increased flexibility, thus giving the "rest" something sit on.

I lost large amounts of weight before (and am starting again) so I know first-hand about the reduction in joint aches and pains. I always appreciate the feedback on TubeNet. Lots of good foks on here.

[bigtubby]

Thanks for this thread! I'm 6'3" mostly in the torso. Two of my favorite tubas have leadpipes that are vaguely 3" too low. Some great suggestions here.