What kind of Tuba is Toby Hanks playing . . .

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 9:40 am

I'm sure someone here will know this: What tuba(s) was Toby Hanks playing on when he made the "Sampler" album? What kind of tuba is he using now?
I've always admired his musicality and tone, and the "Sampler" recording has always been the most inspiring recording of the tuba I've ever heard. Lots of great recordings out there, true, but that particular one trips my trigger more than the others, with Michael Lind's recordings running close 2nd. But I know he almost always plays that old Alexander F. Thanks!

Norm Pearson · Post by **Norm Pearson** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:20 am

He played a 6 valve B&S Symphonie F tuba on the recording.

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:04 am

Thanks, Norm. I've always wondered what he was using.

Phil Dawson · Post by **Phil Dawson** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:14 pm

Last I heard he just plain played really good tuba and I don't think that the size and shape etc of the horn made much difference.
Phil

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:45 pm

Gee . . . thanks, Phil. That was really helpful, too. <not>

If it didn't matter, why doesn't he just play the cheapest one he can get his hands on? Why don't you? As a matter of fact, if it doesn't matter, why is there more than one manufacturer/model/key of tuba being made? Hmmm . . .

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 3:51 pm

jonesbrass wrote:Gee . . . thanks, Phil. That was really helpful, too. <not>

If it didn't matter, why doesn't he just play the cheapest one he can get his hands on? Why don't you? As a matter of fact, if it doesn't matter, why is there more than one manufacturer/model/key of tuba being made? Hmmm . . .

You took his response too literally. No need for the sarcastic response.

phoenix · Post by **phoenix** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:52 am

yea dude, chill out. haha...

shiskabobnut · Post by **shiskabobnut** » Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:55 pm

Hate to bring this post back from the dead, but does anyone know the tuba he used on From the Shores of The Mighty Pacific?

toobagrowl · Post by **toobagrowl** » Sat Apr 18, 2015 8:00 pm

shiskabobnut wrote:Hate to bring this post back from the dead, but does anyone know the tuba he used on From the Shores of The Mighty Pacific?

Years ago I personally asked Toby which tubas he used on the 'Sampler' album. He told me he used a B&S F and a Holton 4/4 CC. So it sounds like he may have used the Holton 4/4 CC on From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific. I think he also used the Holton 4/4 CC on the Hindemith pieces.

I have the re-issued CD release of 'Sampler', which has a few added tunes that the original LP does not. I believe he used a Yamaha 822 F on Elegy for the Whale, but don't quote me on it.

Very clean, musical playing

gary · Post by **gary** » Sun Apr 19, 2015 4:33 pm

I also asked Toby about the horns on the recording and the B&S and the Holton are the ones he used. The first side of the album, Fantasy, 3 Easy Pieces, and Dances were on F tuba and the second side, Tomasi, Reck and Shores were all on CC. He was the most musical tuba player I've ever heard and had a gorgeous sound.

hbcrandy · Post by **hbcrandy** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:33 pm

jonesbrass wrote:What kind of tuba is he using now?

To the best of my knowledge, Toby has retired from tuba playing.

eutubabone · Post by **eutubabone** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:52 am

hey, that holton 4/4 CC that Toby was playing- I seem to remember James Linn at Ithaca College had one in his studio that Toby Hanks was admiring when he visited back in the late 70's when I was working on my masters. James Linn owned a plethora of tubas back then. Did Tobey purchase his holton from James Linn? I seem to remember a conversation in the studio about Tobey liking Linn's 4/4 CC but I don't know if James Linn actually sold it to Tobey or not. I studied with James Linn right before he retired and then Dave Unland was hired for the tuba position at IC. ( I think David Randolph and Steve Bryant were in the running for the position at that time also.) Anybody know anything about the Holton CC? Just curious.

Frank Ortega · Post by **Frank Ortega** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:06 am

I borrowed that tuba from Toby for most of my senior year at MSM in 1991-92.
At that time, he told me that his wife Lynn found it at a Flea Market and called him down to look at it.
I think he bought it on the spot for like $150! That was the scoop as far as I can remember it.

eutubabone · Post by **eutubabone** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:17 am

Whoa. That's incredible find! I remember them talking about Linn's Holton CC but Tobey obviously found something better!

roweenie · Post by **roweenie** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 4:41 pm

I hope Toby doesn't mind if I post this photo, but I think it's really cool -

P.S. -The only thing that was more cool than this picture (and horn) is how he played it.

Bob Kolada · Post by **Bob Kolada** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 5:29 pm

What a beard! Reminds me of that picture of Roger Bobo's trumpet themed brass quintet.

Art Hovey · Post by **Art Hovey** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:57 pm

Another photo disappears before some of us could see it!

TubeNet

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