Fun stuff happens here. There are some pretty strong personalities here and that keeps things interesting. I enjoy playing the tuba and like to hear about what other tubists are doing. Gear and gizmos are always fun and I've found out a lot of good information here. And the occasional pictures of Beer Girls and Bratwurst can't be beat.
Yes, what the Big Ben said, that's what it is for me too. I don't often write something because I don't often think I have something relevant to contribute but I enjoy my daily visit to tubenet.
Not to sound trite, but I come mostly to learn. There are lots of years and lots of experience represented here. Some of the ideas I read are great; others not so much, but I learn something every time I read. Also picked up my new favorite mouthpiece by browsing here. The mouthpiece that used to work great with my Meinl-Weston model 30 CC doesn't work at all well with my Mack CC, but I found one that does by reading here. There is a lot of entertainment as well. I like to read Bloke's posts, whether they be about playing, about maintenance and repair, or just plain fun. I really get a kick out of everyone here, and I've gained a bit playing-wise in my elder age.
I check in on TubeNet almost every morning:
1) So that I can be better prepared to answer work phone calls and emails and not be blindsided. Sometimes manufacturers tell individuals things before they tell the dealers and it then gets posted on TubeNet before I was ever told anything.
2) It’s a bit addictive like gambling could be because the payout only happens once in a while. Once in a blue moon a nugget of thought or information is posted on TubeNet that feels like hitting the Jack Pot in my tuba geek brain. Most of the time it is harmless chatter that is often not exactly right but I can understand how someone might perceive such a thing. Then; there is the occasional cloaca spewing that someone may post that in the older days I would have tried to help correct. But after learning more about the Dunning-Kruger effect, I just laugh it off and don’t respond unless it will affect me directly.
3) Basically it is a morning jolt to go along with my caffeine.
Matt Walters Last chair tubist Who Cares What Ensemble Owns old tubas that play better than what you have.
To learn, to enjoy myself, and to keep obsessively checking for any Yamaha YEB-631 tubas that become available. I shoulda jumped on that one Sam Gnagey was selling.
Yamaha YBB-631S BBb Tuba, B&H Imperial Eb Tuba, Sterling / Perantucci 1065GHS Euphonium
Yamaha YBL-621 RII Bass Trombone and a bunch of other trombones
I discovered TubeNet about a year ago and have been hooked ever sense.
Last June I found and purchased my Miraphone 186 at an estate sale in Minneapolis. It hadn't been played in quite a while and needed oiling, cleaning etc. The rotary valves were extremely noisy and one wasn't moving very well. When looking online for the care and feeding of rotary valves, I discovered TubeNet and a wonderful older post stating what three Hetman oils to use to get everything working correctly. I followed the advice and have been enjoying my "new" toy for almost a year now.
I check in every day and really enjoy the banter and advice. I like that the audience is made up of both novice players such myself and professionals who are so willing to share their knowledge and ideas.
Thanks TubeNet!!
1965 Miraphone 186-5U-CC
Couesnon 3/4 BB
Technics Electric Piano
1923 Fischer Upright Grand Piano
Baritone Ukulele
Soprano Ukulele
I come here to stay connected to the low brass community! I studied music in college, and while I'm unable to earn a living in that industry, I try to play as often as possible. I come to read the repair posts in case I ever need to do a little maintenance myself, and of course to stalk the for sale forum just in case something i can afford ever pops up!
Wessex Viverna
Conn 20K naked lady (Valentina)
MBI - '06, contra
Madison Scouts - '07, contra
The Govenaires - '08 - 15, contra
The Govenaires - '07, '16, euphonium
The Govenaires - '17 - '22, contra
Being an active musician is often a great way to socialize, and TubeNet is a wonderful extension of the social circle of musicians.
It's especially relevant to me now, with all of my gigs on hiatus for the foreseeable future.
The No Politics rule also keeps things on-topic and fun. I have had to take breaks from Facebook due to the relentless political propaganda some people feel compelled to pass along. That's never an issue here on TubeNet, and I am most appreciative of that.
I stumbled on to TubeNet one evening a few years ago. Being an amateur/average tuba player, I got interested in some of the topics that I'd found. Additionally, I spotted a post by Jim Self that evening, and have been hanging around ever since. "Jim" is a very close friend of one of my very close friends. I've never met him, but my buddy talks about him all the time. They went to Indiana University of Pennsylvania together, and I went to grad school there some years after their stint. When my friend goes out to LA to visit his family, he usually contacts Self, and they spend a day or two together.
Although I have absolutely no connection to, or with, Jim Self, as a result of my buddy's undergraduate stories, LA visits with him, etc., I kind of feel like I know him. So...... I keep lurking around the website looking for info, musical conversation, and an occasional post by some of the bigger names in the field.