What Kind of Horn Do You Prefer for Dixieland?

[Z-Tuba Dude]

What is your favorite kind of horn for Dixieland music?

(If you haven't voted for your favorite brass quintet horn, vote here: viewtopic.php?t=1051 )

[Dan Schultz]

I have a great old King model 1235 Eb recording bell front-action tuba that I had a 4th valve added to a couple of years ago that I use for most all my Dixie gigs. If it's a stand-up gig, I use my York Franken-helicon. Why Eb??? Well.... I've found that the Eb has the most convenient range for Dixie parts. Most of the music is transposed from string bass parts and usually does not involve anything beyond a Bb below the staff. The big King is plenty of tuba for a small ensemble.

(I know.... I know.... the avatar is a German gig!) I took the King to Germany a couple of years ago more or less as a curiousity. I normally play a huge Carl Wunderlich BBb 4V rotary for German stuff.

[tubacdk]

I use my 3/4+ CC for dixie, only because it's the horn I use for standup gigs. I prefer that to my F because I like to play 2-beat below the staff and it's just easier on the CC. If I had copious amounts of money, I think my Dixie horn would be Russ Dickman's Eb helicon, but it still belongs to him because I don't have a couple of grand to kick around.

-ck

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Interesting that there are so many people using CC's for Dixieland!

[Z-Tuba Dude]

No offense intended, I was just surprised 'cause I just think of Dixieland as a Bb/Eb kinda thing....

(BTW- Last time I had a chance to play dixieland, I played on a CC horn, too!)

[Dan Schultz]

Interesting that there are so many people using CC's for Dixieland!

Mainly because that's what they have!