Tuba sound projection in marching band/drum corps?

[Bob Kolada]

I had a LM12 for a while; I'd bought it expecting the results I always read attributed to them and sold it when I found out it didn't do anything better than my PT48.

[arpthark]

If you can use a sousaphone, I would think I would certainly consider the Conn 20J model. Unless I am very mistaken, I think a lot of the large university marching bands use them (I know Ohio State does, and their sousaphone section has the kind of sound you can only get with in tune horns, good size bores, and players that know how to play them). They are not exactly lightweight horns, but then again, neither are the really large contras that the top flight drum corps use. Just my two cents worth!

I think you mean the Conn 20K. 20J is the model number of Conn's old 6/4-size recording bass, which are actually used, with a strap, by the Jacksonville State Marching Southerners on the field.

I used a Conn 20K in high school and thought it was a great horn, besides the low 3rd partial F; much better than the Yamahas I used when I was in university marching band, IMO. Big sound, not as apt to bark as other sousas. Woofy? Sometimes - playing on a Bach 18 or similar bowl-shaped mouthpiece helped it overcome the unfocused sound you could get with larger funnels, like the PT-48.

[Dutchtown Sousa]

If you can use a sousaphone, I would think I would certainly consider the Conn 20J model. Unless I am very mistaken, I think a lot of the large university marching bands use them (I know Ohio State does, and their sousaphone section has the kind of sound you can only get with in tune horns, good size bores, and players that know how to play them). They are not exactly lightweight horns, but then again, neither are the really large contras that the top flight drum corps use. Just my two cents worth!

Don't you mean 20K?

[Dutchtown Sousa]

Another section mate was playing on a Helleberg - those are just a bit deep for projecting to 40,000 footballers. I lent him my LM-11 (LM-12 with a different rim, the old style), for a week and he also bought a new LM-12.

I use Helleberg and must agree a lot of the time it feels like I'm putting in more than I am getting out in marching band situations

[daytontuba]

Yup - 20K is correct - I will use my glasses the next time I type!!!

[Dutchtown Sousa]

Yup - 20K is correct - I will use my glasses the next time I type!!!

Well I'm sure the Conn 20J is nice but wouldn't be too easy to march

[muttenstrudel]

My experience is that the bigger the horn is that you are tooting in and the lower you play the softer it gets, the more you are losing the sound in the fields. Play in a middle range (like from kontra Bb to f) and you'll be heard. I can serve an entire marching band with my Knoth F (built in 1950's) which has a comparatively small bore but a very present projection of sound especially in the middle range of a tuba. The mouthpiece I use is a Josef Klier 5E, which is the shallowest they offer. So the hint with the Loud-LM12 has the same direction: Shallow MP, loud sound.

[playa242]

My experience is that the bigger the horn is that you are tooting in and the lower you play the softer it gets, the more you are losing the sound in the fields. Play in a middle range (like from kontra Bb to f) and you'll be heard. I can serve an entire marching band with my Knoth F (built in 1950's) which has a comparatively small bore but a very present projection of sound especially in the middle range of a tuba. The mouthpiece I use is a Josef Klier 5E, which is the shallowest they offer. So the hint with the Loud-LM12 has the same direction: Shallow MP, loud sound.

Can you let us know what's the Cup's depth of the Josef Klier 5E?? I think they are the shallowest next to LOUD mouthpieces. Thanks.

[k001k47]

It's a funny thing. The less one tries (puts effort into it), the louder it gets.