conn 20J

[George]

http://20j.marchingsoutherners.org/home.htm

You should look at the pictures of these guys...

Some of the women are kinda cute but most of the guys look like mutants... Since there are no members who have marched since before 2004, does that mean they actually graduate?

I don't see anyone named 'George" either real or nickname... Why are you hiding, my friend?

I used to play bass trombone, so I marched trombone. I'm not marching this year for several reasons, but I plan to march next year.

Several people that are still marching marched before 2004, I'm not sure where you got the impression that tuba players graduate.

Do you hook them to both rings, or only use the top one?

Just the top one.

[Rick Denney]

What Lew said.

Play F at the bottom of the staff 1-3. Point the bell to the back of the stage. Try a little tenderness. Use a non-woofy mouthpiece. Definitely use a tuning bit.

If you do those things, the 20J is a cheap entry into the BAT world. I soon gave up mine, however, because I found the Holton and it was SO much better and more versatile.

Rick "whose 20J also could not make sounds below mf" Denney

[andrew the tuba player]

You had problems with playing quiet? hmm...I've always liked the one i saved. I begged my band director to let me buy it, and she won't ...But, anyways, mines always blown open and free. It's the only horn i can acheive a 3 octive
(up) BBb scale (could be four if it had a fourth valve ). mines no wear near pretty. I'd like to make it though. I'd like to find an upright bell and playing in band and church (i played it last night in church...i love that old horn). And, i played while my 20k sousa was in the shop for marching band. you're right, it's not to heavy after you get used to it. (first 20 or so minutes is torture though )

[Rick Denney]

You had problems with playing quiet?

That's what I said.

That isn't the same thing as not being an open-blowing instrument. It means that when you think you are playing quietly, you are getting The Hand from the conductor.

If you want a 2xJ with an upright bell, buy one with an upright bell and sell the one you have with a forward bell. The upright bells are nearly as expensive by themselves as the 2xJ tubas that have upright bells.

If you want one with a forward bell, buy one with an upright bell, buy a forward bell to go with it, and then sell the upright bell. You might end up with a $500 tuba.

Rick "who can make quieter sounds on the Holton than on the Miraphone" Denney

[The Big Ben]

You had problems with playing quiet?

That's what I said.

That isn't the same thing as not being an open-blowing instrument. It means that when you think you are playing quietly, you are getting The Hand from the conductor.

Rick, you're the physics of sound guy: Do you suppose a 20J could be toned down with a couple of rolls of paper towels jammed in the bell?

Jeff "Hell if *I* know" Benedict

[andrew the tuba player]

yeah, our highschool band has about 40 people. So, its pretty small and i can handle it with ease on my Mirafone cc. I will agree that the first few times I got the good ole' "be quiet" glare, but after a while, i got used to it. Like I said, I played it in church the other day with only a piano and about...10-(maybe)15 people and i didnt over power them. as a matter of fact my dad said that he liked it better than my Mirafone in that situation. I've never really had to many problems playing quiet. i like it.
And, Just outa curiousity, i tryed low F (1-3) with my piano (which was recently tuned) and i didn't have any problems getting it in tune. I love the low end on that horn. Espeacialy compared to my Mirafone CC. It kinda drops out past low A but the Conn will power straight own to E(which was pretty sharp )

[iiipopes]

Low E 123 is supposed to be sharp. Pull 3rd to make sure 23 Gb & Db are in tune, or just a hair flat, to help out with 13 and 123 combinations.

[John Caves]

On my 20-J third valve slide, approximatly one-half inch from the curved end, there is a line scribed around one of the slide tubes. Is Conn saying, "This is where this slide should be for proper intonation"? My ear told me to pull it further.

Also, where did Conn hide serial numbers on these beasts?

[andrew the tuba player]

As far as tuneing goes, I've never really had a problem. Like, last year, I was going to a freinds house and The Conn wouldn't fit in the front of his Dad's truck. So, we put it in the back (I don't have any cases). On the way there, it started snowing. When we got there the bell was overflowing with snow. We had to let it sit for a couple of hours while it melted then go dump all the water out (and clean up the snow balls it provided ). I was excpecting it to be outa tune...but it was perfect (by a tuner and my ear).
That's another thing i love about the ole' thing. It's strong. It's been through alot. Like, one time I had just got done playing a duet with our pianist right before the sermon, and i went to set it down, and tripped over my stand. The bell went staight into the cinderblock wall hard. But, it didn't hurt it at all. And, it's got storage room storys. The guy that put it up there recalls (sadly) Kicking it over because it was in the way. He said it slid a pretty good way...I let him have it for that one

[WakinAZ]

On my 20-J third valve slide, approximatly one-half inch from the curved end, there is a line scribed around one of the slide tubes. Is Conn saying, "This is where this slide should be for proper intonation"? My ear told me to pull it further.

More than likely it was the previous owner. Some tin-eared players with bad memories (like me) do this.

Also, where did Conn hide serial numbers on these beasts?

Valve cluster/second valve casing?

[iiipopes]

If the valves are original, it can also be stamped on the tops of the valves. Lift up the cork & felt to check.

[Rick Denney]

Rick, you're the physics of sound guy: Do you suppose a 20J could be toned down with a couple of rolls of paper towels jammed in the bell?

I used a wrapped roll of paper towels jammed in the bell to plug it up so I could test the horn for leaks once.

Rick "Does that count?" Denney

[andrew the tuba player]

I've had someone shove a small pillow down the 20j's belltrying to mess up my solo at church once...luckly i found it before hand...It completely clogged it....

[andrew the tuba player]

It always reminded me of...a power plant. because, Tubas set the mood for a song. Our boreing whole note lines are more important ten the common observer knows. So, since the 20j has a big mean deep voice, i see it as the power plant of the band (the few times i get to use it in band... )

[andrew the tuba player]

She'll power them stright down to low E with no problem. I dunno past that cuz she doesnt have a 4th valve. But, yeah, it's great. The only note I have problems tuneing below fundamental Bb is the low E. The f is good and the others too. And, not only is the bottem end great, but the high end is amazeing to. I can easily reach the second and third octive. Almost to easy . Ya, know, I love my old mirafone but, you set them side by side...its like putting a sail boat up to a battle ship...the ole 20j's just got bigger guns.

Andrew, how's the low range (and false tones and pedals ) on yours?

wait a minute...what are you trying to say Bob??

[GC]

If you're lucky enough to get a good one, you can play reasonably well in tune, can play reasonably soft, can play unreasonably loud, can level small buildings, and can enjoy the hell out of playing.

For those of us who have thin tones, these things are a godsend. For those of you who have strong, dark tones even on small horns, you'll probably get a tubby, woofy sound.

[andrew the tuba player]

see, that's what i love about mine. I can get all of that depending on what i want and how i play it.

[Sam Gnagey]

She'll power them stright down to low E with no problem. I dunno past that cuz she doesnt have a 4th valve. But, yeah, it's great. The only note I have problems tuneing below fundamental Bb is the low E. The f is good and the others too. And, not only is the bottem end great, but the high end is amazeing to. I can easily reach the second and third octive. Almost to easy . Ya, know, I love my old mirafone but, you set them side by side...its like putting a sail boat up to a battle ship...the ole 20j's just got bigger guns.

Andrew, how's the low range (and false tones and pedals ) on yours?

Andrew.... It sounds like you're not aware of what are called false tones or privlege tones. On most tubas and other brass, especially conical bore ones, notes can be produced below the 123 combination low E. It takes some screwing around with the chops but E-flat is open, D 2, D-flat 1, CC 12 and BB is 23. You can play all the way down to the BBb chormatically with those fingerings. The sound generally won't be as full as on a 4-valve horn, but some great players (Arnold Jacobs for one) are said to have prefered to use them in certain instances rather than the 4 or 5-valve fingerings for those notes. Give it a try on your 20j.

[andrew the tuba player]

Ok. thanks for explaining that to me. I'll try that and get back to you.

[AndyL]

false tones or privlege tones. Give it a try on your 20j.

Those notes, pedal Eb to BBb, play great on my 20J. Pedal C blows easier and more in tune "for me" with 3rd valve alone, but my third slide is out quite a bit.

I've read some people think the pedal tones play "less stuffy" on the 20J than the 24J (after owning both for awhile).