Tuba Snobs?

[windshieldbug]

even from the woodwinds (is that a good thing?)

Scoob; think about what people like that think sounds "good" before you ask that question in a room of brass players!

[Tabor]

I played in a community type band last year that had a few high school students in it. One of them was a good sounding horn player who was telling me that her section mates in school "were giving her a hard time" because her older horn (which her parents bought) had some dents and wasn't shiny. She had a Conn 8d in good shape that really played! Her section mates were playing a new shipment of Jupiter single horns.

[fpoon]

If someone talks smack about your horn, they think of themselves as musicians instead of tuba players.

And yeah, technically, we're musicians. But tuba players first and foremost.

A tuba player would see the horn, and instead of saying "nice student model", he'd say "sweet axe man, can I get a toot on that" followed up by a "you wanna go grab a pint"?

[Donn]

A tuba player would see the horn, and instead of saying "nice student model", he'd say "sweet axe man, can I get a toot on that" followed up by a "you wanna go grab a pint"?

Sorry but I totally disagree. I am a musician first and foremost, my instrument just happens to be the tuba. I think a musician doesn't care what kind of tuba it is if you are producing a good quality musicial product. It's a dilettante who gets all wrapped up in equipment snobbery, not a musician.

At first read I thought "holy mackerel, this guy has never seen two musicians in the same place", but you're really just talking about the equipment snobbery aspect, right? Musicians love to talk about their instruments! Last night I was standing behind a couple of well known local bass fiddle players, one of them quizzing the other about his bass which was rather new (5 years), made in Torino, blah blah. In our band, a guy sat in on Eb tuba, a somewhat modern looking silver plated 4 top valve model. What was I supposed to do, pretend I was too cool to care what it was? But "sweet axe, man" does capture pretty well the flavor of typical conversations, at least I've never heard much negativity directed at someone else's instrument, by a musician I respected. They don't say "axe" very often, though.

[TubaRay]

"Don't be a tuba player who happens to be a human being; be a human being who happens to be a musician who happens to play the tuba" - Gene Pokorny

I happen to agree with this, however it sounds like Arnold Jacobs to me. I had the same reaction in reading the above post. I very much identify with being a tuba players, however I hope I am a musician first.

[fpoon]

Jacobs was quoted saying at least something similar in Song and Wind, if not that exact quote.

I'm just saying that someone who considers themself a tuba played could probably care less about his buds horn (provided it works, at least marginally) where as someone who considers themselves an artist or what not might say something.

Seems to me the better someone perceives themself to be, the more insecure they are about their own stuff and they have to be a tuba snob. The true greats out there could care less what you play on, but only how you sounds. Cause that is kind of what matters the most...

[drewfus]

The first night I was in the community band, I showed up with this horn.



The other tuba player that showed up had a spiffy newer King 2341. He is also the Tubist for the local symphony. I recieved a warm welcome and not a word about the condition of the horn.

The following week, another dude was there with a Miraphone 186. I politely listended to him tell me about how wonderful his horn was, and how much he paid for it, and how I MUST get one to replace the wreck I was playing.

Well, I am still there, albeit with a newer Yamaha YBB-321(gasp! an intermediate horn),I haven't seen that Miraphone in a few months. I think if he comes back I'll bring the old King out and tell him I didn't want the Yamaha to overshadow him.

[TubaRay]

In my opinion, showing up at a rehearsal with a horn such as "drewfus" has posted will not raise the bar of expectation very high. Stated another way, the better the equipment a tuba player has, the higher the expectation goes. I must hasten to point out that the expectation is not always met. Often, the player is unable to meet the expectation. Once in a while, the player exceeds the expectation. At least for me, when I meet a tuba player for the first time, his/her instrument is the first impression that is made. It is usually very interesting to see how the playing compares to the instrument. Let me be clear about my position, here. The playing is the only thing that really matters. And, obviously, better equipment should make it easier to produce better results. Easier is the operative word, here. Easier--not automatic.

[pulseczar]

I think what specific model of tuba you are playing is really only of interest to other tuba players.

However, what the general public does notice is the condition of the tuba. I never fail to be amazed at how tatty are some professional tuba players instruments - looking like they have not been cleaned, or polished for years. I know this makes no difference to the sound, but it does to the presentation.

I do feel that if we are performing in public then we should make every effort for our tuba and ourselves to be presentable. It is not like brass players in orchestras have no spare time! IMHO, they would be better using the metal polish, rather than reading magazines when not playing in rehearsals.

Am I being unrealistic, or do others agree?

I guess that depends on your situation. I once did a gig at a Barnes and Noble at the better end of town. I was using an old ratty Conn 4J that had a good sound, but looked like a heap of junk. Whenever a potential patron came up to us to ask what it was for, we would say that it was to repair the tuba and it worked.

[iiipopes]

When I first show up with my tuba to a new ensemble, yes, I do occasionally get sideways looks, like, "Is he really going to play that thing?" or "Can he even play?" By the end of the first piece of the session, it is not an issue.

[windshieldbug]

...Is this guy a good driver?

At least he's got his belt on!

[drewfus]

...Is this guy a good driver?

At least he's got his belt on!

With no hands on the wheel, I should hope so.

[tubeast]

The shiny-instrument = professional-musician connection generally seems to apply with the exception of trumpets and french horns. Nothing beats showing up for rehearsal with a Schilke trumpet, unlaquered, with signs of heating on the raw brass. Makes you look EXTREMELY sophisticated.
No dents, though.
Same goes for french horns: shiny body with raw brass screw-on bell, heavily (and shinily) gold plated on the inside seems to depict the TRUE master of the instrument.

[Lew]

I agree with everyone who says ignore them. When I still had my older 2 piece King 2341 I was playing with a community band in Orlando when we played a joint concert with a local college band. The tuba players with the college were playing on older Mirafone 186s that were in great shape, but they apparently coveted my King, based on comments overheard by one of our euphonium players. As long as what's heard out front is good ignor what anyone says about the horn.

[Tubaryan12]

But I am sure you would not go in stage with a dirty shirt, or unpolished shoes and no one pays you for those either!

Now you're assuming Bloke wears shoes

sorry, Bloke, I couldn't resist.

[Rick Denney]

Can tell you are American Bloke. US orchestras seem the worst in this respect!

Jonathan "who would give the prize for best presentation to German orchestras (maybe difference in work ethics)"

Ahhh, we have a little actual snobbery appearing. And it's the best kind: British!

Americans have been desensitized to shiny new-looking things because all it takes to have something that is shiny and that looks new is money. Americans (along with everyone else) like money and the things that it buys, but few believe in their heart of hearts that money and the things that it buys have any real value.

So, Americans are more likely to be impressed by the classic old car that is expertly maintained than by the shiny new one that anybody can own. That's why the riders of, say, a 1965 Harley Davidson smirk at those buying new ones, or, worse, imitations of Harleys made by Kawasaki and Yamaha.

Thus, instead of claiming that the Germans have a better work ethic, which my own professional experience cannot even begin to confirm, I think it is more plausible that they are still those who believe that shiny new things have actual value just because they are shiny and new. They need a little more economic development, perhaps, to get to the point where they no longer care.

Rick "who thinks cultural values usually provide little basis for ethical comparisons" Denney

[chipster55]

Upgrading my golf clubs to Cleveland, Taylor Made, etc. isn't going to make me a better golfer any more than upgrading from my Amati to a King, Conn, etc. going to make me a better musician/tuba player - so it's up to me to make myself a better golfer and musician. People get too wrapped up in what others have and "keeping up with the Jones'" - so to all the "tuba snobs" I say - sit down, shut up, and enjoy the music.

[hurricane_harry]

tuck, when i played my conn 2X J i was laughed at. it was dented to hell, duct tape eveywhere, bellfront, REAL bad. then they heard me play, and they just about shut up. it should matter the axe you play on as long as you sound good on it

[windshieldbug]

Bottom line: If you know enough to get a good axe, then you may also know enough to play it well.

That's ALL it means.
You could just be lucky, rich, or both. You could have junk, but know what to do with it.

When the baton drops, the bullsh#t stops!

[Tubaryan12]

Upgrading my golf clubs to Cleveland, Taylor Made, etc. isn't going to make me a better golfer

Blasphemer!!!!....Don't you know it's not you, It's your clubs? Oh, and don't forget, you need to have them properly fitted.