Choice of tuba stands(playing)

[Robert N. Calkins]

Thanks to those who filled me in with the online location that is needed for a pic. I teach in an elementary school and will be creating a web page where I could put pictures, so that will probably fill the need for posting pics to this forum. If anyone wants pics of the DEG "modifications" I made, send me a PM with your snail-mail address and I'll send you them via snail-mail.

[Alsuite]

David Mills uses a drum seat, i have started to use one and I have found
it to be well suited for holding the different tubas that I have. I use the TAMA seat, which is padded an also makes a nice seat just to sit during a lull.
Al

[Rick Denney]

What is wrong with many stands is that the performer has to go to the horn instead of the other way around.

Okay, without joking, let me address this.

BBb tubas extend below the surface of the lap, except for people who are very tall above their waist. I'm a little over six feet tall, and all my BBb tubas must rest at chair level.

Now, unless I amputate both of my legs, there is a limit to how close I can move my pelvis towards the tuba. So, I still have to lean in to get my lips to the mouthpiece. The only time I rest against the back of the chair is when I'm not playing.

If I rest the instrument actually on the chair, I have to turn the chair at an angle so that it rests on one corner while my posterior rests on the other corner. There isn't enough room on most chairs for me at the tuba unless I take the diagonal.

The stand sits in front of the chair (just like the Tubassist and other similar items) and allows me to sit in the chair normally, albeit with my leg spread pretty wide to be able to get close to the instrument. The stand in no way puts the instrument further away than I want it to be.

My F tubas sit on top of my lap and I don't use a stand with them.

You have not lived until the tuba you were playing that was resting on the chair slipped off the edge. That has happened to me a number of times, and several times with resulting blood loss.

I use a stand.

Rick "who can move with the instrument a lot more easily when not having to hold it up" Denney

[WakinAZ]

What is wrong with many stands is that the performer has to go to the horn instead of the other way around.

Agreed. I am 6 feet tall on a good day, but long-torsoed. I have a K&M stand I have never used because it has never worked ergonomically for me. I find myself leaning out to the horn, or having to teeter on the front edge of the chair. I keep thinking it will fit the bill for the next horn I buy, but it never does, so it sits in the closet.

Eric "who has a $45 solution for someone else's problem in mint condition" L.

[gwwilk]

I have three stands: the BBS, the K&M, and the DEG. I use the K&M at home and the Baltimore Brass stand on the road. The DEG's foam padding shifted around so badly and the tubing wouldn't easily maintain the heighth I wanted, so I bought the K&M to use at home. When the BB unit came out it replaced the DEG on the road.

One of the bassoonists in our community concert band teaches instrumental music in our middle school system. Before a practice last year he also arrived early and as I was setting up the BB stand he nearly ducked for cover because he thought I was chambering up an automatic rifle! Those metallic clicks can be unnerving to the uninitiated.

I agree with Rick that a few extra pounds body weight will really help get us closer to our tubas on playing stands. And I don't miss any sensory feedback because I've been using playing stands ever since I resumed tuba playing in 2003. I get plenty of vibratory feedback in my left hand and arm where I hold the tuba.

[scottw]

What is wrong with many stands is that the performer has to go to the horn instead of the other way around.

Agreed. I am 6 feet tall on a good day, but long-torsoed. I have a K&M stand I have never used because it has never worked ergonomically for me. I find myself leaning out to the horn, or having to teeter on the front edge of the chair. I keep thinking it will fit the bill for the next horn I buy, but it never does, so it sits in the closet.

I would hope you are not the player who sits with his back against the chairback? Of course you need to sit to the front edge of the chair; instead, though, of the horn slipping off your lap, you have it securely held on the saddle and your chest and abdomen up against the tuba as usual.
[/u]

[WakinAZ]

I would hope you are not the player who sits with his back against the chairback? Of course you need to sit to the front edge of the chair; instead, though, of the horn slipping off your lap, you have it securely held on the saddle and your chest and abdomen up against the tuba as usual.

I am the player who sits all the way back in the chair so I am balanced and comfortable, but I do not lean against the chairback - I am upright or leaning slightly forward. My horn is postioned firmly in my lap, not resting on the chair, so there is no slippage.

Eric "tall in the saddle" L.

[Tubaryan12]

Back in the 1960's Rex Connor at the national Music Camp was pushing a peg stand (that is, a cradle for the bottom of the horn atttached to a single adjustable-height peg). It had the advantage of giving the perfomer the ability to move with the horn.

i haven't seen these in a long time, but would recommend someone making them again if they are truly no longer available.

What is wrong with many stands is that the performer has to go to the horn instead of the other way around.

Rudy Volkmann

I have done this in the past with a Stewart stand and a long wooden dowel (closet rod). Drill a hole into the rod for the pole of the Sterwart stand to go into (remove the base, of course) and then put a rubber cane tip on the other end of the wooden rod. I stopped using it because it didnt fit easily into the bag. If I ever get a case, I may resume using it. I'm a big guy and I actually like the idea of being able to get some distance between me and the horn .

[Mark]

I bring my own chair.

So, to avoid bringing a tuba stand, you bring a chair?

[SplatterTone]

So, to avoid bringing a tuba stand, you bring a chair?

Hey! Glenn Gould brought his own chair. You should too.

[sloan]

I'm coming late to this but I have a few points:

I have both the DEG stand and the BBC stand.

The DEG stand "stripped bolt problem" can be solved by a visit to your local bike shop. A "quick release seat-bolt skewer" ($10) works perfectly.

The main flaw with the DEG stand is that the base is too small and it sometimes gets "tippy" on me. Otherwise, it works just fine with the bike-shop modification.

The BBC stand is much sturdier. I find that it fits just fine in the DEG bag (if you push the shaft ALL the way down). It lives in my bell quite happily. It IS a bit heavier than the DEG. Mine was "used" and has quality control issues, but it has worked out OK.

The major flaw with the BBC stand is the saddle (for me!). On the BBC stand I find that I am constantly re-adjusting the tuba clockwise. I'm sure it has something to do with me - but the soft, sticky foam on the DEG works much better for me than the DEG saddle. I know - that's the opposite of what everyone else reports, but there it is.

I also find that the BBC will slip occasionally. The screw is sturdier than on the DEG, but it's still a friction fit. I really wish I could do the bike-shop modification to the BBC, but that's not possible.

So...please give me:

a) the legs of the BBC
b) the DEG saddle
c) the DEG locking mechanism, with the bike-shop modificaton
d) the weight of the DEG
e) yes, more padding in the bag would be nice

Can I have one by Thursday, please?