Tuba sound projection in marching band/drum corps?

[jon112780]

What sousaphones/contras/mpc combinations have you found to be good at projecting 'past the bell' and not getty 'woofy'?

Maybe some ideas on some that are awful?

I have some horns/mpcs in mind from my past experiences, but just wanted to hear what others say.

[hurricane_harry]

any horn/mouthpiece with working valves and copious amounts of steady air

[jon112780]

any horn/mouthpiece with working valves and copious amounts of steady air

Hmmm, any horn?

I remember adjudicating a marching band a few years back that had a 'fleet' of those Yamaha 3/4 marching tubas, (I'm guessing to make it easier for the kids to carry).

Their two dynamic levels were: 'I can't hear you' that eventually went up to 'Ewww, what's that sound?' in the closer.

I understand jr high kids have to march with something light enough for them to actually carry AND make music on, but there's no reason to buy 3/4 marching tubas for a high school competitive marching band.

[b.williams]

Many years ago, I was sitting in the top row of Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego CA, there was a drum and bugle corps playing the half-time show. One of the contrabass bugle players sound was hitting me in the forehead like a laser beam. I am not sure of the mouthpiece/horn combinations, but if I really wanted to project, that would be the way I would go.

[Dutchtown Sousa]

Get the LM-12

The new design kicks a$$

Pretty much anything that is deep in not good for projection. If I could make a mouthpiece, I'd make something like the LM-12 but even shallower just to see...

So the LM-3 would not be good for trying to play loud? Well I guess that helps me narrow down what I want to try out

[SousaWarrior9]

any horn/mouthpiece with working valves and copious amounts of steady air

Hmmm, any horn?

I remember adjudicating a marching band a few years back that had a 'fleet' of those Yamaha 3/4 marching tubas, (I'm guessing to make it easier for the kids to carry).

Their two dynamic levels were: 'I can't hear you' that eventually went up to 'Ewww, what's that sound?' in the closer.

I understand jr high kids have to march with something light enough for them to actually carry AND make music on, but there's no reason to buy 3/4 marching tubas for a high school competitive marching band.

Our band has a similar problem: 6 tuba players, but only 3 sousaphones. the renaming 3 players that didn't get sousas had to use those little yamahas as well. You hit the nail right on the head, their sound goes from inaudible to absolute blatt if you try to play the slightest bit loud regardless of the player/mouthpiece.

[daytontuba]

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!

[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.