Adams 4/4 vs. 6/4 Tuba in a Video

[Kontrabasstuba]

Hello!

Here is my soundcheck of the 4/4 and the
6/4 Adams CC Tuba! I like both
What do you think?

[Ace]

I prefer the tone quality of the big horn. The 4/4 seems too bright and edgy.

Ace

[prairieboy1]

Your playing is tremendous on both of these fine instruments. My personal preference is for the 6/4 tuba. Such a large and encompassing sound that is bright enough and full of warmth. Well Done and Merry Christmas from Canada!

[TubātōTubŏtō]

Maybe Bloke is wearing off on me, but I increasingly prefer a brighter, less titanic resonance, including on very heavy literature. I think that 4/4(which seems sort of 5/4 to me) sounds phenomenal! At least that German giant playing it does.

[Kontrabasstuba]

Your playing is tremendous on both of these fine instruments. My personal preference is for the 6/4 tuba. Such a large and encompassing sound that is bright enough and full of warmth. Well Done and Merry Christmas from Canada!

Thank you for your reply! I'm there again at Tuesday. Willcheck the other 6/4 too. I have a large 6/4 CC. So i think i will choose the 4/4... we will see .
Merry Christmas from Germany

[Kontrabasstuba]

Maybe Bloke is wearing off on me, but I increasingly prefer a brighter, less titanic resonance, including on very heavy literature. I think that 4/4(which seems sort of 5/4 to me) sounds phenomenal! At least that German giant playing it does.

You are right 100%. The 4/4 sounds big like a 5/4.
I like it too! Merry Christmas and thank you for the compliment

[hubert]

Hello Daniel,
For me it is definitely the 4/4. Big enough to "do it all". But most important,you really have a voice on that instrument and not only an (impressive) sound. You are able to express yourself as a musician to a greater extent on that 4/4 than on the 6/4. And that is what should be decisive, because also tubaplaying is about making music.
All the best from Holland,
Hubert

[KingTuba1241X]

Hello Daniel,
For me it is definitely the 4/4. Big enough to "do it all". But most important,you really have a voice on that instrument and not only an (impressive) sound. You are able to express yourself as a musician to a greater extent on that 4/4 than on the 6/4. And that is what should be decisive, because also tubaplaying is about making music.
All the best from Holland,
Hubert

I agree with this as well. The 6/4 only sounds maybe 10-15% more woofy than the "4/4". Maybe with a deeper and bigger mouthpiece, that 4/4 will match the sound evenly. Clarity is key.

[bort2.0]

There's something about the 4/4 that doesn't quite do it for me. There are a number of other tubas of similar size that i've heard and seen in videos before, and they all have this quality of sounding like they're being pushed to their limit. Not the way that it breaks up, but in the way that it just kind of feels like there is no more after that. I've owned a number of these types of tubas before, and it always kind of felt like taking a smaller car and trying to make it drive 80 miles an hour constantly. It will do that, sure. But a car with a bigger engine will go 80 miles an hour a whole lot more smoothly, and have a whole lot more left after that to go even faster. As if you needed to.

And the tricky part, is that I only think it sounds not so great in recordings. Under the bell, it sounds great. And nobody else ever seems to complain either. So maybe it's more of an effect of the room or the recording than anything else. But YouTube videos with the 4/4 tuba around the board just don't do it for me.

And I know these are just playtests, but what did you think of intonation on these? Both of them seem to ride sharp on you. Maybe that's just because it is just a play test, and you don't know the tuba as intimately as if you owned it.

All that said, the music, the talent, and everything good in that video comes from you. I honestly don't think it matters very much what tuba you pick up. You've proven that many many times.

[bloke]

I'm keeping my lips zipped about the videos - both of which demonstrate very good playing, yet reveal specific things about the instruments themselves...

...but I noticed the use (in a previous response, in which I was mentioned in passing) of the word "titanic"...

titanic - "of exceptional strength, size, or power"

More often, I see the word, "Teutonic", used to describe a particular type of tuba sound.

Ironically, most dictionaries define "Teutonic" (whether-or-not capitalized) as (simply) German.

Most Americans are under the impression that (so-called) "German-sounding" tubas offer a "brighter" sound (with more prominent high overtones).

this, though:
German music halls (in contrast to many of the American ones) much more resemble old cathedrals (regarding their acoustical properties, and remarkably extended lengths of reverberation time)...so - to sound very loud, I suspect that some German tuba players (performing in those halls) aren't often asked to push their instruments (regardless of bell taper profile) to their limits, and thus (often) an actual "German" sound isn't a particular high-overtones type of sound (and high-quality audio recordings hint at this as well).

As a final remark (about this sort of thing), I've noticed that - when pushing tubas to their limits - that additional "brightness" really does NOT move a decibel meter very much at all, but (mostly) only changes the "bouquet" (not a scientific/acoustical term, but whatever) of the sound.

As an American, I'm so very accustomed to LOW reverberation (intensity and time) halls that - when performing in one that features HIGH reverberation (intensity and time) - I'm a bit "put off", and - thus - must immediately "rethink".

Now, back to your regularly-scheduled programming...

[greenbean]

Wow, wonderful playing! And great sounding horns. The 4/4 does it for me. Sounds great everywhere with a better evenness of tone and cleaner articulations.

[Doc]

I previously commented on the video about the wonderful playing. Regarding which tuba has a more appealing sound, I vote for the 4/4. It is broad, large, and clear, and the color of the sound seems like one that would project well into a hall.

[Doc]

this, though:
German music halls (in contrast to many of the American ones) much more resemble old cathedrals (regarding their acoustical properties, and remarkably extended lengths of reverberation time)...so - to sound very loud, I suspect that some German tuba players (performing in those halls) aren't often asked to push their instruments (regardless of bell taper profile) to their limits, and thus (often) an actual "German" sound isn't a particular high-overtones type of sound (and high-quality audio recordings hint at this as well).

And

As a final remark (about this sort of thing), I've noticed that - when pushing tubas to their limits - that additional "brightness" really does NOT move a decibel meter very much at all, but (mostly) only changes the "bouquet" (not a scientific/acoustical term, but whatever) of the sound.

When you step on the gas with a 6/4 CC tuba, that brightness to the bouquet is not always the most pleasing, at least to me. When you step on the gas on a 5/4 - 6/4, tall-belled German BBb, however, the brightness and growl are much different in the bouquet, and at least to me, is not only pleasing, but is highly exciting.

Doc (not talking about splatty, edgy brightness from small BBb tubas)

[MN_TimTuba]

Daniel,
Keeping it simple here.
When I close my eyes and listen to you play the 4/4 tuba it makes me happy.
When I close my eyes and listen to you play the 6/4 tuba it makes me REALLY happy.
Merry Christmas!
Tim

[Kontrabasstuba]

There's something about the 4/4 that doesn't quite do it for me. There are a number of other tubas of similar size that i've heard and seen in videos before, and they all have this quality of sounding like they're being pushed to their limit. Not the way that it breaks up, but in the way that it just kind of feels like there is no more after that. I've owned a number of these types of tubas before, and it always kind of felt like taking a smaller car and trying to make it drive 80 miles an hour constantly. It will do that, sure. But a car with a bigger engine will go 80 miles an hour a whole lot more smoothly, and have a whole lot more left after that to go even faster. As if you needed to.

And the tricky part, is that I only think it sounds not so great in recordings. Under the bell, it sounds great. And nobody else ever seems to complain either. So maybe it's more of an effect of the room or the recording than anything else. But YouTube videos with the 4/4 tuba around the board just don't do it for me.

And I know these are just playtests, but what did you think of intonation on these? Both of them seem to ride sharp on you. Maybe that's just because it is just a play test, and you don't know the tuba as intimately as if you owned it.

All that said, the music, the talent, and everything good in that video comes from you. I honestly don't think it matters very much what tuba you pick up. You've proven that many many times.

Thank you for your comment! It was really a quick play test, just to show that the 4/4 sounds good compared to the 6/4 Tuba. Of course i have to practice the tune. It isa little sharp. Correct. I will practice more over Christmas.
Thank you again and merry Christmas!

[Kontrabasstuba]

Daniel,
Keeping it simple here.
When I close my eyes and listen to you play the 4/4 tuba it makes me happy.
When I close my eyes and listen to you play the 6/4 tuba it makes me REALLY happy.
Merry Christmas!
Tim

Thank you Tim!
I wish you and your family Merry Christmas too.
Take care

[Three Valves]

The smaller of the two sounded better by itself.

I would not be surprised if the larger one blended better with an ensemble.

Patches on shirt elbows are ALWAYS the right choice!!

[bloke]

… so - via TFFJ phone-speakers consensus - someone needs to make an “orchestra” C tuba with a fake silver-colored carbon-fiber larger shell (in order to make it appear to be a 6/4 instrument, for looks), yet - buried inside – is a clear-sounding/lacquer-protected 4/4 - 5/4 instrument…(??)

Hey… It would also be dent-resistant.

[Three Valves]

^^^

I just adore watching the creative process evolve in real time!!

[bloke]

…which makes me begin to wonder how big the actual modest boats are - buried inside the shells of those huge yachts, that you insured…

^^^

I just adore watching the creative process evolve in real time!!