Old Man Tubas... a list or repository?

[Three Valves]

For those of us who claim that a difference between 20 pounds and 25 pounds is going to hurt their knees/feet/lower back – and who are also at least 5 pounds overweight, the solution does seem obvious, doesn’t it?

Is there anything worse than a reformed fatty trying to convert the rest of us fatties to the path of non-fatty??

[bloke]

For those of us who claim that a difference between 20 pounds and 25 pounds is going to hurt their knees/feet/lower back – and who are also at least 5 pounds overweight, the solution does seem obvious, doesn’t it?

Is there anything worse than a reformed fatty trying to convert the rest of us fatties to the path of non-fatty??

Before/after surgery, I picked c. 20 lbs. back up...I'm now re-removing them.

...but only dropping FIVE pounds (vs. selling off a wonderful 25 lb. tuba and buying a so-so 20 lb. tuba)...WTFingF...!?!?

[York-aholic]

Before/after surgery, I picked c. 20 lbs. back up...I'm not re-removing them.

...but only dropping FIVE pounds (vs. selling off a wonderful 25 lb. tuba and buying a so-so 20 lb. tuba)...WTFingF...!?!?

You and your common sense and logic...

[Three Valves]

You all wait until I get home Friday and have a few pops, then I'll REALLY let it fly!!

[Jperry1466]

For those of us who claim that a difference between 20 pounds and 25 pounds is going to hurt their knees/feet/lower back – and who are also at least 5 pounds overweight, the solution does seem obvious, doesn’t it?

As a 70-year-old who is working diligently to lose that extra weight, I can testify to something else where 5 lbs. of tuba makes a difference. When Arthur-itis (inherited from my mother) becomes your friend and your hand looks like this. It is also why I shy away from piston valves. I can handle rotary paddles fine; they just don't seem to move as fast as they once did.

[Jperry1466]

For those of us who claim that a difference between 20 pounds and 25 pounds is going to hurt their knees/feet/lower back – and who are also at least 5 pounds overweight, the solution does seem obvious, doesn’t it?

As a 70-year-old who is working diligently to lose that extra weight, I can testify to something else where 5 lbs. of tuba makes a difference. When Arthur-itis (inherited from my mother) becomes your friend and your hand looks like this. It is also why I shy away from piston valves. I can handle rotary paddles fine; they just don't seem to move as fast as they once did. Doc says he can pin them and make them permanently straight, but then I wouldn't be able to bend them at all.

[bort2.0]

That picture of Phil Collins from the other day was a sobering glimpse of what 71 can look like

[bloke]

I don’t (yet) face the challenges that you’re facing with your finger joints, but I have thought about that stuff a lot, and I think it’s high time that the technology appear to replace fingerjoints just as some other joints are now replaceable. Undoubtedly, it would be horribly expensive, because the surgery would be so tremendously delicate, and so much would be involved.

[Jperry1466]

I don’t (yet) face the challenges that you’re facing with your finger joints, but I have thought about that stuff a lot, and I think it’s high time that the technology appear to replace fingerjoints just as some other joints are now replaceable. Undoubtedly, it would be horribly expensive, because the surgery would be so tremendously delicate, and so much would be involved.

There are some replacement knuckles, but the doc calls them "rubber knuckes" which are not suitable for the two fingers that are so twisted. He says they work for the ring finger and pinky, but would quickly wear out on the heavy-use fingers and then just hang there loosely. I am hoping that the type of technology that replaced my knee can someday be available for those fingers.

The good news is I can play the rotary paddles with minimal pain and without bending the 1st and 2nd knuckle. Part of the problem is that I have had to take 5mg of Prednisone every day for the last 22 years, due to my kidney transplant. That stuff isn't good for bones and promotes the arthritis. It also keeps me hungry 24/7, but I'm working hard on that.

[tofu]

.

[pjv]

One thing that can tire me out are those loooong rehearsals. The going back and forth to rehearse a section you only play 4 notes in. All t writing down of markings that should've been in the part anyway. That's when I notice (mostly the next day) that I've either picked up my tuba 100x or at least scooted it from the lap resting position to the playing position 100x.

Using a old fashioned storage/playing stand can really make a difference (I think Yamaha's Airlift is the most recent resurrection of this). I don't really like playing with my tuba in a vice grip, but I'm usually very I happy I did it afterwards. I'll then leave it at home for the gig. (though I did once use it for a mega-quick-orchestra-pit-instrument-switch).

User friendly tuba (what a paradox!). I think about it this way

1. Easy Player.
No use having a light tuba if it doesn't play the way you want. Easy tuning is an important part of easy playing. And valves that aren't too heavy can be an important.
2. They Way It's Made.
No matter what you do, gravity is pulling the top of the tuba downwards (unless of coarse you don't hold your tuba at about an 80 degree angle, the most common playing position). Lots of things can help to compensate: a lighter tuba, shelf-liner, smaller bell-flair, shorter bell stack. A bottom heavy tuba might even be the best compensation. And since we all have different bodies, the build and weight distribution of any particular model affects each of us differently. A sousaphone is way more comfortable to play standing than even a very light tuba because sousaphones are well balanced. And they have an adjustable mouthpipe!

Too bad sousaphones have to rest on your shoulder (if only because half of your lungs are under there!).
Now what I do notice is that a fibreglass sous plays incredibly easy and because of this respond quickly.
Why? Dunno. Less work?
I've also played one of these Cool Wind rotary things. Sounded like a tuba, much more than I expected. I don't think it's the answer but I still support any initiative to make tubas better. Better for me is better intonation, easier to play and, yes, lighter.

Until someone makes a high quality carbon fiber tuba, we'll have to be happy with, what, a Piggy maybe.

I just hope someone wants to sell me their fibreglass Martin tuba.

[bloke]

Those OLD MAN TUBAS...They JUST KEEP blowin' alooooooong.

[hrender]

This might be worth adding to the list.

https://reverb.com/item/48699128-w-mein ... valve-tuba

[humBell]

Those OLD MAN TUBAS...They JUST KEEP blowin' alooooooong.

The other free asociation i can't not make is to a book by John Scalzi...

(been long enough since i read it, i am not confident in making an off hand obtuse reference)

[bloke]

I believe that's actually called "Model 186"...a scant amount larger than 5/8" bore...Jinbao made some knockoffs of these.
They need three more valves - just because there's room to add three more.

This might be worth adding to the list.

https://reverb.com/item/48699128-w-mein ... valve-tuba

[bort2.0]

To be honest, I think my Martin Eb could do this job just fine... small bore, not too heavy, really good ergonomics. Shockingly, it will be 100 years old in just a few years, but it's in such good condition that I have little doubt that it could handle more. At some point it will wear out, but then again, these things were made to be used.

[bort2.0]

Sidebar -- I think the coolest old man tubas are the ones that the old man has used forever and ever.

I realize the irony of ME saying that!

[jtm]

I've lost track... Did somebody say 188, either because it's so easy to play or just because 188?