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I'm trying to form a tuba quartet. It would be the common two euphoniums and two tubas configuration. What do you think of substituting the second tuba with a bass guitar? I can find numerous players for that role but I'm having trouble finding a second quality tuba player. We are going to be playing a combination of jazz, pop and rock tunes.

That's something I would do -- and if the audience doesn't care, I wouldn't care, because the pay is the same. You'd obviously need a musician as opposed to "a bass player," but it sounds like you'd have that available.

As someone who plays tuba and bass, this is doable, however I feel like bass guitar in many situations can/does drown out tubas.Thinking a bass will be "an equal" MAY not be practical.

That being said, I've been a doubler since 7th grade, reading bass parts on tuba and tuba parts on bass when needed.

I would get someone to play on an amplified double bass. More flexibility. Having a mix of bowing with classical and jazz pizzicato.. would be cool.

gocsick wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 11:22 am I would get someone to play on an amplified double bass. More flexibility. Having a mix of bowing with classical and jazz pizzicato.. would be cool.

Nice idea, I like it. I am blessed with knowing really good bass players. I also figure that with the style we will be doing, having a funky kind of sound at the bottom might really work. As a side note, I plan on having a drummer to keep us in the groove and fill any dead spots in the music.