Hybrid "Brass" Musical Instruments

[witch]

I have finally saved enough to buy myself a brand new plastic "hybrid" tuba (basically plastic with aluminium valves) super cool thing. Usually a tuba weighs about 14.5kg this weighs 6kg

 

Sounds interesting - does it have the depth of sound of a brass one though? Don't think they make plastic French Horns yet!

[BKGarry]

From videos I have seen it seems to. I will probably use a brass mouthpiece though. I don't like the feel of plastic on my lips.

It does mean I now need a new group to play with as my current casual group has disbanded, so I currently only get to play bass parts along with the kids I teach but some evil person not only got the scores with the bass part in bass clef (I read treble more naturally) but they are also in the key of C and not Bb so I have to transpose on the go too lol.

 

I haven't seen a French horn yet, I have seen trumpet, trombone, euphonium and tuba

[stevejp]

Sounds interesting - does it have the depth of sound of a brass one though? Don't think they make plastic French Horns yet!

 

One of our kids at school has a plastic trombone - plays and sounds bloody awful! Will have to try out the euphonium and tuba at some point, just for the experience!

[witch]

I've seen flute, clarinet and oboe

Just looked on web - can't see one as yet

*cool thing - found a blue, purple, pink and black one - but brass

Edited January 20, 2017 by witch

[BKGarry]

I found the trombones alright. Just felt like the required too much slide grease all the time.

 

I need to get my 1920s/30s boosey (not even merged with hawkes at the time) in for a service. Got her second hand from eBay and she has seen better days.

[elsiegee40]

@BKGarry @witch You have your own thread now

[BKGarry]

Thank you Elsiegee my usual starting an off thread discussion hits again Edited January 20, 2017 by elsiegee40

[mdrabble]

Are the valve casing aluminium or plastic? Wonder how they would fair over time.

 

Plastic mouth piece/ instruments are create for outside but I found they do give a slightly different tone.

 

I've just moved off euph to Eb bass and I'm already fed up of lugging the extra weight!

 

Are plastic instruments allowed on the contest stage?

Edited January 20, 2017 by mdrabble

[BKGarry]

I am not sure of the contest stage TBH. I am originally from the Drum Corps/Marching Band background, so usually end up with a BBb front facing marching tuba which you have on your shoulder and is front facing (like a trumpet).

 

On the valve casing, if it is like the euphonium, which I already have (and weights less than a kilo) the outer casing is plastic but the lining over the valve (the internal shaft) if aluminium as well as the valve itself.

[witch]

I spoke to an retired BSO trumpeter last night and he said that he knows a guy who plays a plastic trombone and it sounds brilliant . It would seem as though he plays it all the time so presumably it is OK for contests, performances etc

 

No plastic horns though

 

How much (if you dont mind me asking) was the plastic tuba?

[BKGarry]

Just shy of £800 and I mean like £2 in it. Took a lot of saving but I really really wanted it

[witch]

Presumably a lot cheaper than a brass one?

[BKGarry]

About half the price of a basic brass one.

[mdrabble]

That is considerably cheaper than a brass one!

 

Nice shiny new benson BBb bass is somewhere in the region of 8k! Not to mention loads heavier!

[witch]

You can get a decent chinese made student horn for under a grand now. But a good quality one is around 2k and a post-student one is upwards of 5K

Got my main horn second hand from someone about to go to music school so he was upgrading to a professional model

Horns aren't as heavy but a pain to hold throughout a long symphony. American players rest the bell on their knee. They often play Conns which have larger bells.

It annoys me when I see the saxes have their fancy neck straps!

You can get a "pipstick" for a horn but they are expensive and you have to have it personally fitted

[BKGarry]

I did get my Boosey (mentioned in a previous comment) for £400 as I just had to save it from someone turning it into a lamp on ebay, but it needs a good service, the 3rd valve cap doesn't stay on (I've had to use electrical tape to keep it there) and it has some considerable dents that need fixing.

 

Just need to find someone locally that does a good job

[BKGarry]

Well it has arrived, and it is surprising light for the size of it.

 

Had a little play, the valves need breaking in a bit as with any new instrument but this is the first time I have ever played with rotary valves and OMG are they so much easier than piston valves on a Tuba.

 

Sounds pretty good to me, but I will probably do some proper playing with it tomorrow evening and let you know

[stevejp]

Well it has arrived, and it is surprising light for the size of it.

 

Had a little play, the valves need breaking in a bit as with any new instrument but this is the first time I have ever played with rotary valves and OMG are they so much easier than piston valves on a Tuba.

 

Sounds pretty good to me, but I will probably do some proper playing with it tomorrow evening and let you know

 

Nooooooooo! Rotary valveists are taking over the musicians section of edugeek! It's a conspiracy!!

[BKGarry]

@stevejp

 

I wasn't sure how I would feel about them, but on the larger valves they deffo make a difference, a lot less effort, but now I need to figure out how you maintain them, as I am sure they need a specific thicker oil for them.

 

I will say with a bit of practice, and my regular mouthpiece, I think i may sound "alright" on it

[stevejp]

@stevejp

 

I wasn't sure how I would feel about them, but on the larger valves they deffo make a difference, a lot less effort, but now I need to figure out how you maintain them, as I am sure they need a specific thicker oil for them.

 

I will say with a bit of practice, and my regular mouthpiece, I think i may sound "alright" on it

 

@witch is the rotary valve expert, but yes, I'm pretty certain that you need a specific type of oil for rotaries. One of our music teachers is a horn specialist ('they're taking over, I tell you!) so I'll try to mention it to her in the morning.

 

What type of mouthpiece do you use?

[BKGarry]

I usually have a 24AW https://www.long-mcquade.com/3693/Band/Brass_Mouthpieces/Bach/Tuba_Mouthpiece_24AW.htm

 

but on my Boosey I have an EE

[stevejp]

I usually have a 24AW https://www.long-mcquade.com/3693/Band/Brass_Mouthpieces/Bach/Tuba_Mouthpiece_24AW.htm

 

but on my Boosey I have an EE

 

Good grief - Vincent Bachs are expensive now! I always used a Wick 4 AL on Euph, but swapped to a Bach 2G when I started to get a lot of bass trombone work - it made the bass trombone work easier, but didn't have any noticeable effect when i went back to Euph. Ashamed to say that when tuba was needed, I just went with whatever happened to be rolling around in the case of the instrument I borrowed...

[BKGarry]

When I play baritone Horn I like to use a 6 1/2 AL but 2 of my friends prefer 12C. It's just preference really

[witch]

Rotary valves do indeed need rotary valve oil. Ive never seen a tuba with rotary valves - can we see a pic?

[BKGarry]

http://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/playLITE-Hybrid-Tuba-by-Gear4music-Black/1BXR

 

That is the one I got. I will take some proper pics tomorrow once Ofsted are gone