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From: Heliconman @ aol.com
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 23:19:14 EDT
Subject: Re: [CB] Subcontrabass tubasIn a message dated 06/06/2000 3:22:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, gdgreen @ contrabass.com writes:
> >so I was using a Schilke 62 with a Conn helicon as an adapter with a
> >couple of layers of plastic tape to tighten the fit. I'm sure a better
>
> You *know* you're a contrabass maniac when you're playing a horn that
> requires a *helicon* as the adapter between your mouthpiece and the
> leadpipe (and it is still loose!) ... ;-)
>
> Grant
Whoops! hehehe!! I guess I forgot the word "neck" after helicon! Yikes! I
guess you could use the helicon as an adapter for maybe a water main, but the
Harvard tuba isn't that big! At least in THIS telling of the story.
---------------------------------------------------------From: Heliconman @ aol.com
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 23:33:19 EDT
Subject: Re: [CB] Subcontrabass tubasIn a message dated 06/06/2000 4:23:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, nocturne @ arepa.com writes:
> I'm fairly ignorant of obscure brass instrument; what's a helicon? It's not
> in your Compendium, but a quick web search suggests that it was a precursor
> to the Sousaphone... am I on track?On the money! Instead of a sousaphone bell with the "S" curve before it,
attach an upright tuba bell straight out, no curve in the tubing after the
part that encircles the player. I'll email you a picture of one. Czerveny
still builds them, but good luck finding a case!
By the way, I meant to say that I used a Conn helicon "NECK" as an adapter
which is virtually identical to a modern Conn sousaphone neck in all
measurements. A friend of mine bought a new Conn sousaphone neck to replace
the missing neck on his 1920s Conn BBb helicon. I also forgot to mention that
I'm pondering the idea of having a glass blower remove the bottom of a Grand
Marnier nip bottle and adding a bit of a rim as a replacement mouthpiece for
the BBBb tuba. The measurements are pretty close!
Cheers!
Heliconman
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 15:47:11 -0500 (CDT)
From: engelbrecht-wiggans richard <eplus17 @ uiuc.edu>
Subject: [CB] Newbie QuestionsHi,
After playing the bassoon, cello and bass clarinet for about
four years (and piano about ten times that), I finally took
the plunge and purchased a used Vita contra-bass clarinet. It
seems to be doing its best to discourage me from playing it.It was rebuilt by a shop that has done quality work for me
before. There are no obvious major leaks; if I plug the bell end,
finger the low Eb and suck on the mouthpiece, things seem about
as airtight as on the bass clarinet which gives me no problems.
So, I presume that the problem is me rather than the instrument.
The symptoms:
1. The first note after crossing the break--either direction--
is virtually guarenteed to be an ugly squawk. In going from
soprano to bass, the same thing may have happened, but for at
most a day or two, not two months. Is this a normal part of
the learning process, or is something else going wrong?2. Going below the low Bb, everything get progressively flatter.
(The two octaves from low C on up are right on pitch.) More air
helps a bit, but I'm already hyperventilating. Tightening my
embouchure any further simply seals the reed shut (#3 Ricos on
the (stock?) Vito mouthpiece.) Any suggestions?3. In the lowest half octave, my eyes/eyeglasses/head vibrate
so much that I can't read the music. Is this normal? If not,
any idea what is going wrong? If so, are there any known adverse
long term effects?
Richard.
Richard Engelbrecht-Wiggans, U of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois
email: eplus17 @ uiuc.edu; (217) 333-1088---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 15:36:26 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen @ contrabass.com>
Subject: Re: [CB] Newbie Questions
Hi, and welcome to the basement ;-)
>It was rebuilt by a shop that has done quality work for me
>before. There are no obvious major leaks; if I plug the bell end,
>finger the low Eb and suck on the mouthpiece, things seem about
>as airtight as on the bass clarinet which gives me no problems.
>So, I presume that the problem is me rather than the instrument.How airtight is it? It could be that your bass leaks too, but not in
a location that has given you trouble. The contra might leak in a
particularly bad spot.>1. The first note after crossing the break--either direction--
>is virtually guarenteed to be an ugly squawk. In going from
>soprano to bass, the same thing may have happened, but for at
>most a day or two, not two months. Is this a normal part of
>the learning process, or is something else going wrong?This suggests to me that the octave vent is plugged or partially
obscured. Its pretty typical to have trouble with the 3rd line B,
but if the Bb also causes trouble it suggests the octave key/vent.>2. Going below the low Bb, everything get progressively flatter.
>(The two octaves from low C on up are right on pitch.) More air
>helps a bit, but I'm already hyperventilating. Tightening my
>embouchure any further simply seals the reed shut (#3 Ricos on
>the (stock?) Vito mouthpiece.) Any suggestions?The low notes take a lot of support: you might try using #3
Vandorens. You might also want to try upgrading to a Woodwind (aka
Leblanc) contra mpc.>3. In the lowest half octave, my eyes/eyeglasses/head vibrate
>so much that I can't read the music. Is this normal? If not,
>any idea what is going wrong? If so, are there any known adverse
>long term effects?This is perfectly normal. I don't know if anyone has yet determined
whether it is the eyes or the glasses that shake (I can barely see
the page without my glasses, much less the dancing notes). The only
drawback iss tthhaat eevveennttuuallyy yyoouu bbeeggiinn ttoo ssee
ddoouubbllee......EEEnnnjjjoooyyy!!!
GGGrrraaannnttt
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green gdgreen @ contrabass.com
ecode:contrabass http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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