Tuba Pressure Device

[Dopey]

Anyone ever use one of these or similar?
https://www.thomann.de/intl/arnolds_son ... r_tuba.htm

I accidentally ordered one thinking it was more a burpee type device for buzzing at my desk while working from home.

I didn't think I used too much pressure. But when I just tried it I instantly was releasing the air. Set it to it's 'strongest' setting, still very easily release the air.

Convince myself it's my very heavy G&W mouthpiece making it 'easier' to trigger. So I grab the basic/lighter mouthpiece the horn came with. Same result.

After a few minutes I could play pieces and scales, but the moment I began heading up the staff i'd easily overpressure and release the air if I wasn't very very careful. Which isn't surprising since it is easy to use pressure as a crutch.


I'm sitting here now contemplating am I using that much pressure ?! Have others tried these and found them to over sensitive or have I just found my new practice buddy to work on using less pressure..

[Rick Denney]

I'd be interested in that, but maybe someone will bring one to the Army workshop (assuming it happens) and I can try it out before paying 74 bucks.

Rick "always uses too much pressure" Denney

[Three Valves]

There's Too Much Pressure!!



It's got to stop, It's got to STOP!!

[Mary Ann]

When you are so small that a tuba mouthpiece hits you on the face bones instead of the lips, and you almost can't even see the corners outside the cup.....you learn to play without pressure because pressure simply does not accomplish anything. I have a pressure problem on small cups and a simultaneous lack of high range. On tuba cups, no problem. So the fix? Use a teacup for a mouthpiece and your pressure problems will be solved without any more gimmicks.

[Dopey]

I'd be interested in that, but maybe someone will bring one to the Army workshop (assuming it happens) and I can try it out before paying 74 bucks.

Rick "always uses too much pressure" Denney

Ah yeah it was a bit pricey. It's very simple. Just a spring inside the larger end which you can adjust the tension by screwing in/out compressing the spring. When you push too hard it it opens a hole to let air out instantly.

The reviews have people claiming it takes 'too much' pressure to activate, doh. This thing has me questioning my own playing and pressure. Was very bad timing using it the first time before our Christmas concert, was very conscious the entire night.

If it weren't covid times i'd pass it around the tuba section at the local brass band to see if everyone had similar reactions or not.

Will give use this daily for a couple weeks and report back. I suspect it might be quite useful, albeit frustrating.

[Snake Charmer]

My euphonium playing mom had one for some time. Her teacher gave it to her when she struggled with the high range. After one week of frustration she adapted her playing to less pressure and got half an octave more range upwards (she had a really strong low range from the very beginning!) in a few weeks. She used it for the next two years for high range studies and gave it later to a younger member of one of her bands. (And kept her low pressure playing for the remaining years!)
It is nothing for just testing around, you have to work on it. If it is worth the money depends on the the amount of pressure you use before. I never thought about buying one, I play with not enough pressure for having a real effect.