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I have an invitation to do a New Orleans jazz concert this summer that will involve travel by plane. My instrument for this type gig would be my Conn 36 fiber sousa. Since I can't bring a horn, a kind person has offered a Conn recording bass with short action valves. I guess that would be a 24J. Will the 24J feel at all like my 36 Sousa? I can't imagine trying to blow solos on a 6/4. What is your experience with the 24J in a jazz context or solo setting vs a midsize BBb? I thought the 24J might be more of a slow-moving beast.

tim

The E-naturals and Fs - at the bottom of the staff - are going to be really flat with a 24J. Those valves don't move any faster than long stroke valves, because of all the surface area. ...and/but It's not our place to tell you what we think you can play and what you can't play, as far as an instrument choice.
Even though it's not our place or certainly not my place,
An old 3-valve top action model 10J tuba is a little bit more like a 36K sousaphone, in my view.
More likely (than an old 10J) to be available as a loaner would be a three-valve or four-valve King full size tuba, and I think you would enjoy playing solos on one of those.

At this point, the 24J is the only instrument that is available to me. Is it free-blowing at all? decent high range?

What's his name - who worked for one of the Bush warmongers - said that you go to war with the army you have, didn't he?

yes, that's what this looks like. i would rather play something a little uncomfortable than ruin a good trip trying to fly with a tuba. i have no cases anyway. tj

Tim Jackson wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 11:05 pm At this point, the 24J is the only instrument that is available to me. Is it free-blowing at all? decent high range?

(Sorry for a fat thumb thanks... i hit it inadvertently meaning to hi quote)

This summer? That seems a like a lot of time to give up trying to arrange something more to your liking.

But i don't know enough circumstances, and often arranging things does take more effort than having things already arranged...

You can find one of my tuba athlete heroes funnin' around on a 24J on youtube. François Thuillier. As long as it's silver plated, should be good. My guess is the down side will be, when you return you will need to acquire a 24J. It won't be any competition for the Yamaha York or whatever, but a lot depends on the specific instrument. We have heard here on the forums from a very credible instrument repairman and player that this model series plays in tune just fine, and from another that it has all these severe problems; both must be true, but you have to look to the actual instrument.

[ edit - Oops, only 3 valves on his, so 20/21J, not 24J, I see from looking at a couple videos. No tuning bits, but for all I know he could have had some kind of custom leadpipe work done. - /edit ]

Where’s the gig? Might be more tuba players there than you’d expect. Enjoying your old conn Sousa!

Tim Jackson wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 11:05 pm At this point, the 24J is the only instrument that is available to me. Is it free-blowing at all? decent high range?

It must have tuning bits to play in tune. If you are going to use it, ask about them before you go.

Lee Stofer told me years ago that keeping the lead pipe, valve knuckles, and valve tubing dent-free is the key to intonation on the 2XJ series. He sold me a beautifully-playing 25J that was a perfect example of that idea. Except for using 1-3 for F at the bottom of the staff, it played nicely in tune from top to bottom. I'd still have that horn if I hadn't gotten so old and puny. Carrying a 31-pound instrument up 2 flights of stairs to a rehearsal space just about did me in, and I switched full-time to Eb.

I play gigs on a Holton sousa and occasionally on a Conn 20K. I have a 20J that is my main practice horn. In my experience the 20j takes more air than either sousa. It is also more difficult for me to articulate cleanly and can sound muddy in the mid register. Some alternate fingerings usually use 1+3 for F and sometimes C in the staff solve any intonation. I know if I can play it well on the 20J it will sound great on either sousa.

"It is also more difficult for me to articulate cleanly and can sound muddy in the mid register"

Yes, this is really why I was writing this post. I love to solo and the gig will allow plenty of space. Even as nice as my York 6/4 was - it just not as good a solo horn as my mid-size instruments.

Does anybody here have tuba connections in Green Bay WI?

TJ

I bring the Eb sousa to the trad jazz jams for that exact reason. 20K is great for laying down a phat bass line and supporting a big group, but solos cut through on the smaller sousa much better.