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Tuba or Sousaphone?

Tuba or Sousaphone

  • Tuba

    Votes: 28 65.1%
  • Sousaphone

    Votes: 15 34.9%

  • Total voters
    43
Tuba because Freebo!

How about a Reed Contrabass? :D

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The Sousaphone was developed by John Phillip Sousa, the rock star of the late 19th and early 20th century specifically for marching bands. There is no comfortable way to carry a tuba in a marching band.
Of the two, I'd prefer a tuba. I think the tone is better and I don't march anymore.
 
Bulloney!
The Sousaphone was developed by John Phillip Sousa, the rock star of the late 19th and early 20th century specifically for marching bands. There is no comfortable way to carry a tuba in a marching band.
Of the two, I'd prefer a tuba. I think the tone is better and I don't march anymore.
Of course, you do. So do I. Sousaphone has its place-jazz bands, marching band, etc.; Tubas have their place-orchestras, brass bands (non-moving or marching), etc. By the way, Sousa devised the "rain catcher"...a sousaphone with an upright bell. This was to disperse the sound of the horn more evenly over the band, so as not to overpower the other instruments. This was Sousa's preference. Later folks like J.W.Pepper and Conn turned the bell forward for other purposes like marching bands, etc.
 
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Bulloney!

Of course, you do. So do I. Sousaphone has its place-jazz bands, marching band, etc.; Tubas have their place-orchestras, brass bands (non-moving or marching), etc. By the way, Sousa devised the "rain catcher"...a sousaphone with an upright bell. This was to disperse the sound of the horn more evenly over the band, so as not to overpower the other instruments. Later folks like J.W.Pepper and Conn turned the bell forward for other purposes like marching bands, etc.
Actually, J.W. Pepper built the instrument at Phillip's request. I don't know that Conn contributed to the design, but he was the primary maker and Sousa used Conn's instrument in his band.