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Contrabass? Anyone have one or play one?

24K views 39 replies 29 participants last post by  littlemanbighorn 
#1 ·
Anyone ever played a ContraBass before? Do you own one or know someone who does? What was it like? What was the good, the bad? Could you use it in "real life"?

:dazed: :shock:
 
#27 ·
Tubax

thejazzman posted:

They also mention a sax called the "Tubax" which is a smaller bore contrabass (therefore you get quicker response and a tighter sound. Not ideal for all situations, but for jazz and such, it looks very useful... guess what, the same company that makes this also makes a B-FLAT model... that an octive lower than a BASS sax!!! (oh yes, and the e-flat one is used with a run-of-the-mill bari sax mouthpiece)

From saxtek:

Even the Bb subcontrabass Tubax uses a baritone mouthpiece. It works because of the smaller bore. The Tubax is surprisingly easy to play. You can really rip, even on the lowest notes. For the first time we have a contrabass instrument with a big modern sound, much more projection than a contrabassoon, and a more musical sound than the Sarrusophone, and virtually any saxophone player can play it immediately.

http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis

http://www.tedknight.com/randy_emerick.htm
 
#28 ·
I've played the Eb contrabass with two mouthpieces:

Barkley Bass and Barkley Baritone:

Baritone - Gives you response and playability. Easy to play.
Bass – Gives you a fat sound and projection.

As the Tubax it works very well with baritone mouthpiece, I image it’s the same reason…
 
#30 ·
Contrabass is awesome.
I was standing next to the Contrabass (not Tubax but Eppelsheim) on stage and looked really silly with the bass.
You must get enormous response problems, btw, he doubled my Bass voice and came always to late :(
Instrument was new to him though...

Chris
 
#35 ·
Brendan Muse said:
Leo: Is there a site for the company that makes those saxes? You've piqued my curiosity, to say the least.
Their website is underconstruction, but you can e-mail me your doubt and I forward to him in Portuguese.

Some photos you can see here, http://www.zancgeck.com.br/index.php?pg=detalhes&prd=22. (In Portuguese)

There's a guy on Italy who bought the new model, I've posted some photos and impression about it here on SOTW.

If you need more information, you can e-mail me and I talk to João to see what he can do.
 
#36 ·
Gaijin-san said:
Anyone ever played a ContraBass before? Do you own one or know someone who does? What was it like? What was the good, the bad? Could you use it in "real life"?

:dazed: :shock:
I have (and play) an Eb contrabass sarrusophone. Not exactly a sax, but the same range (and pretty much the same fingerings) as a contrabass sax. I've used it (a) to play contrabassoon parts in wind ensemble pieces (has more presence than a standard contrabassoon), (b) to play bari parts down an octave in jazz big band; and (c) to play the bottom end of the San Jose Saxophone Xmas (often joined by one or more contrabass saxes and/or tubaxes). It is a lot of fun, and much less expensive than any contra sax you'll ever find (I paid US$3K for mine).

I've also honked on Eb and Bb tubaxes, and Benedikt Eppelsheim's low A contrabass sax: these are all works of genius, and surprisingly easy to play. The tubax in particular has a timbre well suited to cutting through a jazz big band (you can destroy the bass bone player), while the contrabass sax would make a great solo instrument. Much easier to play than the Orsi contra I tried.

Grant :bass:
http://www.contrabass.com
 
#39 ·
I played one once. It was a lot of fun. I sat on a stool. If I had to describe the experience, it would be like playing an oil furnace.

But if I were to play one in the real world (like on a gig), I know it would take a lot of practice to get used to it. Just like any new horn!
 
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