The tuba (or its marching-band cousin, the sousaphone) is *STILL* the bass instrument in many of New Orleans' hottest bands.

Kirk Joseph of the Dirty Dozen pioneered the "sousaphunk" style back in the late '70s, and many bands ~ stage performers as well as marching ensembles ~ have been using the tuba with incredible effect ever since.

A really good player with a microphone hung inside the bell of his big horn can produce every effect that can be gotten out of an electric bass, and with more dynamic range, blowing notes *faster* than anyone could possibly finger strings.