TubeNet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plttKmJwOgA" target="_blank

Thanks for sharing that. I've seen other videos about the Tiger Plastic Tuba, but I think that one is the best so far.

Daryl Fletcher wrote:Thanks for sharing that. I've seen other videos about the Tiger Plastic Tuba, but I think that one is the best so far.

When you access that posted video, there are some more in the side preview section where a guy plays some tunes and they give a little better idea of how they sound when actually played to make music.

I thought they sounded pretty good. I'd have to know more about the durabilty of the valves and the slides before I could form a full opinion on these instruments. There are so many different types of plastic that some parts could be fine, others not so much. Plastic in the body has worked fairly well for quite a awhile. Martin made a traditional shaped tuba out of fiberglass quite a while ago. Brian Kane's prototype horn which has been shown on TubeNet also has a pretty good sound and is considered a "good tuba". Fiberglass sousaphones have been around a long time. However, none of these had slides and valves made of some sort of plastic material. There *is* plastic material which would work as a part of a bearing surface. Cost wise, it may not offer any advantages over using traditional metals.

My ears would want to hear a demo played by a convincing tubist.

The 3 videos with Tiger tuba that I have seen all left me with the impression that the players were no way near being professional musicians. So I couldn’t tell whether the often somewhat hollow sound was a problem related to the instrument.

Aside from the friction in the transmission system, the friction areas of rotary valves are small (just the top and bottom bearings with their respective spindles). If the spindles and bearings were made out of brass or of nickel silver, the valves could have as long a life as all metal rotors and rotor casings.

Klaus

You think this one in the OP isn't a professional player? Um....

To me, it sounds like a plastic tuba played by a competent player. I don't like the sound. Perhaps it's a little better in person, but I don't like it.

It does sound a bit dead to me. Could be the recording though. Would like to hear one in person. Robert, why don't you buy one so I can hear it and satisfy my curiosity?

tuben wrote: Plastic is dead acoustically.

That is not necessarily a bad thing. A thin brass bell that is too "live" can have detrimental effects on the sound quality.

Curmudgeon wrote:Who's the distributor/importer in the U.S.?

They don't seem to have a USA distributor yet.
Here's the website: http://www.rheinsoundmusic.com

Daryl Fletcher wrote:

Curmudgeon wrote:Who's the distributor/importer in the U.S.?

They don't seem to have a USA distributor yet.
Here's the website: http://www.rheinsoundmusic.com

Looking at their site, they are hedging their bets by also making metal instruments.

They have piccolo trumpets, too. I'm so tempted to buy one to see if it sounds like an out of tune kazoo.

When buying a kazoo always make sure whether it is tuned to A=440 or A=443.

Miraphone will NOT sell you an alternative tuning slide.

And stay away from the A=415 variant unless you do HIP of baroque music.

Actually, I think the acoustics of the room he's playing in are quite dead even when he uses a metal tuba. (Not counting when he's playing with the B.E.R.P. thing, which reminds me of a kazoo for some reason.)

http://youtu.be/RzHQBiSbFJk