F-tubas

[LukesBulldogface]

Hi people, I'm begining my search for "the" F-tuba. I need some help! I own a PT-4 and I love the sound so I want something similiar. The tubas I'm drooling over are the MW-45SLP, B&S PT-10, and B&S PT-15. What are your past experiences if any? I've heard the PT-10 can be stuffy, but I'm still interested in her. Thank You in advance.

[Rick Denney]

Hi people, I'm begining my search for "the" F-tuba. I need some help! I own a PT-4 and I love the sound so I want something similiar. The tubas I'm drooling over are the MW-45SLP, B&S PT-10, and B&S PT-15. What are your past experiences if any? I've heard the PT-10 can be stuffy, but I'm still interested in her. Thank You in advance.

In my opinion, most who think a PT-10 is stuffy want their F tuba to feel like a C tuba. If that's what you want, get a Willson 3200 or a Yamaha 822. The PT-10 is actually an enlargement of the only B&S Symphonie to make it "less" stuffy. In my opinion, it was not an improvement to the character of the instrument.

The old B&S Symphonie was the F tuba that taught the world an F tuba could be big and have enough projection to balance a large orchestra without losing its essential bass tuba character. Prior F tubas were much smaller by comparison, and some of those I would call stuffy.

I'm not a fan of the 45SLP. I'm sure that's just me. To me, it seems neither beast nor fowl--not the sound and playability of a small C like the Willson 3200 and Yamaha 822, but also not the color and character of the old B&S Symphonie or the Miraphone 281 Firebird.

If I were looking for a new F tuba and only a new one, that 281 would surely be on my list.

But what do I know?

Rick "whose opinions are worth what you just paid for them" Denney

[LukesBulldogface]

Thank you Rick, please keep opinions comming

[Adam C.]

I've played a 45SLP, PT10, and B&S Symphonie quite a bit over the past few years. If you love the sound of your PT, you can't go wrong with a PT10. I'd recommend trying to find a newer used one.

I think almost any F tuba is "stuffy" if you approach it like a CC. It's just a different blow that takes some effort to figure out.

[Tom]

45-SLPs are sort of out-of-style these days for whatever reason. I don't really care...I've got a special one that I wouldn't part with for any other tuba out there.

To my ears, it has a powerful traditional/characteristic F tuba sound, but I find the sound it produces to be much more "stable" from top to bottom than the sound of many of the popular rotary F tubas. Intonation on my example is excellent. The horn blows open for me and is very responsive. The low register does not "oink" (even on low C), and the high register comes just as easily.

I feel as if the 45-SLP is an excellent all-around F tuba. I've played it in wind band, orchestra, brass quintet, and recitals doing literature from the mundane to the extreme and sure didn't have any problems because of the tuba.

I've also found that trombone sections I've played it with love the horn.

I think that a lot of the complaints directed towards the 45-SLP have to do with the ergonomics associated with the "big valves." This can be corrected (at least to my satisfaction) by relocating the the thumb ring and 5th valve paddle to a setup more like the 2155/2165 CC tubas. I know it doesn't sound like much fun to make major changes to a new (at least to you) tuba right off the bat, but if you otherwise like the 45-SLP, this is something to keep in mind.

Another complaint that I catch wind of every now and then is that the "45-SLP is too big." Well, the body and bell of the 45-SLP and the B&S Symphonie, PT-10, 15, etc. are almost exactly the same in height/diameter.

Owned a B&S before the 45-SLP, for what that's worth.

[Tubaguyjoe]

I may have somewhat of a biased opinion because I play on a PT-15, but what I have expirienced with the 3 horns you mentioned might help. I played the PT-10 and PT-15 both at Custom Music. I obviously chose the PT-15 because it was a bit bigger and had more of that F-Tuba "sound" I was looking for. The Firebird I played at a concert given by Alan Baer in Los Angeles. It was really a great tuba. I found it to feel and sound like an F-Tuba. For my taste...it was a little bit too big. I wanted something in between a small F and a Large CC. I would recommend (if you can) to try them all before you buy one. Our input here may help, but buying a tuba is really a very personal matter depending on what is best for YOU. Good luck. -Joe

[iiipopes]

The corollary to bloke's post is that the slots are usually narrower as well, so it is not as easy to lip an errant note to pitch.