A lot of the more... *cough* venerable posters on this board have seemed a little disdainful of the Firebirds all of us kids have been buying, which makes me wonder about something else that I've encountered talking to other players. Why is the Firebird treated as a fad horn, whereas people seem generally more positive about the Norwegian Star? Is it because there isn't as much to choose from in the way of Eb tubas, or because the horns are genuinely better, or because Oystein is really neat, or because Firebird isn't as cool a name as Norwegian Star... or what? Maybe it's just my small poll group.
So anyway, for those who have played both, do you notice a difference other than key (and the obvious differences that go with, like the low and middle C's everyone is so bothered about)?
The Firebird, to my ears, has a fairly bright sound, especially when compared to some of the "bigger" rotary F tubas. I loved the response of the horn I tried a while back, and the low C was almost as easy as on my old Yamaha 621 -- it was the first roterh F I played that I would consider to have a manageable low C -- even an EASY low C. But I wasn't sold on the brighter / lighter sound -- unless a smaller rotary F sound was especially what I was looking for.
I'm guessing (and I could be wrong) that the Firebird isn't considered quite "beefy" enough for all of the "typical" applications for a bigger, ("orchestral" ?) F tuba.
Haven't yet had the chance to play the Norwegian Star ....
Cheers,
Steve Inman
Yamaha YEB-381 Eb
Conn 56J CC
Willson-Marzan CC Solo Model
Kokomo Chamber Brass
Well, for what it's worth, I play my Firebird in quintet and for solo stuff, and it's absolutely wonderful. In quintet, it can get quiet enough to really blend even at pianissimo without me killing myself to play quieter, and yet can still sing out louder sections. But I'm nineteen and need to practice more and I'm probably just not used to playing bass tuba.
Roger Lewis wrote:the best F tuba I have ever played is the new (old) JBL Classics horn from B&S. I don't know if it is available in the states, but it is a pre-Parentucci F tuba that has been redesigned with the help of Jens Bjorn Larsen. Playing it against the drone tones, there isn't a note on this horn that I have "to go to" and the low C rocks. The easiest F tuba to learn to play that I have ever found - because you don't have to LEARN to play it. It's what I call a "grab and go" horn. And what a SOUND!
Just my $0.02 (when the hell did they take the "cents" sign off the keyboard??)
Roger
How can someone learn more about this JBL B&S?
About one month ago I bought a JBL Classics. I must say it´s a fantastic instrument. Hopefully it will soon be available to you guys in the states. I´ll try to attach a photo. Enjoy!
About one month ago I bought a JBL Classics. I must say it´s a fantastic instrument. Hopefully it will soon be available to you guys in the states. I´ll try to attach a photo. Enjoy!
Had some people over to play quintets; since I wanted to play horn I got a tuba player from the brass band. He had never played anything but a BBb, laid off for 30 years or so and took it up again a year and a half ago, and has a VMI rotor BBb.
He wanted to try my MW 182 F tuba, so I said sure. I suggested he start with the F on the bottom of the staff and go from there. He did, playing F, and working his way down, to the C, which sounded just like the rest of the notes, and then on down from there.
Nobody ever told him that the C on an F tuba is difficult. I decided here is a guy with really relaxed chops.
