Tuba testing

[sailn2ba]

I'm going to be playing a couple of candidates for a new tuba. I plan to play up and down. . .Do scales at deliberate and intermediate speeds with a tuner to check for intonation and even response. I will check physical comfort also. Any suggestions as to what to try or to look/listen for?

[oedipoes]

I'm going to be playing a couple of candidates for a new tuba. I plan to play up and down. . .Do scales at deliberate and intermediate speeds with a tuner to check for intonation and even response. I will check physical comfort also. Any suggestions as to what to try or to look/listen for?

This has been on this forum a zilliion times, but anyway: take somebody with you (director, pro...) and let him/her listen to your playing. Blind-test works the best.

Check the water drainage!! It is often forgotten, but you don't want to spin around the tuba like a frech horn for taking the last drops out.

If you have the chance, after testing the horns, take the best one out and try it in your band/orchestra.

Wim

[sailn2ba]

THANKS! Yes, I see that a search on "tuba testing" yields 33 pages! . . a lot on other stuff, but definitely good info. The caution about condensate drainage is one I wouldn't have thought of, but it's good. I've encountered that before. I'd have liked to have a trained ear with me, but that's a logistical problem. TE advertises a 21-day trial period, however.

[rocksanddirt]

yes, take someone to listen if you can.

don't worry excessively about the tuning of each note, rather worry about how the intervals sound to your ear.

does a low to a mid sound like the right interval?

what is the sound like? do you like it?

[Donn]

don't worry excessively about the tuning of each note, rather worry about how the intervals sound to your ear.

does a low to a mid sound like the right interval?

what is the sound like? do you like it?

Those are good criteria to beat, but if I expected to make significant progress in musicianship while owning the same tuba, I'd worry that relying too much on today's pitch acuity etc. I might end up with a tuba that won't be good enough 4 years hence. If that makes any sense.