5 rotary valve Hirsbrunner

[iiipopes]

I'd love to see some pictures! I have 3 valve compensating HB BBb rotary which is planned to have a new 5 valve valve-section in about two month's.

Send me the original valves...

NO! NO! SEND THEM TO ME!!!

[cjk]

It is a Hirsbrunner after all.

I'm probably mis-quoting or mis-interpreting Mr. Grant. I do think that Hirsbrunner makes fine instruments. However, it does seem like the Custom Music "Rolls Royce of tubas" (or whatever) advertising and the corresponding jacked up prices seemed to produce some mystique about Hirsbrunner tubas amongst tuba players in the USA. I don't understand the awe that some folks have regarding Hirsbrunner instruments. This is something I have never "gotten" in the 20 years I've been paying attention to such things. They're good. They play fine. However, every time I've played a Hirsbrunner, I've found myself preferring something else.

There are quite a number of exceptionally fine BBb tubas made these days. If you have not already, you should probably play a Meinl-Weston Fafner, Miraphone 1291 and 191, or a Rudolf Meinl 5/4 BBb (all of which are available with 4 or 5 valves).

The original poster may prefer this BBb HB with the plastic (Tryplen) valves over anything else. Michael Grant gave the original poster some very good advice about testing out the valves. They may work just fine. If that's the case, best of luck to the original poster and his new tuba.

Hope this helps,

Christian

[TexTuba]

Meh.

Me? Outspoken?

[J.c. Sherman]

There are elements of Hirsbrunner's refinement which in many ways were ahead of their time. They were very well made, stood behind their instruments, played well, and were massed with very good consistency. An HB2P is still a marvel of the gods, and were I able to afford one I'd own one and probably sleep with it at night like a teddy bear.

They may not be your cup of tea, but they have a reputation that's been well earned. If the OP doesn't like the valves, he has a means of correcting it; and that's another perk of Hirs.

J.c.S.

[J.c. Sherman]

NO! NO! SEND THEM TO ME!!!

I asked first!

[rperrym]

Thanks again. Great feedback as usual. I don't plan on buying the horn. I realize there are solutions as many have mentioned on this posting. I thought $8,000 was more than I wanted to spend with the valve issues it could have. I live in the Southeast so temperature is a concern. have wanted a HB but would prefer a piston horn. I have a 1291 which is a great horn for me, but when I saw the HB I really considered it as a second horn after longing for one for years. So, I will watch for another one.

Rick