.

[oedipoes]

I LOVE my Willson 3050. Best LARGE rotary I've ever played. It plays and sounds bigger than the PT6's I've played. Plays WAY larger than the Bruckner, or HB2. I'd call the Bruckner a MAT, medium-assed tuba.

Also the BBb version 3100 RZ-4 is a great sounding instrument.
Very BIG sound !!
(but man, it's heavy)

[Karl H.]

My Alex.

Karl "who was reminded of this fact whilst playing a wonderful brass choir concert last week" H.

[iiipopes]

How about a PT-7? I played one when Jeff Rideout came through town on the way back from Texas. Interesting tuba.

[joh_tuba]

Without me googling a picture and squinting, is the Neptune (and approximate piston-version PT-7) a 3-loop or a 4-loop tuba?

No need to squint at this one:
http://www.tubaexchange.com/productimgs ... 1452-2.JPG

Or this one:
http://www.octobone.com/tuba2.jpg

3?

[Wyvern]

The rotary Neptune is a 3 loop tuba.

As far as I know the PT-7 has only ever been available in piston version

[Wyvern]

The rotary Neptune is a 3 loop tuba.

As far as I know the PT-7 has only ever been available in piston version

I've always been under the impression that the "PT-7" is/was - in reality - a piston-valve Neptune...(??)

I did have an opportunity a couple of years back to play/examine a PT-7 and piston Neptune side by side. They seemed to me to be basically the same tubas, with the only differences being;

1) Bell size slightly larger on the Neptune (520mm against 500mm)
2) Slightly different routing of 1st valve loop on PT-7
3) Different engravings and gold lacquer on Neptune

They played much alike, with slightly broader tone from the Neptune - but so slight that I don't think it would be noticeable if played apart.

[Cameron Gates]

What are some of the good CC BART's on the market? I know of the Neptune, Mira 190, and the Rudy 5/4 but that's all I know of. I know of the Tuono, Bruckner, and PT-6 but those seem closer to large rather than BAT.

Having played all three (including a recent-production 190, which is much better than the very old ones), I would choose the first of the three if I did not play it every day. If I DID play it every day, I would probably pick the third one (ie. much more work, but slightly more results). If you're most important criteria, though, is VERY FAST valves, you should select the second of your three choices.

IMHO ^^^^^^^^^ this^^^^^^^^^nails it.

When I play my Rudy daily it is the greatest thing on earth. However, when I am without it for a period of time (such as being on a band tour for 31 days with another horn) it is the most foreign thing on earth when I start playing it again.

If one plays daily I find it hard to believe that there is a better large ensemble tuba than the 5/4 CC Rudy RM-50. It has the biggest, darkest sound of any instrument I have ever played. I love it so much that I am hafazzed thinking about selling mine and buying a brand new blinged-out one with red brass. The one Lee had at the Army conference a few years back was the best looking tuba I have ever seen. All I need is about $21,000. They are expeeeeensive.

[iiipopes]

The rotary Neptune is a 3 loop tuba.
As far as I know the PT-7 has only ever been available in piston version

Hmm. Memory does fade. It could have been a PT-6, but it seemed larger than that. Then again, I tried out about a dozen or more tubas that day in a single afternoon, and went home with the girl I brought to the dance, so I could be mistaken.

[jonesbrass]

I LOVE my Willson 3050. Best LARGE rotary I've ever played. It plays and sounds bigger than the PT6's I've played. Plays WAY larger than the Bruckner, or HB2. I'd call the Bruckner a MAT, medium-assed tuba.

+10

[cle_tuba]

Tuono...

[Dean E]

I LOVE my Willson 3050. Best LARGE rotary I've ever played. It plays and sounds bigger than the PT6's I've played. Plays WAY larger than the Bruckner, or HB2. I'd call the Bruckner a MAT, medium-assed tuba.

+10

Ditto. I love my Willson 3050RZ CC, 4 + 1 Rotax valves, 20 mm (.787 in) bore, 21 mm (.827 in) 4th valve bore, 22 mm (.866 in) 5th valve bore, 50 cm (19.7 in) bell diameter.

[TheHatTuba]

.

[awaters]

I play HB6 for most stuff- a great horn with a very dark sound and big projection(when i hit the top of the note)... lovely resonance at mf and below ... many compliments from other orchestra members

[J.c. Sherman]

IMHO, you'll never - ever - beat the tone quality of an Alex 164; and the 163 will support the largest orchestras too. But the two of you will have to come to an understanding...

The Rudy 5/4 is big. I'm a huge fan of the 4/4 and 3/4 Rudys, but the 5/4 seems to work it's a$$ off to avoid blending with any other instrument; it's just big. Really big. Huge sound. Very playable, though.

Neptunes are great out-of-the-box howitzers, and with the 2nd valve slide wammy option, you'll never lack for good tune if you have an ear. They're plug-and-play.

Old crusty 190's are absolutely delicious! But I'm not sure the new ones compare; the 186s don't; who came up with the idea of soldering on the damn wreaths anyway?!?

J.c.S. (who's eyeing another 190 for the future... or a King BBb monster BART).

[jeopardymaster]

I've posted this before but I'll repeat it. I'm pretty sure the Rudy's bore is bigger, and the Neptune's bore is graduated through the valves whereas the Rudy's is not, as I recall. But I sat my Neptune next to a Rudy 5/4 and they matched in size. I didn't put a caliper to them, but the profile, bell, bell flare, bottom bow, top bow, all pretty much indistinguishable. If a hard case fits one, it will fit the other, easily.