Jinbao F in Quintet?

[eupho]

Has anyone used the Jinbao(Mack, Shiller, etc. ) F tuba successfully in a quintet? Is there enough depth? Is the intonation good enough(alternate fingerings accepted) to allow upper voices to tune?

[Ulli]

Do you mean the F Tuba with 38cm bell or the new with 40cm bell?

[eupho]

I didn't realize there was a newer model with a larger bell. Interesting.

[tylerferris1213]

I prefer my Getzen CB-50 in quintets because of familiarity, but my Jinbao would work well if I wanted it to. I have a main tuning slide kicker on mine as well. That plus the 6 valves puts just about every note in tune as well as any other F tuba (except a Firebird, but that's because those things are awesome!). Back to the point, though. The Jinbao F with a kicker is a good quintet horn.

[Bob Kolada]

I had the first iteration; terrible, terrible horn.

[jon112780]

If the horn needs 6 valves and a main slide kicker to play in tune, then get a different horn.

[modelerdc]

I was watching Cleveland play Bruckner 4 the other night. The tubist was playing a 6 valve tuba, 4+2 and had a slide kicker on the thumb, which he can be seen using in at least one clip. Sounded great. I agree that a point and shoot tuba with few adjustments is most desirable, but if 4+2+kicker works for you then great!

[eupho]

Interesting. Does anyone know what it was?

[MartyNeilan]

If the horn needs 6 valves and a main slide kicker to play in tune, then get a different horn.

As opposed to all those 3 and 4 valve F tubas that have a full chromatic scale and play perfectly in tune with no slide pulling???

[jon112780]

My point is that playing in tune with fewest number of valves (and some slide movement) would seem to be preferable than with a greater number of valves (and some slide movement).

As far as F or Eb tubas go, 5 valve non-compensating or 4 valve compensating horns with some slide movement seems quite common.

Are F tubas the only ones to "need" 6 valves to play in tune?

I've never seen an Eb, CC, or BBb with 6 valves.