6/4 York model tuba comparison (video)

[toobagrowl]

I know some of you have probably seen this video. But I found it interesting enough to post here. Probably the best true tuba comparison video I've seen, and they happen to be 5 different York-model 6/4 CC tubas. I've watched and listened to this video with good headphones several times, and hear the subtle differences between them. The player is really fantastic on all tubas and gives them all a thorough playing

Have a good listen with headphones:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay4vLbOUzmo

[tylerferris1213]

I've always loved the Yorkbrunner tubas.

[TheTuba]

I saw this video some time ago and forgot about it

call me crazy but blindfolded (I forgot the tubas from last time I heard it so it effectively is blindfolded), I loved 2 and 4.
I didn't like 5 a lot, it felt too big and tubby. #2 had a nice "breadth" while 4 sounded "nimble", or at least easier to control. All the tubas at some point had a tuning issue, and I rooted that to the player's "fault" (not really, he's amazing) of simply not having enough time to be acquainted with each specific tuba quirks.

[bort]

#1 was nice
#2 was the most "crisp," but seemed like it was easy to get splatty
#3 was also nice
#4 seemed like it was the hardest of the 5 to play
#5 seemed like the easiest and most free-blowing tuba, and a bigger sound than the others. He's really comfortable on this one.

Other thoughts:
* I wonder if he owns #5 and is the most familiar with it... and the others are things he's only spent a little time with.
* I'm curious how I rated these the first time around
* If you put a strong bass trombone player next to this guy, would we notice any of these nuances?
* ^ Because he's a great player, and sounds great on all of them!

[toobagrowl]

Interesting responses so far

One thing to keep in mind is that these are 'solo' recordings of 5 different York model tubas. IMO, tubas actually sound MORE 'different' when you hear them within the context of an ensemble.

Personally, I preferred #3 (YamaYork) and #5 (Yorkbrunner) from the bunch. The YamaYork sounds most 'real York' to me, with the overall most refined, overtone-rich mellow sound. The Yorkbrunner is probably the least 'true York' of the bunch, but that's also why I liked it -- it has the biggest, darkest sound. I've long thought the Yorkbrunner sounds like a blend of 6/4 York CC and Kaiser BBb. And I've heard some amazing recordings of the Yorkbrunner in play, and I really enjoyed tooting on about 3 of them quite a few years ago

Keep the responses coming -- fun to read

[bort]

I'm not planning to go back and watch again...

But any difference in the amount of slide pulling between tubas?

[Donn]

Just for reference, previous round of comments: York tuba comparison.

[CNCBrass]

Not interested in buying any of these horns based on what I heard.

[bort]

Not interested in buying any of these horns based on what I heard.

BAT'S aren't for everyone.

Can anyone identify some of these excerpts? I wanna see how some of my horns stack up...

Bordogni 7 and Fountains... I forget the middle one though

[EdFirth]

Lost, The third excerpt is from Prokofiev 5 in the first movement.Ed

[toobagrowl]

#4 (Eastman-York) sounds very similar to #3 (YamaYork), but there is still a difference there.

Just for reference, previous round of comments: York tuba comparison.

I had not realized this was previously posted, thnx

[cjk]

Variation on a theme?
This guy has several videos comparing the MW 197 with a Walter Nirschl York model.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnGLv6 ... mBA/videos" target="_blank

[cjk]

Variation on a theme?
This guy has several videos comparing the MW 197 with a Walter Nirschl York model.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnGLv6 ... mBA/videos

Without clicking on them to verify, I'm about 99.999% certain that I've seen that set of videos...and (frankly) found those comparisons considerably more interesting to audit.

ditto that.

[kingrob76]

Since I own #2, I'm biased. Disclaimer stated.

The clarity you get from the "compact" approach with the narrow bell can't be ignored. I don't think of my TC694H as a 6/4 tuba, even though it clearly is a 6/4 tuba. Once I got the horn dialed in the way I wanted I found it plays more like a bigger Thor (and of all the Thor's I've played, I like the older ones the best) than others in the same category. It's pretty receptive to mouthpiece changes so I can put a really big mouthpiece in it and get a broad, wide sound more like your "traditional" 6/4 York sound but it lightens up pretty easily with smaller gear. Very, very flexible instrument and not at all a one-trick pony.

I had a chance to take it down the Marine Barracks here in DC and play it side-by-side with a 2165 - I didn't care for the 2165 at all. In the hands of one the players in The President's Own, the Wessex really sang - one trombone player who was listening commented he thought it would be a GREAT horn on which to take auditions.

[Bnich93]

I was surprised to find that i liked the Hirsbrunner the most of the bunch. Not only surprised, but..... IT BETTER BE THE BEST. I swear I have no bias in this race. Why would I lie to myself.

[toobagrowl]

^ IMO, the Yorkbrunner sounds overall best to me because it is still "Yorkish" in sound, but has a dark denser quality with a bit more 'punch' to the sound than others, while still maintaining a 'sweet' quality to the sound. It helps that I've heard different recordings of the 5 tubas here by various players/ensembles and the Yorkbrunner always comes out on top for me
Personally, I've only tooted on the Yorkbrunner and Nirschl-York years ago. The Nirschl-York had an easier mid-upper/upper register, but the Yorkbrunner had a easier/better low register, and I preferred the Yorkbrunner sound. But they are both great tubas, as I'm sure the others here are, too.

...and was I the only one who heard the annoying(-to-me) hiss in the sonority in each of the instrument #5 demos?

You mean like a very slight 'white noise' in the sound? Yeah I hear it; doesn't bother me and would not be noticed in an ensemble.

Variation on a theme?
This guy has several videos comparing the MW 197 with a Walter Nirschl York model.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnGLv6 ... mBA/videos" target="_blank" target="_blank

Pretty sure that is a different player. The timing (rushing rests, etc) towards the end of Symphonic Metamorphasis kinda bugs me a little

[bort]

Could be interesting to see a second round* of this type of comparison? There are plenty of other 6/4 York style tubas (and "close enough" ) tubas to do another full round...

Gronitz PCK
BMB
ZO
Holton cut
Baer
2165

*For people who found the first round interesting

[joh_tuba]

Could be interesting to see a second round* of this type of comparison? There are plenty of other 6/4 York style tubas (and "close enough" ) tubas to do another full round...

Gronitz PCK
BMB
ZO
Holton cut
Baer
2165

*For people who found the first round interesting

I'd like to see a good rotor PT6 in that mix as well.

Since Adams in theory is producing a 6/4 horn similar to the Hirsbrunner that should also be in the mix.

[toobagrowl]

^ PT-6 is a 5/4 horn. But I'd like to see it in a mix of other 5/4 CC tubas for comparison.
Rather, I'd like to see a VMI Neptune and Cerveny 601 added to bort's "other 6/4 CC tubas", and see how they compare Then, go on to 6/4 BBb tubas and so on

[MackBrass]

If this is ever done again, the ZO Thunderbird needs to be in the mix as this horn will shock anyone who plays it. We will be displaying a few of these at the Army Conference in February and Baltimore Brass has one right now if anyone would like to get a jump on it.