Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'

[FreeBandMusic]

What I'm looking for ....
1 Something light and easy to haul to distant parking, up stairs, over curbs, across unpaved areas..

2 A small tuba with enough presence where I feel like I'm actually contributing to a medium-sized community band

3 Good intonation

4 Cheap, so used or Chinese

5 Not so rare I'll never find one.

Any ideas?
John Thompson

[Matt Walters]

1st idea is to tell everyone what key.

[FreeBandMusic]

OP here. Duh... Key of Bb for me. Sorry

[mroettersr]

Look on ebay. There are a lot of instruments with some looking like a good value for a playable horn. Example: Cerveny 681 in playable condition with what appears to be few dents but dull finish. These tubas are light weighing in at 20 pounds or less and the one I tried had a good full sound. Price $495. At 78 years old, I use a Miraphone 191-4v as a much easier instrument to handle than my beloved 1928 Martin Mammoth which weighs in around 30# outside the case. Good luck!

[barry grrr-ero]

Sorry. I now see that you stipulated BBb tuba. I have no suggestions beyond those already made.

[Beyond16]

My Yamaha YBB104 weighs 13.6 lbs without a mouthpiece. That really helps when I rotate it to get the water out.

[BrassoProfundo]

[hmmm. how do I delete this post?]

[BrassoProfundo]

I used to play a Cerveny CC piggy that packed a big, gorgeous sound and nice performance into a very economically sized, and priced horn. I've seen that (and/or perhaps their BBb?) model of that horn turn up in very professional situations, including the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. And, I've heard there have been some interesting horns by other manufacturers inspired by them. I wonder if this question would get more notice and response on the Wanting To Buy/Seeking forum?

[ronr]

I play a John Packer Bb horn which is close in design to the Cerveny Piggy. I’m very pleased with the volume it puts out.

[GC]

If I was in the market for a lightweight BBb, I'd strongly consider the Mackbrass 422.

[ken k]

I have a black plastic Coolwind tuba that actually has a really good tone.
They are sort of based on the Miraphone 191 I think, large bore rotor tuba with a big bell.
If you use a metal mouthpiece they sound much better and would easily fill out the bass on a community band.
seriously worth checking out.

I have used mine in a community band, and many German band gigs
ken k

[YorkNumber3]

Yamaha 103.

[Art Hovey]

I have a small Eastman. It has a YBB-103 body with a cloned King 4-piston valve section, and it's an ideal "Old-guy tuba" with good intonation and a remarkably good low F. Ideal for brass quintets and other small ensembles, and some orchestral work. For a concert band I prefer my Tiger/Coolwind plastic tuba, but it's fragile and requires some handyman skill to keep it working.