Top 5 tuba brands

[ckalaher1]

I quit playing about 8 years ago. About 17 months ago, I started saving money and made a few trips to South Bend to sample the horns that were available, then purchased a tuba in April. It stood out to me that many of the tubas currently available offer outstanding levels of playability. These instruments vary in key, size, etc.

If you live in Utah, is a trip to LA to visit the Horn Guys out of the question? That would seem to be the closest place that would offer a reasonable sampling of instruments to try. Make a trip and try out as many as you can, but I understand that is sometimes not possible.

Just an opinion-give the Miraphone Bruckner a try. Of the new horns I played, I perfered it above all else. A fine, fine instrument that balances playability and sound quality as well as any model I have played.

Good luck in your search.

[bisontuba]

Fly to San Antonio next February for TMEA.

OR Army Tuba Conference end of January...

[TUBAD83]

IMO and in order:
1) Miraphone
2) Meinl Weston/B&S
3) Hirsbrunner
4) Willson
5) Yamaha

JJ

[bort]

Well, what does "top" mean? Top selling? Highest quality?

Sales-wise, I'd imagine:
Miraphone
Meinl-Weston
B&S
Yamaha
Cerveny? (I dunno...)

Top quality (though many are excellent, these are more handmade/"boutique")
Alexander
Gronitz
Rudy Meinl
Thein
Hirsbrunner or Adams

[opus37]

How come Kanstul hasn't been listed? If your looking for a new horn and you are out west, the Horn Guys will have them to play. As you are sampling horns, these are worth your time to try.

[windshieldbug]

1. The one you sound best on.
2. The one your teacher thinks you sound best on.
3. The one that lets you play the music in front of you with the least trouble.
4. The one that has the best pitch response with a mouthpiece that works for you.
5. The one you can play all day and with the least effort.

[The Big Ben]

If someone wants a good 4/4 BBb horn, don't forget the King 2341. The new ones and all of the wide variety of older Kings have great reputations.

[Homerun]

1. The one you sound best on.

+1,000,000

[Tabor]

Top 5 Tuba brands as follows--------------Graves & Co,Boston, E.G Wright, Brura Keefer of Williamsport,Pa, Allen& Hall of Boston and John F Stratton.

Seriously??? No Distin?

[Brown Mule]

Top 5 Tuba brands as follows--------------Graves & Co,Boston, E.G Wright, Brura Keefer of Williamsport,Pa, Allen& Hall of Boston and John F Stratton.

Seriously??? No Distin?

Oh, he is actually included----Henry Disten sold out to Brura Keefer in 1909---------horns remained very similar until "ole" Brura quit making horns in 1942 or so..

[The Big Ben]

Top 5 Tuba brands as follows--------------Graves & Co,Boston, E.G Wright, Brura Keefer of Williamsport,Pa, Allen& Hall of Boston and John F Stratton.

Seriously??? No Distin?

Oh, he is actually included----Henry Disten sold out to Brura Keefer in 1909---------horns remained very similar until "ole" Brura quit making horns in 1942 or so..

Brown Mule, I think you are old.

Jeff "Just counting the days" Benedict

[THE TUBA]

What are the best five tuba of all time?

Think about it.

Daylan.

Daylan.

Daylan, Daylan, Daylan, because they spit hot fire.

[Big Francis]

Another way to look about this is to go through the "For Sale" postings and look at what is rarely, if ever, put up for sale. It's a silent endorsement for the make and model.

[ibr]

Among the Tubas that I've played, all BBb, except Eastmann CC, The best brand is King, the second Yamaha and the third is Weril. The Eastman is good to play, but its tuning is deficient. Weril is reasonably to play, but I guess it a little "locked", specily above the low Bb, and its sound projection do not please me. Other chinese brands, I've not liked.

Currently, I am playing a King 1240. I am very pleased.

[Levaix]

It's very difficult to whittle down good tubas into "the 5 best brands," which would account for the dangerous levels of sarcasm in this thread. Every manufacturer makes a dog or two, and even then sometimes it's the "dog" that you sound best on. Fwiw, the majority of my studio played on B&S, with a few on Meinl Westons. The answers you get really will also largely change with what size tuba you were considering. But it really does just depend on what sound you want and what tuba you sound best on.

Also remember that a $30,000 tuba won't make any difference from a $500 if the player doesn't use it right.

(Josh, who plays quite happily on a sub-$2,000, nickel-plated B&S that says "Sonora" on the bell.)

[tubahero300]

1. The one you sound best on.
2. The one your teacher thinks you sound best on.
3. The one that lets you play the music in front of you with the least trouble.
4. The one that has the best pitch response with a mouthpiece that works for you.
5. The one you can play all day and with the least effort.

+1

[Dylan King]

+2

...and does anyone know what the state of affairs is with Hirsbrunner these days?