Best horn you ever played?

[Tuba Guy]

Hm...well, there are a lot of "best" horns...I love pretty much any of my horns, but I wouldn't use them all interchangably.
My best overall (normal, everyday workhorse) is my Getzen CB50
Best sound of a tuba I own, my Martin BBb
Best agility and smoothness (no other way to describe it), my 1908 York large Eb (just got it, and I LOVE that horn)
Best tenor bone-Conn 44H "borrowed" from my high school...1932, amazing for playing lead in a big band or in a combo
Best bass bone-Kanstul 1585T...double thayers, silver plated...it's got a massive sound and is so easy to play and get a beautiful centered pitch...

My favorite sound of any horn I've tried has to be the Chicago York...but that was a one time thing, and will probably never happen again in my life.

[runelk]

The one I'm playing now. MW 2165, no tone ring, large valves, and a MW45 F tuba leadpipe. Does everything I want it too. Had the horn going on about 9 yrs.

[Tubaguyry]

As far as a horn I have had several opportunities to play spread out over a significant amount of time? The Rusk-cut York of my teacher, Dr. Jeff Hodapp. Like butter, the sound on that thing.

However, I'm afraid I have to break your rule. The best horn (read: best fit for ME) horn **BY FAR** that I've ever played is the PT6-P that Jeff Rideout brought to Springfield, MO earlier this year. I played on a Hirsbrunner and several other PTs that day. I regularly play a Miraphone 186. I played a Cerveny 681 for about a year. I own a Weril 681. I have access to my friend's Miraphone 1291, my teacher's York, Miraphone 184, and old Miraphone EE flat. The difference in sound when I picked up the PT6-P was instantly noticeable and profound, the agility was amazing, and it just FELT so right.

I'm currently saving my pennies in the hopes of procuring one of those bad boys!

[Alex C]

I'm not sure if it meets all of the criteria, but I was lucky enough to pick up a Yamayork .... I spent a good week with it and played it every day.
...

When I was playing it I thought that if this horn plays like the York, no wonder why Gene does so much stuff on the big tuba.
Bill

No... the CSO York plays even better.

[Alex C]

Best horn I ever played? CSO York, it both whispered and roared with no effort. An early 1900's BBb Cerveny Kaiser was as impressive but in a different way. Both were amazing horns.

Best horn I ever owned? Nirschl 4/4 CC, it encourages good habits and makes beautiful sound. You can't ask for much more in a tuba.

[mceuph]

I'll third the Holton Friedman model screwbell trombone. unbelievable, amazing sound, If it had a trigger and could sound the same, would be a perfect horn. I had an opportunity to buy one for $500 a few years back and passed, still regret it.

[Tubainsauga]

I think it would have to be my rotary Neptune. While I may have played other horns at first I thought I liked more, I've gotten more complements on it's sound then any other horn I've every used combined.

[ztuba]

Jim Self's Fluba is hands down the most awesome horn I have ever played on. Next to that I would say the low Eb on the Willson 3100 BBb with 5 valves <laquer>. And the Berlioz High Bb on the Besson 983 <silver> My yamaha yfb-822S and the Kalison K2001. Still haven't had the pleasure of playing a Nirschl or trying out the Yamayork, although I listened to Norm play on his once during a lesson, it sounds huger than huge.