F, C, Bb Tuba?

[swillafew]

If Kanstul is what you want, they make an Eb tuba that I would look at myself if I needed to go to one horn. And I don't even play Eb...

[Donn]

Are there those who believe that zinc and tin are the same thing?

No.

[ArnoldGottlieb]

I think Kantstul makes great tubas. Last time I played in SoCal, I visited the factory and played all of their horns. They were all really great. My favorite was the travel tuba, which as I'm starting to travel a bit less I don't need. They all played great with a tuner and had really nice resonance. I could easily have a career on any of their 4/4 horns.

In addition to this, although its on a different topic, I have yet to read anything on the Kanstul line of tubas? I mainly like them because they're american made and hand made, and have the same "live alloy" bell that was used on the old York tubas. But not seeing anything about them on the forums has made me nervous... are these Tubas good or bad? Thanks again!

[Worth]

Here come those Santa Ana winds again...

Babylon Sisters Shake It

[Rick Denney]

Anybody under the age of 25 does not need a "specialty instrument", unless they have professional aspirations and are under the care of a high-end teacher. In which case, they don't need advice here.

Anybody majoring in tuba performance will have to be able to play all keys with some facility. The guys who spend their whole academic careers playing C tubas and find themselves operating a Bb sousaphone for a military ceremonial band know what I mean. And they will struggle with solo performances without having a bass tuba in the stable. But those guys also do not need advice here.

Except for the above, by a Bb tuba and call it a day. When and if you want to, and can do it with your own money, add a bass tuba in Eb or F. But a contrabass will be more useful in bands and amateur orchestras. Bands require the tuba player to be a utility bass more than a color instrument, and small amateur orchestras often need the tuba player to double the string basses for reinforcement.

But choice of instrument has nothing to do with actually being accepted by an orchestra, and that's true even with amateur orchestras.

Don't get advice from sellers without first getting advice from teachers. Sellers/manufacturers make more money on the sorts of C tubas they might sell to college kids, because C tubas fetch higher prices. But the C tubas they have available for sale might be better tubas, too. You won't know which without close guidance.

Rick "'ask your teacher' always used to be the standard response for threads like this" Denney

[opus37]

I think Kanstul makes a great tuba. I have played one for many years. I would not change my horn to something else. To me, it has a wonderful American sound, blows easy and if fun to play. There are detractors on this net who don't like them for various reasons. I think that is true for most brands of tubas. You have the opportunity to go to the factory and test out horns. Choose the one that sounds and fells the best to you and enjoy it.