Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
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Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
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
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
- The Tuba Whisperer
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
1st idea is to tell everyone what key.
Matt Walters
Last chair tubist
Who Cares What Ensemble
Owns old tubas that play better than what you have.
Last chair tubist
Who Cares What Ensemble
Owns old tubas that play better than what you have.
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- bugler
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
OP here. Duh... Key of Bb for me. Sorry
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
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!
Mike Roetter
Maumee Community Band
1928 Front Action Martin Mammoth BBb
Miraphone 191-4v BBb
Maumee Community Band
1928 Front Action Martin Mammoth BBb
Miraphone 191-4v BBb
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
Sorry. I now see that you stipulated BBb tuba. I have no suggestions beyond those already made.
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
My Yamaha YBB104 weighs 13.6 lbs without a mouthpiece. That really helps when I rotate it to get the water out.
- BrassoProfundo
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
[hmmm. how do I delete this post?]
Last edited by BrassoProfundo on Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:47 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Think song and wind, not meat and muscle. -Arnold Jacobs
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum, per sepulchra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum.
With tubas and the call of the rams horn shout with joy. בחצצרות וקול שופר הריעו
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum, per sepulchra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum.
With tubas and the call of the rams horn shout with joy. בחצצרות וקול שופר הריעו
- BrassoProfundo
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
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?
Think song and wind, not meat and muscle. -Arnold Jacobs
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum, per sepulchra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum.
With tubas and the call of the rams horn shout with joy. בחצצרות וקול שופר הריעו
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum, per sepulchra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum.
With tubas and the call of the rams horn shout with joy. בחצצרות וקול שופר הריעו
- ronr
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
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
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
If I was in the market for a lightweight BBb, I'd strongly consider the Mackbrass 422.
JP/Sterling 377 compensating Eb; Warburton "The Grail" T.G.4, RM-9 7.8, Yamaha 66D4; for sale > 1914 Conn Monster Eb (my avatar), ca. 1905 Fillmore Bros 1/4-size Eb, Bach 42B trombone
- ken k
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
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
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
Yamaha YEB-381
Mirafone 187 BBb
1919 Pan American BBb Helicon
1924 Buescher BBb tuba (Dr. Suessaphone)
Black plastic Coolwind BBb tuba
2001 Mazda Miata
2006 Suzuki Burgman 650
Mirafone 187 BBb
1919 Pan American BBb Helicon
1924 Buescher BBb tuba (Dr. Suessaphone)
Black plastic Coolwind BBb tuba
2001 Mazda Miata
2006 Suzuki Burgman 650
- YorkNumber3
- pro musician
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
Yamaha 103.
- Art Hovey
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Re: Thinking about an 'Old Man Tuba'
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.