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All I know is BBb - I'm too old & poor to change

Bb is the only thing i've ever played, i tried a CC tuba once, and really just didnt' like it, just seemed strange? I dont' know maybe it was me, maybe it was the setting(practice room of all state..)

All the tubas have their roles, but for what I do I prefer Bb. If i ever am given a strong enuf reason or need to change than I would.

Baskin-Robbins has 30-something flavors and not one of them is the "wrong" flavor------just that one of them is better suited for my taste.I think it's the same with tubas: for our individual needs there is a horn that works well and that is what we use. If we had an unlimited budget, perhaps we would experiment with all the different flavors of the day, but there really isn't a "need" to do so. Plus, the choices are self-limiting; a player in brass band will usually play either a BBb or EEb. A concert band player will usually play a BBb or, sometimes, a CC. A soloist will often play an F or EEb. A symphony player will usually play a CC. So it goes, a specific need is met by the choice at hand. There are no "wrong" choices, just need-specific ones. If I ever again feel the need to do symphonic playing, this time I might choose CC instead of BBb just for the ease of fingering. If I had the chops for a solo career, I would likely choose F or EEb. But, so long as I play what I am now into, BBb is the better flavor for me. Why switch?

I'll have one of each, please.

Anyone ever eaten at Polly Ann Ice Cream in San Francisco? (I had some of their vegetable ice cream--it's not bad). Only place in the US where you can get Durian Ice Cream, AFAIK:

http://www.pollyann.com/flavors.html

My tuba smells like a beer.
Fartman

schlepporello wrote:I just hope they never make a Jalapeno flavored tuba.

Actually, it has been my experience that spicy food *REALLY* helps with the runs.

Jalatucci 666?

Play lots of stuff, and NEED to play them all. That's what life's about!!

I play F, Eb and CC tuba.
All of them have their own charmes.
Although I have to admit I play most of the time F tuba.

For outdoors for anything but large NCAA I marching bands, I prefer the 14K with the 24 inch bell as opposed to the 26 inch bell. The narrower throat gives the projection, the full bore gives the tone, and the slightly smaller bell is much easier to navigate. It's almost as light as a fiberglass horn, and can blend well indoors with the rest of a concert band.

For concert band, I like an old 3-valve Besson BBb comp. The tone is round, the comp loops keeps you in tune on the multi valve combinations without pulling slides, being 3-valve it is easier to play for people like me who have a pinky that is about 3 cm shorter than the rest of my fingers, and the bore and bell is large enough to carry the tone forward. Yes, sometimes if you have a piece that stays in the multi-ledger line range it can get stuffy, but overall it is a wonderful horn.

youngtubaboy wrote:What type of tuba do you prefer?

I started on Eb in fifth grade, and switched to BBb my junior year of high school, the last year I played (1958-1965).

Two years ago (after 38 years of not playing) I got a York monster 3-valve Eb horn, followed by other 3-valve Eb horns (and a BBb sousa which I do not play). If I find a few extra hours, my Eb York helicon still needs to be cleaned up before I can take it to this season's TubaChristmases.

My next step is to get a CC horn this month.

I stumbled into an Eb tuba after 25 years of Bb tuba,trombone and trumpet. Boy am I glad I did. Eb gives me enough bottom end and enough highs to solo without making anybody invert chords.
Happy boy!
www.johnreno.com/

Glen Wells wrote:Ill be bringing home my first tuba tonite after rehearsal. ( Im kind of exited). His name is Herman. Ive played along beside him for years, now he's coming with me! (trial basis)

prayin&believin!
Glen Wells

Congratulations, Glen!

I'd buy one just for fun if I was rich.

Install a helium injection system. Maybe get your CC tuba and have fun too.

JohnH wrote:If I had the money, I'd have a room full of all four. BBb is my main horn, but I like F for some pieces and Eb for others. I've never played CC, but only because I've never really needed to. I'd buy one just for fun if I was rich.

Well said that man - me too

Andrew Murray