TubeNet

Hello, basically I want a new tuba. Its my third year of college and it's time to get something other than the crappy school instrument im playing on.

I found a Conn 52j and a 56j for a fairly reasonable price and was wondering what everyone thought of these instruments.
I know its going to be an upgrade of my tuba now, but I don't want to go dropping all that money on just a minor upgrade or a tuba I can't use in the future.

Im just wondering to whomever has played either the 52/56 to give me a little feedback, what you liked and didn't like about them.

Thanks ahead of time for your help

-John

I've played 'em both.... but what I would have to say means nothing compared to you actually trying both of these horns. Don't make your decision based on the TubeNet 'freak jury'. Go play 'em!

I love my 56j. It has a sound that I didn't find in any of the other horns I play-tested. High register is sweet and clear, low register (below low E) is servicable if you finesse it. I am getting ready to have the valves lapped and nylon guides installed to make the valves a little quicker/smoother. Money register booms. With a smaller mpc. no problems in smaller ensembles. Bigger mpc. for big ensembles.

I wish I could find that sound with the valveset from a 188...

I have the 56J and use it for everything from quintet to medium-sized church orchestra, all as an amateur tubist. For quintet, I wish I had the 52J, and I suspect that the 52J would work almost as well for the larger sized groups. But the larger bell helps create a bit more breadth to the sound.

I don't think there is a huge difference, but it depends on what sound you like, and what your primary use will be. Since I play mostly quintet, I would probably do better with the 52J. But I do have an Eb for when I need a little tighter sound. In spite of the larger bell, however, the 56J does have a nice sound in the upper register.

"LV", who posts on this site, had a larger bore 5th valve installed ih his 56J and says it really helped open up the lower register.

HTH,

Thanks everybody for your responses! I should have probably said what I was mainly using the tuba for.

I play in a quintet, orchestra, wind ensemble, and I do alot of solo works for my jury and stuff. So I pretty much need a versatile horn.

TubaTinker wrote:I've played 'em both.... but what I would have to say means nothing compared to you actually trying both of these horns. Don't make your decision based on the TubeNet 'freak jury'. Go play 'em!

I'll completely agree with Tinker on this one.



I've played them both and honestly, I am not the biggest fan. I am more of a german wrap and bell kind of guy and the conn's just don't appeal to me. I couldn't push myself away from the Miraphone's to even give the Conn's a second look. They just don't feel like they slot well to me, and I feel like I'm forcing the horn around.



Tuba tastes are pretty unique. Play the one you want to buy, or play one of the same model and remember there are differences from horn to horn. This is the kind of decision you have to make on your own.


(disclaimer: I'm also the same guy that likes the compensating side of a Besson 983, so I'm pretty crazy)