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What are the comments on the PT-16?
Tuning, sound, response, etc.

I'm playing a MW 45SLP (with an old PT-9 mouthpiece) and would consider switching to a rotary model.

Cheers,

Sylvain

We have a PT-16 here at IC as the starter F (as in the one you play for a year or so and the go buy your own dam F!)

I use my G&W caver on it, and have played it regularly for about 8 months now.

MHO:

I find the intonation very good, only a few pitches come across out of whack, but I believe thats my embourchure, which is used to having some pitches bent quite far to be in tune on my C. I personally think that the six valve F's are a little Much, and that 5 Valves are quite enough, but to each his own. The sound in the mid-upper register is very very sweet and pleasing to play and listen to, however I find that when one tries to go below F2 and approach the infamous low C the sound just vanishes and it is nearly impossible to get anything resembling power down there. Not a bad horn for the money, but I spent some time recently at Dillon's with a MW45SLZ and a Mira 181-6V and I can surely say that I will not be looking at PT-16's this summer when i go to buy my own F. Not a bad F at all, ust in the low end its poopy, your mileage may vary, play a few before you buy etc. etc.

I have owned a PT16 for ~4 years, but I will have to say that my opinions are mixed.

The Good:

1. The sixth valve. I have no idea why anyone would ever buy an F tuba that didnt have the extra valve. The fingering choices are great to have--especially in the low register where tuning is the perpetual problem.
2. Reasonably in tune through mid and upper registers. It is still an F tuba with all of the standard quirks, but they aren't as pronounced.
3. OK sound. It's a fair bit darker than I like to hear from F tubas, but this is just preference.

The Bad:

1. It's a pretty big F tuba. In other words, you can certainly find horns that provide more contrast to your big ax for your money.
2. The mid-low register (Eb below the staff--->Bb below staff) is very mule-like. Sometimes it will go and sometimes it won't budge.*
3. It's pricey. One can find a comparable horn for much less money.


Like most things, your results may vary. Don't take my opinion as being worth any more than the price you paid for it.

If you are set on a B&S horn, go for the PT9 (a smaller version of the 16). I don't think that these horns are normally brought into the US (I could be wrong), but if you can get a hold of one that makes it in, you will probably be very impressed. I still kick myself for letting the one I played several years ago get away. It was a magnificent instrument.

That is all.

Kyle


*If anyone feels the need to post a "there are never any horn issues only player issues" response to this observation---don't.

a2ba4u wrote:I have owned a PT16 for ~4 years, but I will have to say that my opinions are mixed.

The Good:

1. The sixth valve. I have no idea why anyone would ever buy an F tuba that didnt have the extra valve. The fingering choices are great to have--especially in the low register where tuning is the perpetual problem.

Ditto

a2ba4u wrote: 2. Reasonably in tune through mid and upper registers. It is still an F tuba with all of the standard quirks, but they aren't as pronounced.

Could you elaborate on or define what you mean by the "standard quirks" ? I've owned two B&S Symphonie F tubas and the pitch quirks between the two were pretty different.

a2ba4u wrote: If you are set on a B&S horn, go for the PT9 (a smaller version of the 16). I don't think that these horns are normally brought into the US (I could be wrong), but if you can get a hold of one that makes it in, you will probably be very impressed. I still kick myself for letting the one I played several years ago get away. It was a magnificent instrument.

The only thing smaller is the leadpipe and valves up to valve #4. From valve #4 on, they PT9 and PT16 are the same.

The PT9 would be the modern version of the older B&S Symphonie F.

I have owned a PT-15 for a few years now. When I purchased it I played on a PT-16 also and still went with the PT-15. I preferred the less stuffy response of the PT-15. I also would rather have all the valves on my right hand.

The horns are pretty much the same with some of the differences above.

Heck, I would even throw in the PT-10 to be seriously considered. There is more of a difference between the PT-10 and the PT-15 then between the PT-15 and the PT-16.

"JBL Classics "model B&S - 6 valves in gold brass

INCREDIBLE!!

Roger