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Golly, how long did Tommy Johnson play a 186? Seems like it had enough "stuff" for him...

I dunno about "stuff," but I could not get a high note to center at all on my mira 186 BBb, and I could on many other horns (all more expensive than the aforementioned). It's possible I had a lemon, but I think getting a new tuba for college is right, not necessarilly for "the stuff" but for better quality? but then you get into the budget thing.

by the way I switched to a gronitz pck from my 186, but that gets into a higher price range, but, check it out.

Best horn for going into college? One that the college has and your faculty instructor issues to you while you save your money or use part of your student loan money to take a few months to a year to shop and try out as many as possible with consultation of your faculty instructor and your faculty advisor.

I would say a HAND SELECTED 5V CC 186.


By hand selected, i mean play it, quite a bit. I've played just as many lemons as I have solid horns, but you can't beat the quality of the instrument for the price, and I love that german "feel". (used miras are a great deal, if you can handle something not so pretty--- new miras, well, you better get on your horse, the euro is only getting higher!)


Biggest mistake by far seems to be getting a horn not versatile enough for your needs. A 186 can be used fairly effectively in whatever you are doing.


(lemons or superstars, every horn I have played has had a very bad middle c. It is a trait of the horn and player combination, may not happen with you, but be prepared to play it 2/3.)

buy the PT-6

While there are "Almost certain" bets as to what would be a preferable model, I´d still second those who suggested to borrow a (any) school´s horn for the time being. After all, it´s YOU who´s doing the playing and (hopefully) the paying for that horn.
Take your time and study, practise, and learn from professors, classmates, recitals and CDs to find out what you want to sound like. When you think you found YOUR sound, go out and shop for your horn. You´ll find it. And by that time, you most probably will be good enough to sound proficient on most horns, good enough to know "The Difference".
Until that time, it´ll be most probably YOU who needs to get more stuff.
Unless that school-owned horn relly sucks, that is. You´ll know immediately, ´cause you´ll sound worse on it than on your present horn.

Also, get to school and make sure music is what you wanna devote your time and money to before throwing down serious $ for a horn. I have no idea on the stats, but I'd say way over 65% of folks switch out of music after a semester or two. I think a lof of the suggestions about just using whatever the school has (if its a decent music school, they'll have some good horns) is a great way to start out. And if you stick with it, I'm sure your prof. who knows your playing style, needs, etc. would be far better at helping you decide on a certain model than any of us would be.

May find you just want to be a recreational player like a lot of us on the board, and that the massive amount you'll spend on a horn may be better used for tuition, beer, pizza, etc.

I think it depends on what you are looking to do in college. Are you looking to get into Julliard, Eastman, Curits, Peabody or any other such high end prestigious performance oriented conservatory type school where the competition to get in can be very stiff and could be dependant on what horn you play, or are you looking to go to a school for music education, where performance is not paramount?

Personally I would use the 186 for now and let your college prof help guide you through the horn selection and buying process after he/she has worked with you for a year or so and understands your playing ability, style and goals.

Certainly a 186 shouldn't hinder your ability to show an audition panel what kind of musician you are, and what kind of potential you would have.

ken k

I would first ask your professor what they feel is the best for your abilities. For the most part, my professor just sat back and let me find the tuba I felt was right for me. We sat down at conferences and tried out horns and talked about what we liked and disliked and we came across Sam Gnagey's booth at ITEC this past summer and we both played each CC he had. I fell in love w/ them.

If you want my opinion, there are some great manufactured tubas out there, you just have to try them out before you buy one. I was lucky and found one of Sam's tubas for sell by someone in my state and I was able to try it out for about a week and had my professor play on it and listen to me play on it. He says that he loves that horn more and more every day he hears me play on it. Sam's tubas are well made and very cheap compared to a comparable manufactured tuba. The one I have is what Sam says is one of his best projects and I agree (but all of the ones I've played are really good). I play this one on everything from solos, wind ensemble, quintet, quartet to our symphony orchestra and have had no complaints (only compliments).

I've heard a few guys sound phenomenal (spelling?) on the 186, but I absolutely will never buy one again. mine just drove me nuts....I bought the PCK because of size and pistons, otherwise I would've bought a PT-6....the PT-6 will do you good for college, we have a guy down here that uses one, and another one that uses a PT-4.