TubeNet

You're best bet would be to go to South Bend, IN and see what Woodwind and Brasswind has in stock. From Chicago it's a 2.5 to 3 hour drive depending on where you are starting from. You could also take the South Shore Train and get a cab ride to WWBW. (The South Shore ends at the South Bend Airport) I used to drive over to the airport to pick people up every once in a while...you may want to call and see if someone is willing to do that.

Good luck.

Bob,

re: tubas to test in Chicago.

The answer is easy: Ain't none.

You could call Quinlan & Fabish, Kagan & Gaines, and see what they have. Chances are they have nothing. They'll "order" whatever you want but the prices will be far higher than anything you would pay at Dillon's, BBC, ProWinds, or even WWBW.

We have string shops up the wazoo here but no brass. We have about 30 folks selling violins, cellos, and violas, and three double bass luthiers. At one time, we had several great brass places on Wabash (Charlie Grano, Kagan & Gaines (Loop), Lyon & Healy - all gone.

If you're looking for a specific horn, place a "WTB" here. Otherwise, I hear SW has real cheeep fares right now to New York/Baltimore. My sister came in from Long Island/Islip to MDW for $100 round trip.

Sorry, it doth sucketh.

Quinland & Fabish is out by me I could give directions but I doubt that they are big enough to have anything other than 3/4 yamaha school instruments. On a side note my buddy had a horrible experience at WWBW as well. The told him he wasnt good enough to buy a tuba!

Wait till December and then go to the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.

Yeah... I end up sending my students to the Brasswind because there's just not any place anymore. International Music Suppliers used to carry some, but I believe they are no longer in existence.

I have had some luck in the past with just contacting people who have individual horns that I want to try and do that. Otherwise I just wait for midwest band clinic or something like that. Maybe try to hook up with one of the local college studios, those guys usually have a variety of horns.

I know when I've bought my horns in the past I've usually made road trips out of it and make my rounds to brasswind and custom. I'd planned trips out east but never ended up needing to take them. But this was back when the brasswind had endless varieties in there tuba room to actually play.

I believe there are a couple of old funky B.A.T.'s sitting in lockers in a basement over on Michigan Avenue.

That was in the old days. They are now in a locker in the bass room directly behind the stage. Then there is the Dahmel that Reiner brought over and was hidden so well that it has not been found.

tubatom91 wrote:On a side note my buddy had a horrible experience at WWBW as well. The told him he wasnt good enough to buy a tuba!

Not good enough? How "good" does one have to be. Anyone who hands me enough cash can purchase any tuba I own. I must emphasize the words again--enough cash. If this criteria is met, you are good enough, in my opinion.

I have to wonder what the story is. What happened?