TubeNet

Hey guys,

First post!! Woohoo!!.. Anyway, I'm hoping to enlist the communal expertise of this forum. I've been playing tuba for a while now, and am thinking it's about time for me to get my own horn. I've talked with my instructors and have an idea of what they perfer. I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask you guys, too. So here's the question: What tuba would you recommened for someone looking at getting their first CC tuba?

Thanks in advance!
--
theanalogkid

Bob1062 wrote:What sort of playing do you do?

Right now I play in my school's band, orchestra, brass choir, low brass quartet, and hopefully a quintet if we can get it started up again. Future playing with be similar during grad school, and then whatever jobs I can get after. I'll be teaching, as I'm getting an ed degree, but I want to try to play professionally too.

Bob1062 wrote:Have you considered a big Eb?

Eventually. Right now, I think I'd be better off with a CC or even Bb tuba.

tubashaman wrote:What did your instructors have in mind

We've talked about alot of different kinds. They both play Hirsbrunners, so naturally those are discussed, though normally they are too expensive. We've also talked about Miraphones, as well as the Kalison C, Meinl-Weston tubas (The 2145 in particular, but that Thor one looks interesting), and B&S tubas.

Greg wrote:Welcome to tubenet!

Thanks!!

I love the sound of B&S tubas. They have been the best for me but they are pretty hard to deal with pitch-wise.

For the best plug-and-play tubas, I would suggest the MW 2145 or the Miraphone 1291. I prefer the sound of the Miraphone but that is just me.

For rotary tubas, I would consider the Miraphone line.

Play as many as you can and play them side-by-side with somebody to listen to you.

Good luck,

Sou

analog, you must be a Rush fan, no?

Oh yeah, HUGE Rush fan. Got my tickets for the Dallas show this summer. I'm STOKED!!!

Yeah, I really need to sit down and play some. That's just the crappy thing about living in Oklahoma. There aren't any places to try out Tubas close by.

Mojo workin' wrote:analog, you must be a Rush fan, no?

Oh dear Lord...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Sou

Has anyone here played a Willson 3050S? I euphonium player friend of mine said that they sound REALLY good. I've never heard much talk of Willson tubas, so I was just curious.

Doc wrote:A 6/4 sized BAT.

Forgive my ignorance, but what's a BAT?

Figures as much. I should've known.

Gosh, I wish I didn't live in freakin' Oklahoma. There aren't any good tuba places nearby... unless I don't know of any. (Nearby = A state or so)

I would recommend the Kalison Daryl Smith CC horn from the Tuba Exchange. It was my transitional CC horn, and it is the perfect size horn to switch with without getting a BAT. Some people stay away from these horns due to the metal that was used during production, it tends to be a bit thin, but if it's well taken care of, it'll last you years. My 2 cents...

Hahaha, our convention is.. well... lacking. It's a great thing, don't get my wrong, but there aren't the level of vendors you find at, like, Texas' convention.

A few suggestions -- there are others:

Miraphone 186
Miraphone 188
Miraphons 1292
MW2155
Rudy Meinl 4/4 (455?)
Conn 54J

Look for a pre-owned one, as it will most likely hold its value well.

Regards,

I'd recommend that you plan to attend the TBA or TMEA in Texas - whenever I was in attendance, they always seemed to have plenty of tuba vendors there.

For one's first tuba, going conservative and middle-of-the-road is always a good idea. A standard, 4/4 size CC tuba with 5 valves will provide years of good use and will retain its value if well-cared-for. Likewise, a good, standard 4/4 4-valve BBb BBb tuba will do the same.

If you have funds readily available to buy a Hirsbrunner, Rudolf Meinl, Gronitz or Willson, they are all excellent investments. Yamaha, Mirafone, B & S and Meinl-Weston make world-class instruments that may be a little more affordable, and Kanstul makes world-class tubas that are even more affordable.

If you cannot afford to buy a new tuba, then I'd suggest finding a used model of a good American, European or Yamaha tuba. If you have to travel to do play-testing, so be it. I traveled and played everything I could get my hands on before buying my first tuba, so as to know what worked for me, and what didn't. Some companies will send out tubas on approval, so the tuba does the traveling, not you. However, I still recommend that you do the traveling, because when you do, you can get to play a number of tubas back-to-back. A trip to Baltimore Brass or Dillon Music would be quite an education for you, as well as Custom Music in Detroit. If you made it into a circuit, playing as many horns as possible at each location, you would come away with a much better idea about what horn fits you, your abilities and needs.