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How are these horns? I haven't played one personally. I'm looking to buy some tubas for my high school concert band and the price is very tempting.

Thanks

Will

Will,

Not trying to be a jerk here, but why do you need rotary valve BBb tubas for your school? I've never seen a rotary valve BBb that can stand up to school beating. The valves need more attention that most pistons do, they are usually made of thinner metals, and don't hold up.

Just a repair technician's advice. If you want rotarys, then be my guest, but I can see a lot of $$ being spent on unnecessary repairs.

I need tubas suitable for high school students (bore size, 4th valve). The rotary horns I've seen that didn't last were abused, which is not tolerated in my program with any instrument. Any student caught abusing an instrument forfeits his right to play it.

The Allora price meets my needs on a limited budget. I know many school systems around in this area who have rotary horns, Yamahas, Miraphones, and Meinls. None have major issues with repairs.

I also have a long running repair contract with an excellent repair shop so I have no $$$ worries when it comes to repairing wear and tear.

Acutally, I tend to agree. Rotary valves were never a problem on my high school horns....and they got utterly destroyed on most of their bodies. In fact, most of our horns were very very very old. Miraphone's in fact.

I havn't played an Allora personally so I am not going to say much other than they have a reputation of being a cheap horn. You kinda get what you pay. Depending on budget concerns, look for a good condition BBb miraphone or yamaha rather than an Allora. Technician's will be more familiar, and the quality is just plain higher.

A shiny horn that breaks or plays poorly, is still not as polished as a scratched and dented horn that plays in tune and and withstands abuse.

Good luch

My budget sadly won't allow for even a used Yamaha or Miraphone over $2K. I've heard good things about the Alloras recently, but not from tuba players.

Will

Will wrote: The rotary horns I've seen that didn't last were abused, which is not tolerated in my program with any instrument. Any student caught abusing an instrument forfeits his right to play it.

You Go, Will!

If you are going to kinda stick with the Allora idea in your thought, also find out about Dalyan tuba's. They are actually quite nice instruments and at the woodwind brasswind, you can find a variety of BBb for an under 2,000 price. There's some inconsistancies with these horns, but I'm sure not any more insoncistancies that with the Allora's either.

Will,

I owned and used an Allora AA186 for the last 2 years and was very pleased with it. I bought it specifically because of the price point and was not let down with my choice. As a band teacher myself if I need tubas for my school these will definitely be near the top of my list. My repair guys had no problems with it when I sent it in for a cleaning and tune-up.

As a student horn I really liked it. It came with a case where most others don't and the metal was a little thicker gauge than the Mira 186 so it will be a little more forgiving in love taps. I just sold mine, but not because I was unhappy with it; it had to go because the wife says I can only have one tuba and I wanted a Besson 983. I sold it to a local college music ed major and he loves it as well.

Hope this helps.

If you decide to go with the Allora, check out the horns indvidually for tuning. I worked on an AA186 that played about 20 cents flat with the slide pushed in.