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Not that I'm considering getting one, but in all of the discussions regarding F tubas, I never hear anyone chime in on the Hirsbrunner F tubas. I know of one pro who uses one and loves it. Anybody else play one? I know there are a few models. Just curious!

A couple years back, when looking to buy my first CC tuba, I went to Custom Music just to try different horns out. I played some F tubas too while I was there.

The Perantucci F tubas played like F tubas... lighter sound, pretty nimble little instruments.

The Hirsbrunner F tubas played like a cruise ship... it was like playing a smaller looking BBb tuba! The sound was so dark, and so heavy, and completely not what I was expecting an instrument that expensive to sound like.

I suppose you could take one of their larger F tubas and use it as an everything horn, because it could be done.

Personally, I don't like any of the Hirsbrunner tubas. My two cents.

I fell in love with the HB-12 I played at the last Florida Music-Ed conference I went to. It had a Gorgeous full rich sound and was really well balanced. the pistons were smooth as silk. It played like a dream and I don't really play F tuba. Unfortunately I do not and will not have $14,000 plus to buy a tuba.

Greg wrote:Velvet Brown

Velvet is now a Meinl Weston artist.

I was about to say that same thing. She is indeed a MW artist.

Which means there are only 2...

Which means... they're like Cadilacs. You have to deal drugs with it... or market your tuba as a beer bong when you're not playing it!

I play a Hirsbrunner piston F tuba (HB-10) and I love it. Great response, great sound, great intonation and it's fun to play.

Bill Troiano wrote:Not that I'm considering getting one, but in all of the discussions regarding F tubas, I never hear anyone chime in on the Hirsbrunner F tubas. I know of one pro who uses one and loves it. Anybody else play one? I know there are a few models. Just curious!

I tried one out at Dave Fedderly's booth at the Army Conference two years ago, and thought it fantastic. It was not at all woofy, had an even scale, and a fat, characteristic big F sound. It also had an $11,000 price tag, and I handled it carefully and with beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

Hans Nickel played one on his strongly recommended Cantuballada CD. There was nothing contrabassy about his sound on that recording.

Rick "thinking you'd hear more of them if they were competitively priced" Denney

I believe Velvet switched to MW shortly before or after she left Bowling Green to her current post in Pennsylvania. My professor would probably know for certain as he was an undergrad student of her's. I'll see if he knows.

i played on the the HB12 and the HB10 along with the PT10, 11, 15 and 16 at TMEA along with the PF125, the firebird and the MW variations (too many number and letter combos for me to remember). personally, i enjoyed the HB10 more than the 12 and i enjoyed the Gronitz PF125 more than anything out at the convention (the firebird gave it a run). the PT's were very nimble but personally lacked a lower range (the infamous C). ithat's not what i was looking for but when all of the horns are great players with terrific high ranges, that's what set them apart (aside from sound preferences and the price tag :shock: ). yes, the HB's do have a darker type of sound but for some reason i expected that. i've never seen anyone play one other than a friend at the falcone festival. i think it's the price that drives many away unfortunately. they're wonderful horns and if i had the $$$$$ i'd have one ordered tomorrow.

We have an HB 10 here at work. It's a great little piston F that rivals the Yamaha/SLP in ease of the low register, etc.. For me, it's too much like a small CC tuba.

Great quintet horn and for use in band when my section mate uses it and I have the big horn out. Solos are a bit dark and I'm not allowed to use it outside of work for gigs, so I haven't played it in orchestras yet.

I play the MW45S... rotar. It is the brightest, sweetest sounding tuba I have ever played. My tastes tend to lean more towards a sweeter sounding horn with less brick and mortar flying from the bell.

Though, people here at work will attest to the fact that I often drop mortars with my horns.