TubeNet

Anyone? Experiences?

The 605 is very good (imho). The sound is clear and focused and the valves are incredibly smooth and quiet. The range stays easy to play throughout and the scale is remarkable. It is very easy to tune and stays that way.

jmerring wrote:The 605 is very good (imho). The sound is clear and focused and the valves are incredibly smooth and quiet. The range stays easy to play throughout and the scale is remarkable. It is very easy to tune and stays that way.

Thanks, fuel to my curiousity.... I'm going to check one out tomorrow.

I played one of those at the Custom display at TBA last week. That is really a nice BBb tuba. The upper range on it locked in so well it shocked me. I believe that it is a bigger horn (bell and branches) than the Miraphone.

Speaking of TBA, did anyone else play the B&S EEb? What a sound that thing produces!

I'm back from the shop. I went to get a loose main tuning slide on my 1291 BBb fixed. I was interested in other horns because there were some things I didn't like about the mira. First of all - of course - the loose main tuning slide which moved on it self. Secondly I experienced a lack of 'tightness' in the sound. I don't know how to describe it..... Like a broad sound without much core (an empty sound).

Tuba's tried:

Willson 6400 (compensated):
Like a Besson compensated tuba (3 + 1). Lousy ergonomics: very heavy and impossible to hold in a relaxed manner. A very BIG tuba (coming from a 6 "4 guy). Sounds very much like a besson too. Tuba with an euphonium like sound (yet massive sound). A bit stiff to me. Construction was excellent.

Willson 3100 FA 5 (compensated, front action):
Even bigger but a little better to hold. Also very heavy. Massive sound. Intonation was not very good. Stiff blow, couldn't put much colour in the sound.

B&S GR51:
Nice tuba. Smaller bore and less air required than a mira 191. They are not alike. Very good intonation. OK valves (the rotaries on the 191 are fantastic!) compared to the 191. Sound collapses when played very loud. Good player. Clear sound. On par with the MW 18 with the GR51 being louder and heavier souding.

Wow!:
The shop fixed the loose slide (they used an expander). I was surprised with the result. A much tighter blow and a lot more core (especially in the low range). Certainly something to look into if you've got a 1291 with a loose main tuningslide.

Mike Johnson wrote:Most of the body was used as a basis for the Thor CC.

Which is bore out by the relative dimensions of bell and height.

However surely that makes the GR51 5/4 size, rather than 4/4? I did think when I saw one in Germany, that it looked rather wide at the bottom bow for a 4/4.

Jonathan "who now understands how the Thor is based on German design principles"