I have owned and played primarily a Kalison DS for the past three and a half years. All in all, it is a good tuba.
Kalison DS (Tuba News)
These are my (long-winded) opinions/observations of my horn:
Although the Kalison is a 4/4 sized horn, I have never had a problem being heard in large ensembles. If anything, I usually have the opposite problem. I played the horn for a year in a local youth symphony, an all-state orchestra, and I am currently playing it in my university's orchestra (we're playing the Bartok Orchestra Concerto right now- wooo!), but none of the conductors have suggested that I might need to upgrade to larger equipment. Of course, my orchestral experience is only with playing alongside youngfolk- you would have to check with a professional orchestral tubist to know if these 4/4 Kalisons hold their own amongst pros. I imagine that the horn can give sufficient volume in a professional orchestra 95% of the time, the 5% being the "tear down the house" monster low brass moments that music directors seem hesitant to program.
I like to use B.A.M.s (Big A$$ Mouthpieces), and I have found that by using larger mouthpieces, I am able to fool myself (and on special occasions, those listening) into thinking I am playing a bigger tuba. By using smaller mouthpieces the horn can sound bright enough for solos or light enough for the times when an excerpt needs to be transparent.
The intonation on my horn isn't perfect, but it is quite manageable. I have been playing this horn for awhile, so I know when to manipulate slides and where to use different fingerings.
For me, the Kalison DS is ergonomically great. It sits well on me, and I don't have to do any weird contortions or create any unnecessary tension to play it. Each one of the four main piston valves has a slide that is easy to access with the left hand while playing. There are several places in which it is comfortable (for me) to rest my left hand while playing. The thumb ring is easily adjustable and removable. The tuba is pretty well wrapped, so it is easy to carry and fit into cases.
I am a clumsy guy, but my Kalison was (thankfully) built with thick brass. I can't count the number of times I banged my tuba on something, cringed, then was relieved to find only a scratch instead of a dent. The bottom bow is particularly well armored, but the bell is still vulnerable.
I suppose there is an average amount of resistance in the horn. Certainly more resistance than many of the the upper-level horns (Hirsbrunner, B&S, etc), but not so much that it causes a problem. I like to have a little bit of back pressure, so I feel like I am playing into something and not just buzzing into a cave.
I really like the way the "money register" sounds on my horn. The low register isn't bad, and the little bit of resistance helps me not pass out when playing pedal tones. The high range (above the staff-ish) is more difficult for me to navigate, and I find that the intonation is quirkier in this range.
One annoying thing about my horn is its tendency to rattle. Unless I am playing a solo, it isn't that noticeable. The cause of the rattling is not always the screws, but something else. The rattling is not constant, either- it just comes and goes whenever it pleases, I guess... One of these days, I am going to take my tuba to a repairman so he can fix my tuba jingle.
Kalison tubas are (somewhat) infamous for the variance between individual tubas of the same models. I really liked the "show model" that I tried at the tuba exchange, but I thought the next one I played was somewhere below mediocre. Long story short: make sure you play more than one Kalison before making your decision. The first one you blow through might be a dud, but the next one could be gold! er... silver plated brass... you know what I mean.
A new DS will run close to $6,000, depending on import rates and stuff. I looked on the Tuba Exchange website a minute ago, and the Kalison DS wasn't listed. As mentioned in a post above, the Kalison company went out of business. I believe that the same designers are now working under a new name: G&P Wind Instruments.
This
appears to be the G&P version of the Kalison Daryl Smith.
If the Tuba Exchange no longer carries the Kalison DS line anymore, I don't know where else you can find a new one. The Tuba Exchange carries the G&P Cimbasso, so I imagine that the new G&P tuba line will eventually be for sale at the Tuba Exchange, too.
It has been a while since I have seen a PT-3 (3097), but I am pretty sure that it is smaller than a Kalison DS. I do know, however, that the PT-3 is the smallest Perantucci-line CC tuba. In comparison to Meinl Weston CC tubas for size, the Kalison DS is larger than the 2145, but a little smaller than the 2155 or 2000.
My verdict:
A Kalison DS is a great horn for an advanced high school student or a college undergrad. Sure, I drool at fancier CCs at tuba conferences, but my axe hasn't sliced me open yet. Make sure you play a couple, so you can be sure to get a feel for the "average" DS.
Hopefully this helps,
Mike