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Did anybody know How much this tuba cost..(4098 GI â€

search through the posts of TubeNet user "Neptune", he loves his and comments on various aspects of it regularly. In fact if you search on just the term "Neptune" most of the feedback will be his...

Eric "BAT coveter" L.

WWBW has it listed $7899

I can't find this horn on their web site.

I saw the horn in their Fall-Winter 2007 catalog. I haven't seen it on the website, either.

WakinAZ wrote:search through the posts of TubeNet user "Neptune", he loves his and comments on various aspects of it regularly. In fact if you search on just the term "Neptune" most of the feedback will be his...

Yes, quite so!

The following is just my opinion, but I have tried a number of different BAT's including the Rudy 5/4, Fafner, 2165, 2265 and Baer. Yet, none has had the combination of depth of sound, lyrical mellow voice, presence and playability that I find with my Neptune. I find its sound the equal of the Rudy, but it is a much easier tuba to handle. It is a 6/4 which handles like a 4/4.

Intonation is quite manageable and it can sing surprisingly well in the high register, as well as rattle the windows in the low register.

It has two exchangeable leadpipes - with the larger bore it responds and sounds more like a German Kaiser providing a broad foundation, while with the narrower bore it plays and sounds more like an American BAT with more bloom and presence.

I use mine in both symphony orchestras and wind band - regularly getting complimentary feedback.

Jonathan "who will be using his Neptune for Tchaikovsky 5 tomorrow"

I had tried a Neptune with pistons at WWBW back in like 1998 and was sorely disappointed. On another trip there a few years later I tried a rotary Neptune and was blown away, but couldn't justify pulling the trigger at that time. One came up on Ebay last February with a "buy now" price of $6K, and I jumped all over it, with no parachute. It turned out to be a terrific instrument. Everything "Mr. Neptune" says in his post, I agree with. I don't recommend taking a flyer the way I did, but it's definitely my top choice among BATs - great horn, and the fact it's a great value is a bonus.

One caution -- it isn't an "everyday" horn. It would not be a good choice if you can't afford a smaller horn as well. You can very easily overpower most any ensemble with it, and a brass quintet would have no chance at all.

I tried 2 of these at WWBW last summer on my horn journey.They were in such bad shape-sticky valves,dents,nasty-that I couldn't really get a good read(WWBW ain't been the same without a Charlie or Roger).I was really looking for something a little smaller anyway so,no big deal.I'd like to try a good one someday to make a fair opinion.