TubeNet

I play EEb Besson/Willson compensating tubas, but really enjoy the sound of a 4/4 BBb horn. Problem is I'm not all that tall, and a 4/4 BBb tuba feels a little intimidating sizewise compared to my EEb horns. So how do 3/4 BBb tubas sound in comparison to a "real" 4/4 sized weapon. Is there a noticeable difference in tone (depth, fullness of sound etc)? Are they a genuine alternative to a full sized horn for band use? I've left my student/college years a long way behind and play in good qaulity community concert & brass bands. I'm not interested in horns designed for beginners or elementary schools.

There are big 3/4s and small 4/4s. Get a middle of the road 4/4 and use a playing stand. There are ergonomic challenges even for the hosses of the tuba section, so don't let small stature prevent you from the true joy of moving some earth with a bigger horn.

The Meinl-Weston model 18 (3/4 size) looks intriguing... and expensive. Search under "old man tuba" for some other big/little horns.

Eric

I had the good fortune of playing an M-W 18 a while ago. I believe it played as big as a 186 and would be great in a band setting. Intonation was pretty good and the slotting was superb. It was also incredibly light!

If you are talking about a YBB621 or Weril BBb, and comparing it to a Conn 5J, there will be some difference. You would probably rest the 5J on a chair when you played it and rest the other two on your thighs, if you needed to rest them at all. The 5J (and I have experience with these three tubas which is why I am using them as examples) makes a larger sound (fatter? deeper?) than the two 3/4 tubas I mentioned but, since you may have a Willson 3400, you will notice less difference in that horn's sound from the 5J's sound. I find that the mouthpiece makes more difference than key or size.

I can play a 5J resting on a chair between my knees but the Willson 3400 is much longer from the bottom bow to the lead pipe so I need to rest that on a stand of some sort (I have used both DEG and Tubassist) to make the lead pipe the correct height. This distance is specific to each tuba, however and not inherent in either size designation or key designation. Ya gotta' try 'em and see.

If you are interested in a 5J, here are pictures of mine:

I have seen a little Cerveny and a Miraphone 282 that both look interesting. I play a York Master "3/4" that is larger than the Yamaha 105's at the school, and smaller than most 4/4 horns. Being short torso'd, any bigger of a horn would require me to use a stand. I'm not as concerned with the playing of a 4/4 horn as I am shlepping it around!

G'day euphomate

I've no experience with 3/4 BBb's but if you just want something easier to hold have you looked at the Miraphone 1291 BBb?

It's about the same size as the Sovereign EEb; the Sovereign actually has a slightly larger bell.
I'm 5' 7" and play mine resting on my legs, not the chair.

It has a glorious middle and high register - I've not felt the need to play EEb since I got my 1291.

People who've seen me play it in solo competitions have been surprised to find out that it's a BBb - these instruments are very unfamiliar in Australia and no one knows what it is - they assume it's either a CC or an EEb.

For large ensemble playing the 1291 is huge - the only tuba so far to blow mine out of the room was a 5/4 Rudolf Meinel CC which is an enormous instrument.

Although the 1291 is very compact it is fairly heavy (mine is the 5 valve version) in case weight is a concern.

There has been heaps of discussion about this model on this forum.

Regards

Gerard

To me, all the 3/4 horn I have played, including "student" models, and some of the various Conns, incl 2J,5J & 11J, & the small upright older Holton (probably a subcontract from Yammy), & the M-W 11, all feel small to me. The only small tuba that didn't feel that way was the Yammy 621 BBb, but I didn't like it for other reasons.

There are other posts that the Lidl 3/4 BBb is a fine instrument. A Cerveny can be lightweight and the Piggy is more compact.

I have not played the new M-W HJ model. It looks promising.

A King 2341 with a retrofit smaller 17 or 18 inch vertical bell is good. Several of the guys here on the forum can fix you up with one of those.

And, of course, there's always a 186.