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AshG, You're facing a hard decision, no doubt. I'd like to break it down into a few areas.
Sentimental value of a horn. I think most of us get attached to our horns from time to time. Not necessarily that they're the best playing, highest-quality horns, but they're ours and we've poured a lot of blood, sweat and tears on those horns in woodshed and performance time. At the same time, though, Bob Tucci told me once that I need to remember that a horn is just a tool. An elegant, sophisticated, beautiful tool, but it's just a tool. If you were a carpenter and found a better saw or hammer, would you hesitate to buy it or trade in your old one for it? (Yes, I know there's a price difference, but the concept is still the same)
Pistons vs. Rotors. That's purely a matter of preference. Are pistons that much superior for your playing? What real advantage do you get playing one valve type over another?
Cases. The fact is, you can have a great hard case built for your horn for under a grand, I believe. Get a quote from Anvil or Unitec. Perhaps you could even get an original VMI case, if you contacted them. You'd probably be spending more than a grand if you trade in your 5R CC on a new 4P CC, right?
Money and family. If you're expecting your first child, make sure you consider the expenses associated with childbirth and taking care of a baby. They aren't cheap. You might be better off financially if you just keep the 5R horn, you might not, but that is up to your analysis.
My $.02: keep your rotary horn and buy a good case for it . . . but who cares what I think . . . best of luck to you and your "soon to be larger" family.

AshG wrote: so I'd feel much more comfortable with a horn in a nice, solid case that can take the house's new clutz.

If you need the hard case for this reason only, you don't have to buy a "tuba hard case", any large enough box will protect the tuba at home, and might be able to serve some other purpose as furniture.

How tall is the horn? Seems odd to me that you can't find a case for it, but I'm sure it's not for lack of trying.

I have a tuba (and many other instruments). I have a son. I went through this scenario also, albeit it was with expensive electric guitars and amplifiers before I obtained my current tubas, and believe me, putting a hand through a speaker grill and speaker cone is much more an issue than bumping a tuba. A good heavy gig bag is sufficient, a whole lot cheaper, and will be sufficient protection for all of you.

I would seriously consider keeping what you have and not getting a 3/4 at this time, as there are places where the 3/4 is exactly that: 3/4, and not large enough. In a case, the actual "floor space" or "shelf space" or "closet space" difference is negligible.

If I'm not mistaken, your VMI is about the size of a Mira 186. Taylor Music has a hard case which should fit for $333.00 . I have purchased a case like this for a smaller horn and found it to be sturdy and well made. Taylor Music is at: http://www.1800usaband.com" target="_blank.

If you are pleased with this horn, you may as well keep it unless you need the money to actually feed the family. Financial ideas seem to go all higgeldy-piggeldy in cases such as these. You won't have to 'wish you never sold it' if you don't sell it.

Jeff "Learned that lesson" Benedict

The bell on these is longer.Bloke is selling some refurbed ones of these to a school with hard case.Maybe he can chime in with which case he used...

I agree with those that say its Wife, Baby, Evrything else.
I would stay with current horn and actively pursue a hard case for it.

PS How did you convince your wife to have a 10 month +pregnancy?





I realize you meant 10 weeks.

PM me with the current horn measurements I have 186 hard case I dont use, perhaps we can strike up a deal.

Larry

AshG wrote:...if I do end up getting a second job to get a horn, it will be for my children. Unfortunately I am already afraid of the choices the little one will make. My wife came to my middle school's spring concert, and he waited until the saxophone solo to start kicking and twitching...

No need to fear. He was just reacting to the aural discomfort the rest of us also feel when having to listen to a saxophone solo!

Hi AshG,
If you decide to keep your horn, Tofu's idea of building a Case/coffee table intrigues me. The kid won't be able to do real damage until age two or so - so time is not yet an issue. Remember you won't have to explain anything to your offspring for many years beyond that.
"SWMBO", known on tubenet as, "She who must be obeyed", is you first concern. Since she is a musician, the outlook is rosy if your pitch to her makes economic sense.
It would be great to locate a tuba that makes you heart go pitter - pat and not set you back too much.
A big coffee table with roundish corners would be great with a baby stumbling around.
Dennis Gray - tended to a few babies in my day.

Indeed. This may be overboard, but in preparation for the arrival of our son, I actually got down on my hands and knees and crawled the entire house to become aware of items that could be a hazard that are not readily apparent from an upright bipedal orientation. After disposing of a couple of pieces of furniture with sharp corners and buying more rounded replacements, changing out some hardwood for a couple of softer chairs, plastic plugging the outlets, etc., I came to the conclusion that one of those temporary hall gates was a good investment. It worked well, and I kept my music room and my son safe from each other with it. When he was big enough we didn't need it anymore, it was a simple matter to spackle the screw holes and a good excuse to repaint the hallway.

Greg wrote:In fact he's more excited about pushing the buttons to "Help Daddy pray tuba".

Thanks, Greg. You brought back some VERY GOOD memories from when my daughter was younger. The whole wanting to push the valves is a good memory, but so is the one where I used to sit the tuba on the ground, bell up, and she'd sing into the mouthpiece "playing the tuba."

Those memories just made my day!

the elephant wrote: 1. Wife
2. Child
3. Everything Else

Let me make one minor adjustment:
1. Your Sanity
2. Wife
3. Children
4. Everything Else.

Notice I did not say "your whims" but "your sanity". The first year of a newborn will be one of the most stressful times in your life. Period. Since you are "out doing nothing at work all day" you will be expected to handle any and all childcare and household duties the entire time you are home. You will not sleep. You will also not do anything else that begins with an S. You will be broke. Due to all of the above you may become cranky and your performance at work might even suffer. If playing the tuba is part of who you are, you will most likely have to cut back but you still need to keep your head screwed on straight. In the end it will be worth it, because you will love them more than you ever imagined.

I wish you the best of luck with your decision. I sold my VMI 3302 when my son was due a few years ago. I wouldn't have had the time to play it for the first couple of years anyway with work and college. You know.....I have zero regrets either. I agree with the posts.....family first and can tell you feel the same. Your Musica sounds like a good solid horn. Best of luck with your decision and congratulations on the upcoming birth!! Dave

Ash:
There is nothing more difficult and rewarding than parenthood. My boys are 12 and 9... it seems like yesterday they were crawling all over the house.

I agree with Bloke and Elephant with a couple of additional thoughts - keep the horn and stop worrying with that decision.

First - you need to be enjoying this time of anticipation with your wife. She is just as nervous and worried as you are. Your stress level will reflect through her. So everything you can do to settle into your current lifestyle and preparation will only benefit your relationship with your wife. Think of it this way... if you were 7 months pregnant would you want to see your spouse screwing around with $3-4k financial decisions for something that is not absolutely necessary?

Second - you will be surprised how calming picking up a horn and just playing can be when the kid has been up 3 times in the night or has had you at the doctor for the third time in a week. Any playing had a very calming effect on my kids (and my dogs, even my wife).

Third - don't fret over the dents - Go into your bedroom, pull the dresser about 18 inches out of the corner and put the horn between the dresser and the wall. It'll be fine.

Enjoy the time with your new child... life will stand still for the first month or so... then you'll blink and be buying a horn for your kid and giving them lessons.

I always describe parenthood to my friends as an 18 year roller coaster ride. You've been in the waiting line for 7 months now. When you head to the hospital, you're getting into the car and locking in, the labor pains are the same as the car being pulled up the first hill... when the baby comes out it's all over the place from there.

Best wishes to you and your family - settle down, hold on and enjoy the ride!

Ricko

A student of mine bought a hard case for a Musica BBb tuba at Baltimore Brass Company. Give Dave Fedderly a call at and see what he can do for you.

What Ricko said. Especially about not worrying, enjoying your growing family, and in a blink of an eye you'll be purchasing an instrument for your child. I've already purchased a used Bach CR300 cornet for my son to start blowing.

If the storage problem is the only issue, consider screwing a large padded hook ($2 or less at HomeDepot) into the wall high enough that a toddler can't reach it. (Of course you have several months before your toddler toddles.)

If you are who I think you are, you can hold onto my big-*** unitec case for my 186 when I don't need it. Your horn should fit if I remember correctly. Congrats and OAS AAS LLS.