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Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:40 pm
by Mwtuba32
I recently played the Jupiter CC tuba. I have to say that I was mildly impressed. It seems to be a good horn for the money. I am interested in knowing about other people's experiences with it.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:56 pm
by Mojo workin'
They don't bring a lot of curb appeal along with them, do they?
Not that it has much to do with how the horn plays, but I've never been a fan of the taller bell/shorter wrap design. The Miraphone 191 'compact wrap' has lots of curb appeal for me. Can't wait until they release the 191 CC.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:35 pm
by Mwtuba32
The one that I played reminded me a lot of the Kalison DS that I once played on for a while. Overall I was impressed with it. The response fairly even in all registers and the intonation was actually very good. The valves were okay, but I hated the 5th valve mechanism. I wouldn't hate owning one of these as a cheap general purpose tuba...but I wouldn't trade my piggy for it
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:45 pm
by Tubaing
tubahead wrote:Which brings up a question - who else makes a tuba like that? Small, four-valve, rotary, Bb?
Miraphone. China.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:46 pm
by Chadtuba
tubahead wrote:Don't the Boston Brass all play on Jupiter instruments? I wonder if the tuba player in that group has had any special work done to make it sound the way he does - I have heard them and they are quite good.
I spoke with him last January at CMEA (Colo) and he told me his was stock and that he found it to be a very good horn. I played a buddy's a while back and found it to be a very good horn even with my limited experience.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:18 pm
by Mwtuba32
tubahead wrote:Don't the Boston Brass all play on Jupiter instruments? I wonder if the tuba player in that group has had any special work done to make it sound the way he does - I have heard them and they are quite good. But the Jupiter tubas that I have tried have been anything but consistent. One or two come to mind that have played really well for me and others have been real dogs. It's that consistency thing. I also think that they're biggest obstacle is their reputation and the idea that "you get what you pay for" ... and they are "school horns" ...
I have played the four-valve B-flat version. So maybe I don't know what I'm talking about concerning the CC tuba. Those could all be great for all I know.
I would be really interested in that little four rotary valve 3/4 Bb tuba. That could be a pretty sweet horn to have around and throw in the back of the car when you don't need a big instrument.
Which brings up a question - who else makes a tuba like that? Small, four-valve, rotary, Bb?
Cerveny makes a few...
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:41 am
by bort
Mojo workin' wrote:Not that it has much to do with how the horn plays, but I've never been a fan of the taller bell/shorter wrap design. The Miraphone 191 'compact wrap' has lots of curb appeal for me. Can't wait until they release the 191 CC.
It's getting close, Mojo. I hear that it'll be at Musikmesse Frankfurt in April. Out of my price range though, so I'll have to wait a few years for the
next next thing to come around so I can snag up a used 191 CC.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:50 am
by J.c. Sherman
bloke wrote:
I wonder if the valves turn black and stick like all the rest.
They've since fixed that problem, and moved to Monel and Stainless valves instead of that wretched nickel plate! I've retrofit dozens of instruments with the new valves - Jupiter's been really good about it.
J.c.S.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:49 pm
by Mojo workin'
It's getting close, Mojo. I hear that it'll be at Musikmesse Frankfurt in April. Out of my price range though, so I'll have to wait a few years for the next next thing to come around so I can snag up a used 191 CC.
Yeah, Bort I bet they'll be in the neighborhood of ten or eleven grand.
Baltimorons like us could maybe pull together and share one.....I'd get it on weekends.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:59 pm
by Mwtuba32
I can't say that I could tell much about the valves..the one that I played was a demo, so the valves had not been broken in. It actually looked like I was the first one to touch it. I did pull out the valves. They appeared to be plated with stainless..not solid stainless.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:00 pm
by iiipopes
You don't "plate" with stainless, as it is an alloy. You plate with a single element, like nickel. New Jupiters have stainless steel valves. They also have redesigned valve casings to go with them. The quality of a new Jupiter tuba is above the older ones in the original 582 BBb design. Also, the 2nd valve tubing has been reangled so it doesn't collect water as badly. There are probably some other tweaks, but even though I have played both old and new, I have not had a new one in hand for any length of time to really be able to sort out all the improvements over the last few years.
The Jupiter souzys, however, are still made out of too thin metal and have no tone. I've heard only one that sounded good: a colleague who is a tuba major who uses a Schilke HII on one.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:30 pm
by Mwtuba32
Don't know why i didn't think of that..
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:42 pm
by The Big Ben
tubahead wrote:Tubaing wrote:tubahead wrote:Which brings up a question - who else makes a tuba like that? Small, four-valve, rotary, Bb?
Miraphone. China.
Sorry, I should have been more specific.
Who else makes a 3/4 Bb four rotary good quality
readily available and
very affordable tuba?
Similar Miraphones start at double the price.
Not sure about quality of the Chinese tubas, but that's been discussed ad nauseum.
Anyway, someone else mentioned Cerveny. Still, though - you'd pay the same for a used Cerveny as you would a new one of these.
Yes, but you also pay about the same for a new Cerveny as for a used Mira and about 1/2 as much as for a new Mira. Cervenys are not as stout as a Miraphone but, with an adult, that's not such a big consideration.
If the Chinese pick up the quality to what Cerveny has done with their horns and can undercut them on price, they might be a competitor. However, the reliability doesn't seem to be there yet.
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:42 pm
by iiipopes
Whatever happened to Dalyan? They seemed to be an up-and-coming Chinese maker.
Cheap, 3/4, and readily available? Reminds me of the sign over an auto repair shop: "Quick--Cheap--Good: you can have any two of the three."
Re: Jupiter CC tuba
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:30 pm
by Mwtuba32
Good question