F and Eb are very different!

[Wyvern]

Yesterday I played my new B&S PT-15 F in concert for the first time and thanks to my sister being in the audience managed to get the concert recorded on my H2 which provided me with a very interesting 'out-front' comparison with previous recordings playing my Melton 2040/5 Eb. What really strikes me is how substantially different they sound. The F is leaner and more cutting, while the Eb is rounder and more tubby. The F tuba blends with the trombones when playing together, while the Eb remains tonally separate.

The two pitches of bass tuba are often used interchangeably in different countries according to the local culture, but at least to me sound very different instruments. I thought I would just share my thoughts as I don't think many people play both to really compare. I certainly never fully appreciated the substantial tonal differences!

I am not saying one is better than the other, but just they are different. The tone of one may best suit one piece and the other another.

For the difference between F and a CC BAT, or BBb Kaiser - that is so huge I think they can be considered completely different instruments, quite as far apart in tone as say a violin and viola. No wonder the Germans are so strict about which is used for what music - can make a noticeable difference to the sound of the orchestra.

[sloan]

Don't you really mean "B&S and Melton are very different!" ???

[Wyvern]

Don't you really mean "B&S and Melton are very different!" ???

No! I have played few of both - although in actual fact they are now two brands of the same manufacturer often 'sharing' components. Such as the same bell is used on the PT-7 and 2165

[The Big Ben]

...and manufacturers either stay close - sonically - to these models, or they venture away from them.

That's pretty profound, bloke...

[imperialbari]

That's pretty profound, bloke...

bloke IS basic low optionally kreative entertainment

[tjs]

So about a week or so ago, my friend Jim Gray and I got together and played duets on our Ebs. He's got a 2040/5 like yours, and I just bought a Starlight about a month or two ago. I had played his 2040 during the month of December, and did some more last week during our session. My basic observation about it is that the 2040 is more of a "small C" tuba than anything else. If you push some air behind that thing, you could easy carry a fairly large ensemble with it. The Starlight, on the other hand, is a much "smaller" horn -- more like what most would think of as an "F tuba" than your 2040. I've played the SL in my orchestra and while it can be used in ensemble, it is probably not as good as your 2040 for a medium sized group.

Anyway, Jim and I have been thinking about writing a comparison article for Tubenet and maybe this will help inspire us to actually do it. I think both are very good horns, just completely different in concept. (Well, and they can both play a low C without having to fuss about it....)

I guess the bottom line is that I'm not terribly surprised your 2040 is very different than your F.. you might feel a little different if you had more of a pea shooter like the SL!

Tim

[Wyvern]

Anyway, Jim and I have been thinking about writing a comparison article for Tubenet and maybe this will help inspire us to actually do it. I think both are very good horns, just completely different in concept.

I will look forward to reading that article Tim. A transatlantic friend hearing a recent recording of my 2040/5 also commented that it had more of a small C tuba sound. I think most of the larger Eb's probably do have a tone which in the states you think of as like a small C.

If you push some air behind that thing, you could easy carry a fairly large ensemble with it.

Well I played Mahler 6 with 103 piece orchestra on 2040/5 prior to getting my Neptune and it is 'present' in the recording, so can be done [Although I would not choose to do so when I have a 6/4 CC at my disposal]