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What is the story on Gerhard Schneider tubas? Who makes them? There's a CC on auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gerhard-Schneider-C ... 7C294%3A50" target="_blank

The first decent tuba I was fortunate enough to play was a Gerhard Schneider BBb . . . took me to all-state orchestra my senior year. I have very fond memories of that horn, and would own another if I could. I'm pretty sure they were made in East Germany by B&S, but I'm sure someone else would be able to comment with more certainty.

It appears like Schneider was one of the private master workshops forced into the B&S conglomerate owned by the GDR state. Schneider apparently wasn’t used as a brand for special instruments like Hoyer horns, Scherzer trumpets, or B&S tubas.

The name occurs when B&S wanted to do some not so kosher marketing. Like feeding parallel imports cheating on exclusive contracts with foreign distributors. From the evidence coming my way, the Schneider name only was applied to the best instruments out of the B&S conglomerate. I have seen no samples of student instruments called Schneider.

I have no Schneider instruments myself, but I certainly would like a Schneider copy of the Alexander 103 double horn. The Alexander original was better made, but the Schneider due to the different brass formula and a marginally wider wrap appealed more to my ears.

Klaus

Well, I bought this tuba. Thanks for the posts------they made the instrument seem like a reasonable investment. Now, I need some recommendations for a mouthpiece suitable for this horn.

Ace wrote:Well, I bought this tuba. Thanks for the posts------they made the instrument seem like a reasonable investment. Now, I need some recommendations for a mouthpiece suitable for this horn.

Congratulations, Ace! I think you've nabbed a good one. When I used my G. Schneider BBb, I didn't notice that it was particularly mouthpiece-sensitive, just about anything worked well on it. You can focus on getting the sound you want . . . let us know how it goes, and what you think when you get it.

Ace wrote:Well, I bought this tuba. Thanks for the posts------they made the instrument seem like a reasonable investment. Now, I need some recommendations for a mouthpiece suitable for this horn.

That looks a good buy - I hope you enjoy! Please let us know how it plays.