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Recently I had the opportunity to playtest the prototype of the tuba Adams (NL) will present at the Frankfurt Fair end of March.
It is a 4/4 CC, modelled after the Hirsbrunner 4/4 (4 pistons, 1 rotary).
With some caution (we are talking about a prototype) it is my impression that Adams is entering the tuba world at a high level. The instrument produced a solid and rich tone (singing), flexibility and intonation were OK.
The prototype had a material thickness of 0.6 mm and gave a solid "feel of sound". There will be a version of 0.5 mm thickness as well.
I am curious about the opinions of you who will visit the Frankfurt Fair and playtest this tuba.
No idea about a price yet (but knowing the company it will not be cheap )
[From Adams are already available fluegelhorns, euphoniums and trumpets. Trombone is being developped at the moment].
Hubert

hubert wrote: It is a 4/4 CC, modelled after the Hirsbrunner 4/4 (4 pistons, 1 rotary).

Hubert,

Did you happen to take any pictures? Pictures ALWAYS seem to get the tubenet community interested.

By chance, is this new Adams tuba based on the HBS 390/HB-2P design? (The one with the loop in the leadpipe.) As much as I am impressed with the design and worksmanship of the Hirsbrunner line over the years, a HB-2P is the only 4/4 model I would personally be excited about. If the Adams tuba is indeed based on that design, I WOULD be interested in it, at the price point of other European tubas.

That being said, do you consider this prototype to be very faithful to the original Hirsbrunner design, or is Adams putting a lot of their own design skills into this model?

Curious,
Barney

I am not sure if Adams makes the Adams Euphoniums in house or contracts out for them. Either way, they are immaculate and sound as good as they look. Awesome horns.

If the tubas are as good as the euphs are, this will be exciting to try them!

A few remarks to the posts I have read so far.

What I have seen was modelled after the HB-2P.
Although I am not a great fan of Hirsbrunners products for myself, I dare to say that the quality comes very near to that of the original.
And yes, Adams' design follows Hirsbrunners' without major differences (That's why he has taken over Hirsbrunner, who will continue making his tubas, but in due time with Adams' parts, as I was told). The differences are in the production. Adams has also taken over a German company for valve production. All the rest is being made in their own factory (euphonium and fluegel as well). With a small crew of specialized craftsmen the old boss Andre (the founder of Adams and the maker of the well known timpani) is developing and building a lot of machines, gauges and mouldings at the moment, because he is determined to line out the whole process himself and control it from A to Z and execute it within his own company. As he says, finally his dream (making brass instruments) is becoming true. (And by now he can afford financially, I am sure .
What I have seen, gives me the impression that:
- in 2 or three years Adams will be able to produce a complete line of brass instruments;
- he is not aiming at a variety of designs for each instrument, but prefers to offer different thicknesses and different combinations of materials (brass, goldbrass, silver) for his preferred design;
- that he will take his time before he will advertise internationally (e.g. their website is not in English yet), because the emphasis is on development, logistics and education of staff for the time being rather than on production.

And no (I am sorry), I did not take pictures of the tuba. I had no camera and was not expecting to be invited to visit the factory and try the tuba, when I drove there for a little repair.
And...they said they have 3 "representatives" in USA. Sorry, at the moment I only remember Dillon and Custom.

Let me finish this post and furthermore be silent, before it would look like I am advertising Adams. I am not and will not, although I admire the intentions and determination of the "old man" Andre. In the first place I want to share the information. Yes, they are very skilled people (especially Andre and his cousin Miel), but their services are not cheap, to say it cautiously.
Hubert