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mdh811 wrote:Hey everyone,

I am was looking for a new mouthpiece before but now I am looking for a new tuba!!!!
I want some suggestions from you all. I want a nice Eb or small CC for small ensembles. I have B&S PT-4. Any suggestions?

You already have a good tuba for small ensembles.

Miraphone 184 or 185?

mdh811 wrote:My PT-4 is custom made and is too big for small ensembles. Its too boomy and too noticable. It is great for orchestra and concert band but not for smaller ensembles. I played on small 3/4 CC and it blended better but it was a loaner and had too many problems. I think it was a yamaha something.

well, I don't know you, and this is not meant to be taken personally or as a criticism, but to what extent do you think that the boomy and noticable aspects of this instrument is down to the instrument or to the player?

For a CC tuba you should try a YCB 621. Has that light sound for small ensemble you're probably looking for. Good Luck

I played a PT-3 in college. It's got a 16.5" bell instead of your 19" bell. That might be worth checking out, and would require minimal "change" in what you're used to. Nice tuba!

goodgigs wrote:Meanwhile, I found a clip of what I'd love to sound like (except I would never work so hard) and its played on a HUGE tuba.
The reason I posted after I realized I was being really selfish and stupid is that I saw the view counter.......WOW
Nobody is listening to this amazing work of performance art. I'm guessing it's not what you want to sound like, but
check it out to the end. It will be worth it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsS71W_H ... re=related

That's a superb example! My professor in college used his 6/4 York for the faculty quintet and sounded tremendous. At that time I had a MW 2165 and a Yamaha 822 F tuba. I preferred the 2165 to the F when it came to the quintet. It just sounded better to me. Fast forward 10 years (wow, has it been that long) and I have a different 2165. I would definitely use this horn for quintet. Then again....it is my only horn at the moment.

Back to the original question, I would say a Cerveny piggy. It is a small horn that plays bigger than it is.

The PT-4 is fine for small ensembles and meduim sized orchestras and it is a good tuba for most band situations as well.

See if you can try a Kanstul 66-t (4 valve upright) or a 66-s (5 valve side mounted).
The 66- t has a brighter more resonant sound, the 66-s has a darker timbre with a hint of oak.....oops gotta watch those wine analogies. These are the EEb tubas that just came out. Play before you buy if you can - remember one man's meat is an other man's poison. The only person you need to please is yourself.
Hope this helps and good luck, the horn of your dreams may find you.

mdh811 wrote:Wow you dont sound at all like a jerk. I'll go ahead and answer your question since you failed to answer mine
The horn is just very present in an ensemble. Its hard to explain. The horn has a crazy warm sound to it which I love but its a little too warm in a small ensemble. I've played on other horns and I don't get the same warmness/presence on my PT-4. I guess what I am trying to say is I'm looking for a brighter tuba that isn't an F.

of course I wasn't trying to be a jerk, I guess what I'm trying to say is that the tuba is a big brass tube that has no presence until someone puts a mouthpiece in and blows it, and then the player should control the tuba, not the other way round. if you ask 100 players what you should play in your situation, you'll get 100 different answers, which is as unhelpful to you as my answer was. Blend and sound in an ensemble, small or large, is something we all have to work at by taming ourselves and the tuba - in that order

peter birch wrote:

mdh811 wrote:Wow you dont sound at all like a jerk. I'll go ahead and answer your question since you failed to answer mine
The horn is just very present in an ensemble. Its hard to explain. The horn has a crazy warm sound to it which I love but its a little too warm in a small ensemble. I've played on other horns and I don't get the same warmness/presence on my PT-4. I guess what I am trying to say is I'm looking for a brighter tuba that isn't an F.

of course I wasn't trying to be a jerk, I guess what I'm trying to say is that the tuba is a big brass tube that has no presence until someone puts a mouthpiece in and blows it, and then the player should control the tuba, not the other way round. if you ask 100 players what you should play in your situation, you'll get 100 different answers, which is as unhelpful to you as my answer was. Blend and sound in an ensemble, small or large, is something we all have to work at by taming ourselves and the tuba - in that order

And how I interpret this for your situation is that if you really feel that your current horn is too large, then find a smaller horn. If you want a small horn that's not an F, maybe look for an Eb or a 3/4 CC like the Kanstul or maybe even the small Yamaha CC would work for you. Don't totally discount F tuba's though. There are some that won't sound bright, especially given the right mouthpiece.

mdh811 wrote:Hey everyone,

I am was looking for a new mouthpiece before but now I am looking for a new tuba!!!!

So, you've decided to keep the mouthpiece?

I use my Gnagey CC for all sorts of stuff, smaller and bigger. I would try one out if you can.

I have the Kanstul 902, and I love it in my quintet.its got a great sound, nice and warm, but not huge like a Thor, lol.

sloan wrote:

mdh811 wrote:Hey everyone,

I am was looking for a new mouthpiece before but now I am looking for a new tuba!!!!

So, you've decided to keep the mouthpiece?

Guy walks into the auto repair, and asks, "Can I get an oil cap for my car?" . . . .