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Just wondering where I can find some recordings or videos of either of these horns (Conn 56J or Getzen G-50).

What I've found so far are videos of Synergy BQ (he's on a 52J, though), Lyric BQ, some old Brass Theatre videos (also on YouTube), and our very own "TubaGuy" playing some stuff on his CB-50.

Anyways, any references would be great.

Joseph "who doesn't want a 'this one is better than that one' war in this thread"

Blindly, I'd choose the G-50 over the 56J, since G50's seem hot right now and it'd resell more easily if necessary.

I've tried a few 56J's before, and thought they were alright but I liked other things a lot more for the $$$. Tried a very good G-50 as well, but physically, it wasn't too comfortable -- it's a very squat tuba and it felt like my head was all up on the bell. That said, I played a concert with the (then) owner of that tuba, and he sounded awesome on it. So, not for me, but certainly for *someone* out there.

I'm not sure what a recording will do for comparison, outside of a *very* general idea of sound.

UTSAtuba wrote:and our very own "TubaGuy" playing some stuff on his G-50.

In the hands of a better player, the Getzen would sound a lot better than I can. Moot point, Cadie is a CB-50, not G-50.

There is a Canadian Brass video on youtube for "Just a closer walk" or what ever it is. Their signature walk in piece, where Chuck is playing his carbon fiber belled G50.

That reminded me of the video of Mr. Daellenbach and an army of CB/G-50's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aurMKeVHZDI" target="_blank

I like the one I play every now and then (56J) enough, but it has a very sharp 4th partial and is a bit funny around low G. Lower is fine. After playing it for a while I went back to a Miraphone. That one is harder to play but at least I don't need alternate fingerings for the 4th and 5th partials...

My old 56j was a wonderful horn. It didn't have the bad 4th partial, in fact I don't think there was a bad note on the horn with the right mouthpiece. The sound quality was great; really broad, encompassing sound. My only gripes were that you really had to work to get enough volume out of it to support a large ensemble (that said, the ensemble I play with has a brass section that likes to peel paint off of the wall), and the valves were pretty clunky. With a good lapping and some good oil, the valves would probably have been a non-issue; I just never got around to having the lapping done.

It all depends on what you are going to do with it. As a 5tet horn, a small ensemble horn, or in a larger section of a band, it will work wonderfully. As the only tuba in a large band, you will sweat and watch the world become a small dot of light at the end of a tunnel on a regular basis.

Search for Boston Brass. Some are played on Conn 56J.