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Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:57 pm
by Novicekiddo
Currently my school decided to stop lending me a tuba and I am planning to take an exam in 1 year but now i have no tuba =(. I am wanted to get a tuba a few years later because my teacher said I was not ready for my own tuba.Now,I guess I really need one and can anyone suggest any tuba for me? I prefer 4 pistol BBb tuba and what i am really worried about is getting a wrong tuba. I also do not have much air but can anyone recommend a tuba that does not require much air and can last me till maybe a more " Professional" band? I have used a Yamaha 641 for 5 years and Meinl Weston 25 for 3months.My country do not really import in tuba(except those that are really PROFESSIONAL) unless someone orders for a tuba.My budget is around 5-7k USD...
Also are these BBb tubas good?
Conn 52J
Miraphone 12724
Thank You!
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:04 am
by Dan Schultz
Where are you located?
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:28 am
by Novicekiddo
Singapore.
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:14 pm
by toobagrowl
Novicekiddo wrote:Now,I guess I really need one and can anyone suggest any tuba for me? I prefer 4 pistol BBb tuba and what i am really worried about is getting a wrong tuba. I also do not have much air but can anyone recommend a tuba that does not require much air and can last me till maybe a more " Professional" band? My budget is around 5-7k USD...
Thank You!
King 2341
http://www.musiciansbuy.com/King_2341_B ... 12341.html" target="_blank
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:49 pm
by Rick Denney
I also recommend a King 2341. It seems to me the best combination of good sound, good price, and ease of play of any 4-piston Bb tuba that can be bought new.
Rick "or a Miraphone 186" Denney
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:08 am
by tubaforce
Hi!
If there is no one dealing in Tubas at your disposal, you might try Tuba Exchange. The owner has always given me sound advice, and he doesn't need to sell you a Tuba! He's one of the biggest dealers in the US., and sells overseas too. Tell Mr.Simonetti what you're looking for. He may be able to get something shipped to you direct...
There may be some other options thrown out by the TubeNet body, so be patient!
Good luck,
Al
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:54 am
by Novicekiddo
The is only shop that really have and allowed me to tried Tubas.However their choices are limited as shown in this link
http://www.topbrass.com.sg/index.php?op ... 7&TreeId=4" target="_blank
most of them are also more than 15 thousand USD.
Then again i have been looking at the B & S 3301 BB piston Tuba 3301. But it should be quite exp and I am still quite unsure what to look out for when choose a tuba.The King seems good and I have saw how its made on youtube =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIP53NEBIY" target="_blank
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:48 am
by Novicekiddo
Also I have been looking around and if i am going for a budget of around 5-6k USD
which would be a better choice?
Conn5J
https://www.dillonmusic.com/p-2231-conn ... -tuba.aspx" target="_blank
or
King 2341
https://www.dillonmusic.com/p-2232-king ... -tuba.aspx" target="_blank
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:06 am
by Novicekiddo
Hmm I have found a distributor in my country which sells Miraphone,Conn and King. Not sure if they stock up tubas i think the best thing is to go down and try.
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:54 am
by tubaforce
Great!
Make sure you ask for a discount! "What's the lowest price you can give me on this Tuba?" Then leave and think about it overnight!
Al
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 10:32 am
by Novicekiddo
I just called up...They said they will check the price and the stock and get back to me.
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:37 am
by tclements
You can't go wrong with a Mirafone 186, 188, or 191. BBb or CC your choice. (there is no 188 BBb, tho).
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:24 pm
by Kevin Hendrick
tclements wrote:You can't go wrong with a Mirafone 186, 188, or 191. BBb or CC your choice. (there is no 188 BBb, tho).
IIRC, the BBb version of the 188 is the 187, just as the CC version of the 191 is the 291. When it comes to Mira[f|ph]one model numbers vs. keys, the only hard-and-fast rule is that there are no hard-and-fast rules (including this one) ...

Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:32 pm
by tclements
Hmmm. never seen a 187. Anyone got a pict of one?
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:45 pm
by toobagrowl
Guys -
The OP has stated that he prefers a 4 piston BBb tuba that does not require much air.
The King 2341 is a proven horn that fits what he is looking for: smallish .687 bore that does not require much air, 4 pistons, in BBb, and plays very well with a good sound.
IMO, the Conn 5J is almost like a glorified middle school horn due to it's specs and sound, but could be an OK horn also.
The Miraphones listed in this thread are all rotary and all have at least a medium-large .772 bore or larger. The Miraphone 191 has a very large .835 bore, and is a rotary 5/4. It is also more expensive than the other horns listed.
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:55 pm
by Kevin Hendrick
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:00 pm
by tubaforce
tooba wrote:Guys -
The OP has stated that he prefers a 4 piston BBb tuba that does not require much air.
The King 2341 is a proven horn that fits what he is looking for: smallish .687 bore that does not require much air, 4 pistons, in BBb, and plays very well with a good sound.
IMO, the Conn 5J is almost like a glorified middle school horn due to it's specs and sound, but could be an OK horn also.
The Miraphones listed in this thread are all rotary and all have at least a medium-large .772 bore or larger. The Miraphone 191 has a very large .835 bore, and is a rotary 5/4. It is also more expensive than the other horns listed.
No Tuba requires more or less air than any other! If you buzz into your mouthpeice, and insert it into any variety of different size Tubas, one after the other, I think you might well agree with my statement! Effeciency of the Bugle, and the back pressure are the issues we confuse with "air consumption", IMHO!
Al

Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:34 pm
by The Big Ben
Here's a shot in the dark:
Contact the symphony or opera in your town and send a message to their tuba player that you are looking for a horn and would like some help. You might make a good connection for some information on making a good choice in a new or used tuba that would work well for you.
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:57 pm
by Rick Denney
tubaforce wrote:Effeciency of the Bugle, and the back pressure are the issues we confuse with "air consumption", IMHO!
If the bugle is not efficient, what do you do to make more sound?
You use more air.
Point is: The King 2341 is a very efficient bugle.
Rick "thinking this is a semantic discussion" Denney
Re: Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:48 pm
by Bob Kolada
I play a 187 occasionally (not as much as I used to). It's not my favorite kind of horn but it plays well and low D is fun.
EDIT- 2341's are pretty spot on horns. They play well, are in tune, and don't have any of the quirkiness some other horns have. I can't speak to the low low range on them. The 56J I play is ok there and has usable, if somewhat oddly pitched (low Eb is on 5, D 52, Db 51), false tones.