TubeNet

Hello Tubenet,
I have been working really hard at 3 jobs for a little under a year, saving like crazy to buy an F tuba. I ended up trying and totally loving the Yamaha YFB821 Bobo model at ITEC 2010 in Tucson.

I am at about 3/4 of the way to the money needed to buy this tuba new, but that also makes other models available to me at that price point. Many F tubas are available for $7k.

I am having memories of the Bobo being the "perfect" F tuba, and not being able to put it down. I just want to play one again. I was thinking with a few other players around with a recorder as well, to make sure it's worth the few more months of wait(up to about 6 more months at the current saving rate), rather than spending my money now on an F that I MIGHT not like as much, but can definitely get the job done (like the PT-8 or MW2182 at Dillon's now).

I am basically stuck between instant gratification, which I know usually isn't great in the long run, and a few more months of craziness to get what I think is my dream F. I KNOW it is ultimately the player and how much the horn is practiced and mastered rather than the equipment, so please spare me the lectures/flames about that stuff. I am just trying to KNOW that it's not the equipment like I did with my CC. My Nirschl York is pretty unforgiving when I put garbage in the mouthpiece, which keeps me on my toes. That has helped my playing immensely.

So my question is, does anyone in the NYC/Northern NJ area own one of these that would like to meet up and let me try it again and see if it is everything I remember? I know Yamaha is pretty consistent so I wouldn't be worried about mine being very different. Maybe you could play my Nirschl 6/4 while I play your F? Duets? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone has experienced this dilemma, saving up for 1 thing while not wanting to wait and get a "cheap" imitation to get faster satisfaction, whether it worked out or not, share your story as well.

Thanks.
e-mail me any leads
weskrygsmanATgmailDOTcom

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There is something to be said about the satisfaction in getting exactly what you're looking for. Especially, on something that you're going to be spending a significant chunk of time with. I had a few F tubas before I got my 822. I knew from day 1 that I wanted the 822 but for a time a played on a Ziess that my parents were nice enough to buy me. Then I played on a Miraphone 181 but it wasn't quite what I wanted. I finally got tired of it and sold that for my 822 that I currently play and it's really nice having the tuba that I've always wanted and to get the sound I've wanted.

I would say save up and get what you want the first time instead of wasting time on other instruments. It's worth it.


Doug

My personal saying for things like this is "buy it nice or buy it twice." You know what you want, and it'd be silly to go after anything else given that your current opinion matches that from 2010 (and I have no reason to believe that's changed).

For me, though I'd hardly say that I did things the "wrong way," I've probably known for about 7 years that a Miraphone 188 would be an ideal tuba for me and probably similar to this "match" you feel with the 821. I finally bought a 188 last March, and it was even better than I thought! Just a perfect fit for me (and I had owned and sold plenty of other fantastic instruments during those 7 years). I don't regret waiting, but it sure is nice to be on the other side now.

Two other thoughts:
-- You're in a fortunate position to be this way with a NEW tuba and not a used one. It will be there ready to buy now or 6 months from now.
-- If you *really* have an itch for an F tuba, you could buy a YFB-621, play that for a few months, and then sell that before you get the 821. The 621's seem to sell pretty quickly around here and you'd get a very decent (if not total) return on your money.

I was very fortunate, and was able to to play my YFB-821 prior to purchasing it. I love my horn, and do not intend on replacing it, but like all horns the Bobo does has its characteristic traits. If you love the horn and buy another, you may end up buying it later, but if you expect any horn to be perfect, you will never find that horn.

Hello! Try MW2250S! It's wonderful ...

There are probably 3 or 4 F horns that will be great for you, but you have it in your head that the YFB821 is the horn you want. You will not be happy until you have that horn, so buck up, save your money until you have enough for it and buy it. Don't mess with something that is in your mind a compromise, you'll just always wish you would have waited anyway, so my advice is keep saving and get what you want. It is worth the wait.