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Hello All!

Interested in hearing opinions on 6/4 CC tubas. I have recently tried some tubas that have incredible low registers - Miraphone 1292 and 1293, Besson 995 and even a Jupiter! Excellent response in the low register and very open - due to large valve sets. These horns are all a bit smaller than what I'm inquiring about, but I would like to hear thoughts from those of you that have tried any of these models, and can suggest 6/4 CC tubas that have comparable low registers, great pitch and a solid upper register.

What do you like?

Thank you in advance!

Mike Milnarik

The Gronitz PCK is listed as 5/4 but is about the size of a 6450-maybe a 5.5/4 or 5.75/4.

I believe this model to have a very responsive low register. Maybe not as easy as a MW Thor, but somewhat close.

The horn does have very wide slots, similar to some other 6/4 tubas that I have tried, but it is very accessable down there, nonetheless.

The Rudy is reputed to have what you have described.

Dirty little secret:
Many true 6/4 tubas do not have easily accessible low registers.

I agree with previous post. To get those huge things to really speak in the low register, you need a huge amount of puff, which is possible, but you wouldn't want to do it too much in one go.

I've always found the tuning compromises that are often needed when the tuba gets that fat mean that they are mostly not ideal for non-orchestral settings.

MartyNeilan wrote:Dirty little secret:
Many true 6/4 tubas do not have easily accessible low registers.

Nor do they have great pitch.

MikeMilnarik wrote:Excellent response in the low register and very open - due to large valve sets.

There are so many variables that it is hard to say that any one particular design set is responsible for any one result.

For example: A brass instrument designer recently told me about the problems in balancing the gap on a trumpet receiver to improve response and change the sound. Improve the response, deaden the sound. Give the sound lots of color, response goes bad. We spent half an hour talking about that, when he said, "then there's the little matter of the rate of taper."

It's like the economy, tweak one thing, and something happens in a completely unexpected sector.

An intune, good responding 6/4 tuba can be built. You just have to know what you are doing and not try to make a half-way copy of a good one.

These big tubas can be played in tune, but are a bit of a hassle to play in tune. I guess you have to figure if it's worth it for what you need.

Alex C wrote:

MikeMilnarik wrote:Excellent response in the low register and very open - due to large valve sets.

There are so many variables that it is hard to say that any one particular design set is responsible for any one result.

For example: A brass instrument designer recently told me about the problems in balancing the gap on a trumpet receiver to improve response and change the sound. Improve the response, deaden the sound. Give the sound lots of color, response goes bad. We spent half an hour talking about that, when he said, "then there's the little matter of the rate of taper."

It's like the economy, tweak one thing, and something happens in a completely unexpected sector.

An intune, good responding 6/4 tuba can be built. You just have to know what you are doing and not try to make a half-way copy of a good one.

+1!!

Mark

bloke wrote:A manned spacecraft to Alpha Centauri can be built. You just have to know what you are doing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sparrow_(novel)

A great book, it deals with deep space travel, linguistics, music, psychology, anthropology, alien contact, faith, physiology, theology, and lots of other things.

Thought this might be a good topic for discussion...and it is!

(We've even headed into space!) LOL!

Mike Milnarik

bloke wrote:A manned spacecraft to Alpha Centauri can be built. You just have to know what you are doing.

Yes but Pop Johnson built a great 6/4. As you know, many of the attempts at building "copies" have included "improvements." If you want to copy the CSO York, just copy it, don't try to tweak it.

Company #1 copied and improved the CSO tuba design for low register response. Long-term owners have had additional tweaks to make the low register better.
Company #2 did a more faithful copy but still had improvements to the CSO tuba.
Company #3 went through numerous permutations of a Holton copy before they redesigned their whole 6/4 line.
Company #4 made a faithful copy of the CSO, with few "improvements" and a huge price-tag.
Company #5 made a 6/4 piston valve tuba with large tapers and the horn was excellent by many pro's comments. It was not a copy of anything and it did not sound "American," it sounded like a Kaiser BBb. Great horn but the company did not feel there would be a market for the horn. Good call, considering what happened to our economy.

And that's just the ones I can think of.

You've got to know what you are doing, you just can't take some measurements and backward engineer a musical instrument. Incidentally, the problem with many Chinese instruments is just that. The horn they produce looks and even measures like the one they copied, but they copied the outside, not the inside where it counts.

Hi-
I think one 6/4 piston 'BAT' CC that is often not talked about is the Dillon aka Matt Walters DCB-1185 tuba. Anything Matt builds is always amazing, and even though this horn has limited production, I would think the horn has to be 'in the mix' when talking about outstanding brand new 'BATS'.......

Mark

If you want a big fat tuba with a good low register and good intonation, start looking a BBb tubas.

Art Hovey wrote:If you want a big fat tuba with a good low register and good intonation, start looking a BBb tubas.

Amen!!

Obviously a silver plated King Monster rotary BBb!!!

bloke wrote:I've been looking for a new-condition Yamaha YCB-826S for sale...I have $7000 to spend...possibly $7500...

As I respond at my store when people ask something similar about a top of the line grand piano:

"$7000 would be a very nice deposit."

.

bloke wrote:A manned spacecraft to Alpha Centauri can be built. You just have to know what you are doing.

Otherwise you will be floating around with Will Robinson and Dr. Smith (eeeewwwww)

Brassdad wrote:

bloke wrote:A manned spacecraft to Alpha Centauri can be built. You just have to know what you are doing.

Otherwise you will be floating around with Will Robinson and Dr. Smith (eeeewwwww)

Could be worse:
You could be floating around with Wil Smith.
"Aw, hell no!"