TubeNet

Giovanni wrote:If you want the best, get a Hirsbrunner, or shall I say Yorkbrunner HBS 500. It's got four piston valves and one big rotary valve. It's a 6/4 CC modeled after Arnie Jacobsen's York tuba. Go to <www.hirsbrunner.com> Custom Music Company in Michigan sells them exclusively. Drawback? Price, somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000 but you will get lots of smiles per mile. Another tuba-try a Yamaha. I don't know the actual prices but their BAT is a decent instrument for the money. The Meinl-Weston BAT is a cool tuba. Good luck and happy hunting

Arnie Jacobsen? You mean, Arnold Jacobs?

And Yamaha's BAT? Yamaha doesn't have a BAT in production. Their prototype BAT is not available, and reported to be more expensive as a prototype than the Hirsbrunner.

The Meinl-Weston 6/4 is the 2165, and before trying that I would try a Gronitz PCK, about which the best players are saying wonderful things. It's in the same price range as the 2165 at less than $10K. It's also a little smaller and possibly more versatile.

None of these would be my first CC tuba if I was intending a career as a tubist. I'd rather choose a popular 4/4 tuba (popular so it will hold its price). It's mighty hard to keep a 6/4 tuba from overpowering, say, a brass quintet. There was an Alexander 163 down the list for a very reasonable price, but I'd bet it's already been snatched up.

Rick "wondering how Mr. Jacobs would have responded to 'Arnie'" Denney

***

bigshelbert wrote:I gotta get a CC tuba.
I'm playing on the university's 5/4 willson BBb and i really like it so i'm looking for a 5-6/4 CC that will be delicate and gruesome all in one. I also prefer pistons. any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks fellas,
Bigshelbert

Meinl Weston 2000
B&S Perantucci PT-6p
B&S Perantucci PT-6
Hirsbrunner HB-6 - used
Rudy Meinl 5/4
Meinl Weston 2155
B&S Perantucci PT-7p
Meinl Weston 216? - the handmade version of the 2165
Hirsbrunner HB-50
Willson 5/4 CC

Those are the horns I could think of off the top of my head which I would look into. I also listed them pretty much in order of preference for me. The only truly large horns on the list are the Rudy Meinl, B&S PT-7p, HB-50, and the MW 216?. On my list the MW2000, MW216?, and the HB-6 are handmade. This really does make a big difference in how a horn responds, IMO.

All of the horns I listed, in capable hands, can give plenty or projection with little effort.

Get a Rudolf Meinl 4/4 or 5/4 (models 45, 50, or 4345). Rotors are not that bad. Or just go for it and get a Willson CC or a MW 2000.

I can't believe Nirschl's have not been mentioned. I have played both the 'york' style 4/4 and 6/4 and they are amazing horns.

I'm currently looking for a 6/4

The Miraphone 1291CC - it has a great sound and plenty of presence and will handle just about everything you will encounter as a player.

Just my observations.
Roger Lewis

Nobody mentioned Cerveny! OK, we've had these discussions about Cerveny on the old BBS and maybe a fresh discussion under a separate thread is appropriate. However, don't neglect to consider these tubas. They are fairly affordable and value for the buck in my opinion. I think there are some good ones and not so good ones. I was fortunate to have played on one of the good ones in college.

Just my $0.02

Darrell

ai698 wrote:Get a Rudolf Meinl 4/4 or 5/4 (models 45, 50, or 4345). Rotors are not that bad. Or just go for it and get a Willson CC or a MW 2000.

I actually have a 5/4 Rudy Meinl CC for sale. Details can be found in the For Sale section. Just thought I'd mention it for anyone following this thread that may be interested.

Giovanni wrote:Etched on the retina of my eye is Arnold Jacobs, Frank Crisafullo, Raymond Cichowicz, Bud Herseth and a horn player whose name I forget but shouldn't have, playing as a quintet with Maestro Jacobs on his York tuba

Philip Farkas, probably? That's a quintet of which I should really find some recordings.

I'll second the nomination of the PT-20 as a viable horn. I don't know why, but it and the VMI-labeled BBb equivalent 3302 both play like I'd want a tuba to play.

I would look at a 2155. It is a great horn that can sound big if you need it to. Plus the price is not to bad. I'd hold off on getting a BAT, until you decided what your playing situation is.

The MW 2155/MW2000 are great sized horns that work well in chamber and large orchestral settins. Since switching from the Yorkbrunner I not only feel more comfortable using CC in quintet, but feel that the 2155 actually sounds much bigger than did the HB-50 in orchestra...owing in part to the quality of sound that is issued, not so much the size of the bore.

Make sure the instrument you buy makes an immediate impact on you. After that it is simply a matter of finding the mouthpiece that fits best with that instrument. You will not grow into a horn, since you would be playing an instrument that does not neccessarily compliment your style of playing you may develop detrimental habits in order to make it do what you want.

If you want a BAT, by all means buy it, but don't get the one that holds the most "mystique" for you. When I first bought my Yorkbrunner, Mr. Fedderly told me that I was probably buying it because of this reason and offered me a very generous offer to switch me over to a MW2155, this was 7 years ago...which I played in his basement and, addmittedly felt very comfortable with at the time. My pride got the better of me and I kept the HB50. After some success, but fighting the horn for this period I decided to sell it and ended up being blown away by none other than a 2155.
My current teacher just recently bought a 1291 and it is comparable, in size, to my 2155. The sound is less directional with more overtones. I will keep my 2155 just because I still like the sound and the way it blows...but both have the ability to sound like, and even bigger than 6/4 tubas.