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Which E flat tuba do you play (if this is what you choose)? Why, and where are you from? You can pick two tubas if need be.

NONE OF THE ABOVE--Right now my primary instrument is a 1904 York; I have 5 other Eb uprights: American Standard (1927); 2 Conns (1891 and 1925); Holton (1910); and King that I don't remember the year on and it's down at my church as I use it in the Praise Team. I also have a Buescher Eb helicon from the 1920's and a Pelitti Eb helicon. I like the challenge of using different fingerings from my BBb.

I ,live in Great Falls, MT,where I've been a member of the Municipal Band for 31 years (3rd longest member after the director and the baritone sax player) plus a couple of smaller town bands in the area.

Thank you for the correction- I have fixed the poll. I realize there are more e flat tubas out there- the poll limits me to 10, and I thought I would choose those that were more available for purchase.

You may pick two

I was happy with a YEB321 for several years. Easy to play and in tune. Switched to a 2141 for more bass oomph, but have to pull the slides way out to tune to the rest of the band.

I play a Boosey & Hawkes Imperial which is basically the Besson 981/982. I have played it for 30 years as my main horn because it plays so well. I live near Reading PA.

981. In the hands of someone far better than myself. .....john fletcher, patrick harrilid etc etc, this is a great if not all around tuba.

I play an antique, the 1914 Conn monster Eb that's my avatar. I also play a Hall & Quinby Eb contrabass Saxhorn from about 1865 in the 8th Georgia Regiment Band, a museum band that specializes in 19th century music. This may change because Lee Stofer has just finished working on another couple of our contrabasses of comparable age, and they should be back next week.

By the way, the 8th Regiment Band is going to be the US representative at the Canadian International Military Tattoo in Hamilton, Ontario next month. We're honored to be invited and look forward to a marvelous experience.

None of the above. I have used an old York Monster (four valves) for my bass tuba since around 1978. I like the York sound and the other things (intonation, response, etc...) are very good for what I need from a bass tuba. I use a Bach 32E mouthpiece, it works for me. The E flat has always been my secondary tuba, if it was my primary tuba I might (or might not) be playing something different.

Mark

Great to hear of so many not on the list too...Since I don't have a "none of the above" button, just list it in the replies.
I am playing a B&S22p- I had tried 8 of the 10 I listed (never tried the 2141, or wessex) and it is my favorite. I also have a Gemeinhardt which has a great sound (slightly bigger than the B&S) but I like the projection of the B&S better, and the pitch is better. I am using a Pt-65 mouthpiece.

None of the above.

Willson 3400S. Great all around tuba, incredible sound, really good intonation, extremely well built. For me, the best bass tuba option out there that I know of.

See the sig for my personal details.

A good 981 is very nice, but I've hardly ever played two that are remotely close to each other. Still. A good one is preferable over the Yamaha 632 and way over the 321 that I really can't see why people like at all.

Looking for a 'bigger 2141' I was aiming for a PT22 or a York/Holton project (with a pt22 like bore).
Having got that now (york), I've stopped looking for anything better as I am very much satisfied indeed, but from the poll my vote probably has to go for a PT22 or a good 981.

What about this one? Not my choice but still relrvant.

http://www.willson.ch/instr_e/tuba/ebtu ... a-5-e.html

I own 3 eb instruments and have the use of one more, two of the four appear in your poll a 981 and a Wessex 700.
The other two are a Besson New Standard and a Conn 26K.
Of the four I use the New Standard and the Wessex the most but it's the sousaphone that I enjoy the most.
Edit
Just realised I had not answered the question
The New Standard I bought when 15 years old and it was the only 4 valve tuba available to me at my price at the time I have kept it as it is a great instrument and it was my only instrument for 25 years.
The sousaphone I bought for my 40th birthday my children were in the towns marching band and I joined after I saw how much fun they were having.
I had to buy an eb after trying the bands Bb Sousa for a month I realised that I would struggle to keep up on Bb fingerings.
The bigger bore on the sousaphone opened up my upper register to my suprise and it put me on the hunt for a 981 after 2 years of eBay and music shops I realised I was not going to get a good 981 in my price range or country.
So I bought a Wessex and then 6 months later the player who was renting the bands 981 gave up and the 981 became available.
I use my tubas for concert band, church music and marching band.

Curmudgeon wrote:What the heck, I'll throw in another monkey wrench...

There's also the German B&S designed and built Besson 983 vs the older British built version.

The German B&S version is a different animal. Better pitch (none of the "mouthpiece sensitivity"), richer sound, and it actually has a usable tuning slide!

That's a good wrench do you happen to know what they changed in Germany or is it better attention to detail?

I actually sold my mid 80's 981 and now use a Melton 2040/5. Great horn with a stonking low register (once you get used to non comp fingerings being in the uk) and use it for everything unless a big tuba or something specific is needed. Much squarer sound than the besson's but with more power.

Do you have any side by side photos?
The 981 I have access to is a mid 90's UK one nice valves free blowing and nice sound.

Wilf.tuba wrote:I actually sold my mid 80's 981 and now use a Melton 2040/5. Great horn with a stonking low register (once you get used to non comp fingerings being in the uk) and use it for everything unless a big tuba or something specific is needed. Much squarer sound than the besson's but with more power.

I see you also have the Besson 995.
That was the sound I wanted from an Eb (scalded down). I know it has got some mixed reviews,
but I really like the horn and the (different) tonal qualities I can get from it.

I was fairly close with an old Besson I had years back (Or was it boosey? It was before nylon guides)
I'm very happy with my York, and the 2141 was very close but lacked a bit in 'broadness'

Meinl Weston (and MANY musicians) are so happy with it, it'll probably stay unchanged for generations.
It is that sound they where aiming for making the 2060 F tuba, and that is the reason for the 5th and 6th
being depended. They simply couldn't make it with those extra 4" of valve cluster/disturbance and keep the sound

My votes go to old Holtons/Yorks and their Kanstul counterparts.

Meinl-Weston 45F 5-valve with the thumb trigger held down