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Hello!

My name is Robert and I'm new to this page. I wanted to start this discussion on the tuba brands such as MackBrass, Schiller, JinBao, etc. I'm 17 years old and graduating High School in a couple weeks. I played tuba in our high school band however the college I'm going to does not have a band of any sort. Since I want to continue my tuba playing I need to purchase my own tuba however I don't have the money to buy a really good $4,000+ tuba . I found these brands online and look pretty good (especially MackBrass) but I'm worried if its worth spending money on them. One option I have is to get something like a euphonium which is cheaper. This would allow me to learn skills that can be used on a tuba without buying one. What do you all think? Also what kind of tuba should I try to find? I played sousaphone in the marching band and tuba in concert both in BBb. Should I try to find a CC tuba? Rotary or Piston? Feel free to leave your opinion hear and let me know if this was posted in the wrong spot. Like I said, I'm new to the site. Thank you!

-Robert Kane

I think you will be fine dealing with either Mack Brass or Wessex- both stand by their products. I would stick with what you know (BB flat) rather than switching around, especially since you don't have a band/group to play with (unless you have an urge to learn a different keyed tuba). Your sousaphone was piston, was your concert tuba also? Go with what you prefer- there are people in both camps.
You might try looking for a community band in the area where your school will be, or a salvation army band.
Since your school does not have any band program, I highly doubt they will have facilities to practice, or a place to store it ( you might get creative and explore local churches). I am guessing you will be in a dorm for at least your first year, which won't leave you with a lot of space (but it can be done).
Play euphonium if it is what you want to, but I wouldn't do it as a substitute for the instrument you want to play.

You might get lucky with a used horn in the same price range.

If you are looking for something small that you can easily carry around to some quiet spot on campus, check out the travel tuba mack brass has. It is in the key of F (or E flat with extra slide) though. It is cheaper than all of the horns you have been looking at and is very small. You can get a practice mute with it if need be, as you can also get a practice mute for any of the tubas you are looking at.

Dearest Robert:

Sorry to welcome you to TubeNet in this way but....

For the last two or three years, discussion of Chinese horns has come close to overwhelming most every other topic. Presently, we are in a lull in the action after having a few months when barbs were flying back and forth at a rapid pace.

My suggestion to you at this time is to use the search function with terms such as "jin-bao" "Mack Brass" "Schiller" and "Chinese". About everything you could want to know about these instruments has already been discussed ad nauseaum and I'm not so sure I'd like to see another discussion started just yet.

Jeff "I just want a little peace on TubeNet for awhile" Benedict

Welcome to TubeNet, Robert!

You didn't say where you are located, but if you are near a music store that carries these brands you can try them out for yourself. This would be the best way to see if they are a good match for you.

Buying used can be another good option, since you could get a better tuba than you might be able to afford new. But again you want to play-test your possible purchase.

Any more questions, just ask- that's one reason we're all here.

Heavy_Metal wrote:Welcome to TubeNet, Robert!

You didn't say where you are located, but if you are near a music store that carries these brands you can try them out for yourself. This would be the best way to see if they are a good match for you.

Just to clarify....Jin Bao is a manufacturer which sells instruments stenciled to many different retailers/wholesalers. Mack Brass, Schiller, M&M, and Wessex all sell directly to end users. Going into a store looking for those brand names won't get you very far. I've never seen anything sold with the Jin Bao name, but it could exist.

Some of them play very well, but I don't know if any model is super consistent across the board (different manufacturers; how many companies make the Schillbrunner, for example?).

I can vouch for the integrity and honesty of Tom McGrady. I have meet him, been to the Mack Brass "showroom" and tooted some of the Mack Brass horns. Tom makes no false claims as to what his horns are and what they are not. He personally inspects all of his horns before they are shipped out. You will get your money's worth.
I am not a tuba player so I can't really comment on how "good" they are . The quality of the build is very good though. There are all solid and well done. I am a euphonium player and can tell you that the Mack Brass euph.s are very good. I play next to a guy who has one and I have play tested it. It's a wonderful horn but not without it's own set of flaws as with any instrument. If the tubas are as good as the euph.s I don't think you can go wrong .

Hello!

Thanks to everyone who responded! This really helped me with my decision on a new horn. I will most likely go with a mackbrass tuba (200 model) mainly since it's a great deal for the money. I really wish I could play it before though but I live on Long Island so it would be annoying to drive down to Virginia for it. I believe the instrument should be fine and if it isn't i'll just send it back. All i need is a horn i can practice with and do tuba christmas with. Once again thanks for you're help. This is definitely a great community of music enthusiasts and I love it! Feel free to leave other options for me since I may consider others. Thank You!

P.S.- I'm commuting to my College so storage isn't an issue

P.S.S- Thank God no fights broke out on this thread lol

Robert, you should have several options for play-testing tubas in the NYC area. The only one I know of is Dillon Music, Woodbridge, NJ, which is obviously much closer than Virginia.

I've heard several Tubenetters speak highly of Dillon. One of my section-mates has a Dillon 4-rotor BBb which I believe is made by JK, and he sounds good on it. Go here:

http://www.dillonmusic.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

I'm sure you'll get more recommendations now that we know where you are. Good luck!

Remember to include these in your budget. You don't want your new tuba to get damaged.

Hard case
Gig bag
Good portable music stand
Tuner
A few method books
Valve and slide oils
Possibly-practice mute

I recommend locating community bands in your new area. They will welcome you. And if you turn out to be an even moderately-skilled play who is dependably on time for rehearsals and concerts, small ensembles will invite you to (sometimes) paying gigs around the holidays.

Heavy_Metal wrote:Robert, you should have several options for play-testing tubas in the NYC area. The only one I know of is Dillon Music, Woodbridge, NJ, which is obviously much closer than Virginia. I've heard several Tubenetters speak highly of Dillon.

Steve Dillon runs a fine shop. It is accessible by commuter train out of Penn Station. You can see Steve's place from the platform at the Woodbridge station.

In addition to new tubas, Dillon Music always has a great selection of used tubas. Go there prepared to spend many hours trying tubas.

Hi Robert and welcome! Do I know you, or you know me? I grew up on LI, taught music on LI and played tuba gigs on LI. I also chaired the SCMEA Day of Tuba and Euphonium for 32 years and was an area coordinator for the NYC Tubachristmas. If you've attended these events, you've seen me anyway. However, all that said, I recently moved to Austin, TX.

Besides Tubachristmas, you should really attend the Day of Tuba and Euphonium in Dec. Check the scmea web site for information (http://www.scmea.org" target="_blank" target="_blank.) Also, Dillon music is about a 2 hr. drive (depending on what of area of LI you're in and traffic.) You owe it to yourself to go and visit there. I'm almost certain the tuba you are interested in would be sold there too under the Dillon label. Go there and see Matt Walters. He will help you out. Also, if you buy the tuba there, it would come with a warranty and anytime you wanted service you could bring it there. Matt is amazing, a great person and does excellent work. Once you said you were on LI, this became a no brainer to me.

Heavy_Metal wrote:....One of my section-mates has a Dillon 4-rotor BBb which I believe is made by JK, and he sounds good on it. ....

Who is 'JK'?

TubaTinker wrote:

Heavy_Metal wrote:....One of my section-mates has a Dillon 4-rotor BBb which I believe is made by JK, and he sounds good on it. ....

Who is 'JK'?

Hmmm ... nahhh, couldn't be ... could it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A70EPBGEbhk

Go to Dillon's. It could still take about 3 hours to get there from LI by car, but worth it.

I will probably go to Dillons and see what they have. I actually decided to look in the used market since i'm low on cash. Any BBb Tuba or Sousaphone should do. I just need something to play on that plays well and in key. Something i can do events with possibly too. If anyone has a tuba or sousaphone for sale for about $1300 or less feel free to message me.

Right, it should have been JZ.... don't know how that happened.... but I'm told that's who supplies Dillon's house brand tubas. Baltimore Brass sells them too, but under the JZ brand name.

I always seem to be the one to bring this up... Keep an eye out for old German stencil horns. Mine says Sonora on the bell, other names include Karl Zeiss, Schneider, Musica (Musika?), etc. They are handmade B&S tubas that usually sell for under 2000 dollars. Even if you find an ugly one they play wonderfully.

All that said, I've been seeing less of them lately so it might be a bit of a wait. And I have heard good things about Mack Brass, at least from a customer service aspect.

I think Cerveny has also made horns for some of these companies.

I would also check out this one.

http://northernlowbrass.webs.com/apps/w ... ow/3908710" target="_blank