TubeNet

So -
i know this is subjective - and do not expect to learn a whole lot from this thread - but i'm wondering what you all see as the best tuba(s)
limiting to CC or BBb -

Vintage? Holton, York, Conn, Frankentuba?
New(er) Nirschl, Hirsbrunner, B&S, MW, Kanstul, etc....?

This is more for fun than anything - but i wonder what most guys/gals find as the end-all-be-all tuba?

no one?

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Declaring something 'best' isn't particularly helpful without a way of assessing what makes something better than something else. It quickly turns to an argument about tastes, and since choosing a horn is very personal it's easy to take any negative comment about a choice of horn as a direct attack on the value and worth of the opinion of those that choose it.

Perhaps if the discussion is reframed?

How about:
What qualities would make an ideal tuba? Or simply, what do people value in a tuba?

In a theoretically perfect world I would choose(in order of priority):
1) excellent intonation
2) clarity of sound
3) evenness of response/sound

Size, efficiency(whatever that means), and actual character(quality) of sound are much further down that list for me.

I can't claim that my personal horns fit that model perfectly or that I was honestly properly assessing that criteria every time I formed an opinion of a tuba.. but having a clear framework for assessing an instrument that suits your personal needs is an important exercise if there is hope for a useful productive discussion.

Some horns are just 'fun' because they vibrate the walls on a specific note or have a special attribute in a given register that is enjoyable in specific situations... but outside of that niche those horns *might* fail the criteria I've set for myself and as such I deem them of no interest.. someone with different musical goals/ambitions/needs/etc might find my criteria completely unhelpful.

Soo... what quantifiable criteria do you look for in an instrument? For purposes of discussion a specific quality/size/character of sound could certainly be a criteria.

joh 'feeling professorial' tuba

Jose the tuba player wrote:

bloke wrote:those truly amazing Chinese $400 "C♭" tubas (which appeared on eBay about 8 - 10 years ago)

http://sell.bizrice.com/selling-leads/1 ... -case.html

Or how about those king 1140 knock offs that play so sharp they hit A instead of Bb

I agree with those that already posted regarding there's no real way to tell. I think the better question is what is the best CC tuba for you. Many folks advised me not to buy the Nirschl York copy CC I currently own. While the folks warning me didn't all have the same issues with that horn, I didn't speak with a single person that played the horn and would be willing to purchase it. Not really having another opportunity to try one, I decided to go ahead with the trial and absolutely loved the horn. I ended up purchasing the horn and still have it.

I listened to people's comments but understood that ultimately, how things worked for me was what mattered. I tell all my students to follow that same type of approach. Play everything, you never know which one might be the horn for you.

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KiltieTuba wrote:Best CC tuba?

A non-cut BBb.

Should I switch to BBb?

Jose the tuba player wrote: My exact reaction when i tried to tune my Chinese copy
It really plays that sharp that it hits A when i play a Bb so i had to use a tuning bit from a sousaphone to get tuned

A it hits when playing Bb it does not, but the other way around it will....hmmmmm