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What is your preferred tuba brass metal/finish? And why do you prefer this? Sound, projection, color, durability, care, 'pretty', etc.
Mark

I prefer to look at a silver plated tuba someone else keeps polished, and prefer to own lacquer, for pretty much the reasons bloke lists. Never owned a gold brass tuba. My new trombone has a lacquered gold brass bell, and it sounds like a trombone to me. I don't know how much difference it makes.

Easiest to take care of and look presentable.

Sound can be manipulated. Ears can be fooled.
Eyes (though much less important) are harder to compensate for.

I prefer silver plate, because by the time it's in my price range, the finish is usually half gone, and to me that looks kind of good with silver.

Donn wrote:I prefer silver plate, because by the time it's in my price range, the finish is usually half gone, and to me that looks kind of good with silver.

+1

What I would really like is one of those H.N. White Symphony Basses with the gold hand burnished finish that I see in the old ads. Problem is, when I send off the check for $690, it comes back "No such address" So it goes...

The Big Ben wrote:

Donn wrote:
What I would really like is one of those H.W. White Symphony Basses with the gold hand burnished finish that I see in the old ads. Problem is, when I send off the check for $690, it comes back "No such address" So it goes...

Maybe the address has changed. I heard that a Nigerian prince bought up all the old horns (even York #3) and he'll sell them to you for bargain basement prices

no option for Bondo with pink RustOLeum??? smh

I prefer my tubas to have a meat finish/to be covered in meat. It gives it that raw, juicy, meaty sound.

Leto Cruise wrote:I prefer my tubas to have a meat finish/to be covered in meat. It gives it that raw, juicy, meaty sound.

Has anyone won an orchestra audition with one?

I don't know how to answer, because I like several. On tuba (or flugel) I like the look of unfinished. Check out this Adams Custom unfinished brushed brass, done for a California customer (from this blog post: http://www.dwerden.com/forum/entry.php/ ... USTOM-Mean):

+1 on bloke's post. It is what it is. I have "raw" brass the old-fashioned way: 40+ years of wear on to the lacquer of the bugle, and 50+ years of wear on the bell on my "Bessophone."

bloke wrote:Leto is learning how to play "tubenet".
Pretty soon, you might find yourself a candidate for the tnfj.

If bloke is nominating, I'll second the nomination. I like Leto's "meaty" sound and how he gets it.

The bright, mirror-like silverplate finish used to be my favorite finish. But I get tired of it tarnishing, and it smells weird during wintertime. My favorite is high-quality lacquer finish on gold or yellow brass w/ nickel-silver trim. Good/factory lacquer looks great, is very low maintenance, and doesn't smell weird. Raw brass is fugly and makes your hands stink. Not a big fan of the brushed or satin finishes, either.

Every instrument I have bought in the last 25 years has been lacquered with the exception of the two St. Pete tubas I bought about ten years ago. I could not justify paying more for the silver plating considering the amount of upkeep it requires and that nobody could really tell the difference in the sound. I would have bought lacquered St. Pete's if that was an option at the time.

What's the TNFJ?

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k001k47 wrote:Has anyone won an orchestra audition with one?

Not yet, but I shall be the first. Unless I decide it's tuba steak time.

Leto Cruise wrote:What's the TNFJ?

TubeNet Freak Jury

You have chosen wisely.

Leto Cruise wrote:

k001k47 wrote:Has anyone won an orchestra audition with one?

Not yet, but I shall be the first. Unless I decide it's tuba steak time.

Have you seen a satin finish silver plate horn with bad tarnish?

Hardest of all to clean up!

k001k47 wrote:Tuba Sauce

David Richoux wrote:Have you seen a satin finish silver plate horn with bad tarnish?

Hardest of all to clean up!

I saw a finish in satin once but I sat in it thinking I was about to be served dinner in a silver plate.

Leto Cruise wrote:What's the TNFJ?

TNFJ jams furiously looking for answer.