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The time has come to put aside childish things...like little tubas. Just kidding, they are useful for many purposes. What I've actually found is that I like a little "headroom" in a tuba, and that if I play something like a Miraphone 186 I'm playing it close to the edge. Which again isn't always bad thing, it just puts me at risk of playing solo-istically and sticking out.

The pool of available 5/4 tubas is much shallower than the 3-4/4 pool and it is difficult to find a bargain. Any ideas?

Yamaha ybb-641 - more of a 4.5/4 due to big bore and wide bell throat. It should be a good choice, but I didn't like the low range of these in college. And boring choice!
St Pete - also more of a 4.5/4 due to big bore, but I've never seen one that wasn't smashed up. Not going to be a good fit for my lifestyle.
Conn 20/24j - The perfect sort of thing, if I had the guts to show up with a bell-front. For competing brass band, where everybody at every contest has a shiny horn, this is going against the grain.

More ideas for $3k and below?

Since Bloke breached the small bore large horn, A King 2341 (older detachable bell) (1241) fits that mold.

I like the Wessex Lucern. Lots of custom features. under 3K.

I have always found the Cerveny tubas to be remarkable values if you're on a budget. If you're looking for a bigger tuba and have the time to go try before you buy, I think you could easily find a Cerveny that will suit you. Since you're specifically looking for a 5/4 horn, I'd be looking at the 601 or Arion models. Both are very similar and can be had really inexpensively. Good luck!

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=65531&hilit=Cerveny" target="_blank

1291 Bb's are excellent but not really a budget horn- the Wessex copy I played was very, very good.

The Marzan BBb's are a good bang for the buck, when you can find them.

There is a nice great looking (and I'm sure playing) Conn "Monster" Bb at Dillon Music for $2995. Should more than fit your needs.

http://www.dillonmusic.com/p-21889-conn ... -tuba.aspx" target="_blank

I have two York 'Master' BBb piston tubas (built by Bohm & Meinl) here. .750" bore with both the recording bell and an upright bell. Raw brass. Fresh Anderson valve job. $3,500 takes one home.

Or how about this one, if you're really on a budget? Again more a 4.5/4 than 5/4, but these are generally quite good players:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonora-BBb-Tuba ... 1c501757a6" target="_blank

Heavy_Metal wrote:Or how about this one, if you're really on a budget? Again more a 4.5/4 than 5/4, but these are generally quite good players:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonora-BBb-Tuba ... 1c501757a6" target="_blank" target="_blank

Made by 'B & H'??

TubaTinker wrote:

Heavy_Metal wrote:Or how about this one, if you're really on a budget? Again more a 4.5/4 than 5/4, but these are generally quite good players:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonora-BBb-Tuba ... 1c501757a6" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Made by 'B & H'??

If it's made by B&H, you can forget about using it from sundown Friday until Sunday morning. (Bad NY joke, sorry... )

It's not a camera

[ If "overall size" (and not valveset bore) is the only thing that defines "5/4 BBb", the Olds and Reynolds detachable bell BBb tubas would then fall into that category.[/quote]

I just had a full post that didn't post!

I had stated that I can fully endorse these Reynolds detachable horns. Last evening, my friend dropped off an upright bell that Dan Schultz built for this horn. I only played it for a little over an hour, but so far I like it. These are great horns. My friend and I matched up pitch with my other Reynolds bell front, and then I switched to the upright bell. I had to pull an additional 3/4" and we were back in tune. I have been very much impressed with this horn ever since we saved it from the scrap pile. (it was actually on the way to the recycling center) It is from the last year of production from Ohio, 1964, before they moved production to Texas. These horns can play PPPP to FFFF and I can get to low Bb without ever missing the fact that there is no 4th valve. (There were 4 valve versions) Low notes are actually easier on this than on my MW-25. It is very efficient and you don't go blue and pass out when playing loud or low. I actually like the sound of the bell front better, but there are a few venues that I will stubbornly admit that perhaps an upright bell would be better. I have a performance in one of them on Sunday, with rehearsal on Saturday morning, so I will be giving it a try. I have had folks look cross at this bell front horn when I bring it to places, then have them come up and make nice comments about it's beautiful sound. These are great 5/4 horns that should be given a serious look.

Steve

Talk to Wessex about the new XL tuba. Everything good about their Hirsbrunner copy, plus a whole lot more.

bloke wrote:

MartyNeilan wrote:Talk to Wessex about the new XL tuba. Everything good about their Hirsbrunner copy, plus a whole lot more.

5/4 ?

(fit's in the same MTS case as the "new-style" King case, and Hb bell diameter is smaller than King...bore size is the same as Mira-186)

.

Nope, similar body but vertical instead of horizontal tuning slide and a whole lot more bell (and whatever required adjustments)

If it's called the "XL", it has to be 5/4. Otherwise it would just be "L", and a 4/4.

Or, maybe that's just a small person. Somewhere around here, I have a picture of my wife holding my Miraphone 1291 many years ago. It makes it look like a 6/4!

That's a big horn! For some reason I thought it'd be more BAT-like than Fafner with an upright bell...

I second Jay's earlier comment that if you're looking for a 5/4 on a budget, you can get a lot of tuba from an old Cerveny. Some of those are so responsive for the size and are hard to beat for value. I bought one for $600 once that I ended up using on a CD recording with a pretty decent group.

58mark wrote:that looks like Don Little in that pic... I wonder if it is

I think it's someone else, I've seen his photo on the Wessex site before.