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Hello. This is a post for a friend. She is wanting to start playing the tuba, and I'm helping her pick a good cheap horn to start out on. I think piston would be best for her. She's a clarinet player, but has wanted to play the tuba since she started band, which was 6 years ago. She's not wanting to spend more than $2000 so I thought this would be the perfect horn for her. I personally only have experience with the 410, but it was a great horn, I assume it's more of the same, but I could be wrong. If you have any info on the 520, have one for sale, or anything feel free to comment, or PM me.

Thanks,
Zac

The 3/4 horns sold by Tuba Exhange are also pretty decent IMO. As long as you keep the valves clean, everything works as it should for an entry level horn.

I recently needed a 3/4 BBb tuba, but when I called Tom at Mack Brass, he said he was discontinuing the 520. Its replacement is the Wisemann DTU-510, which I got instead. It costs a little more, but it's a cut above the 520. I don't see it on the Mack Brass web site yet. A call to Tom should get you fixed up.

I wanted a look at that thing too!!

jsmn4vu wrote:I recently needed a 3/4 BBb tuba, but when I called Tom at Mack Brass, he said he was discontinuing the 520. Its replacement is the Wisemann DTU-510, which I got instead. It costs a little more, but it's a cut above the 520. I don't see it on the Mack Brass web site yet. A call to Tom should get you fixed up.

How much more is it if you don't mind me asking? I really just want something she can make a good sound on, not have to screw with slides, and just worry about learning to play. She may end up not liking it and selling it, which I know Wisemann and Mack keep their value pretty well. All I know is shipping and everything it has to be under $2000.

Thanks, keep the comments rolling,
Zac

TubaZac2012 wrote:

jsmn4vu wrote:I recently needed a 3/4 BBb tuba, but when I called Tom at Mack Brass, he said he was discontinuing the 520. Its replacement is the Wisemann DTU-510, which I got instead. It costs a little more, but it's a cut above the 520. I don't see it on the Mack Brass web site yet. A call to Tom should get you fixed up.

How much more is it if you don't mind me asking? I really just want something she can make a good sound on, not have to screw with slides, and just worry about learning to play. She may end up not liking it and selling it, which I know Wisemann and Mack keep their value pretty well. All I know is shipping and everything it has to be under $2000.

Thanks, keep the comments rolling,
Zac

Good intonation and good sound? Sounds like a 410 CC....

Why bother buying new? For a tuba to learn on, you can certainly spend less than $2,000 and get something decent!

TubaZac2012 wrote: (in regard to the Wisemann DTU-510)
How much more is it if you don't mind me asking? I really just want something she can make a good sound on, not have to screw with slides, and just worry about learning to play. She may end up not liking it and selling it, which I know Wisemann and Mack keep their value pretty well. All I know is shipping and everything it has to be under $2000.
Zac

I believe Tom said it was going to be $2,200, but don't reject it on that basis without giving him a call. (Mine was a demo, so I got it for a little less.) Well worth more than $2,200, in any case. When Michael Moore (ASO principal) played it, it sounded like a $10,000 tuba.

michael_glenn wrote:Good intonation and good sound? Sounds like a 410 CC....

Yes, everything is good. Not unlike a Yamaha YBB-621. My quintet loves it. But keep in mind it is a 3/4.