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It depends on how bad the 1st tuba is (is it holding you back from sounding better) and how much the second will benefit you (i.e. $$$$ it can make you or joy it will give). I bought my 1st 4 valve horn back in November and I won't buy another horn until I need it to improve or make money.

When YOU can afford it!

When you know what your shortcomings are, and can weigh them against whatever shortcomings your current tuba might have.

Then, decide whether it'll be worth dumping that much cash into a new instrument.

Then, decide whether there's something you really want among the dozens of instruments that you've tried out already.

Unfortunately, people tend to think that a new instrument will help them when, in fact, they haven't even reached the limits of their current horn.

bloke wrote:Whin I'v put so meny dents in the "used" one that my parents bought for me that its compleately below my dignaty to play it anymore.

After all, I now know "the scale"...You no - that thing that goes like this:

no valves - 1&3 - 1&2 - 1...or is it 2...? Oh well, I know most of "the scale"

Besides, I need to step up too a silver one - because silver tubas have a "broader" sound thet will get me into the All-Staet Band.

Dar Mr. DP (do you own all thoze green gas stashuns?),

I well vote in yoer pole after I cuscider the answars more carfully.

ROTFLMAO! Too funny ...

Leland wrote:... people tend to think that a new instrument will help them when, in fact, they haven't even reached the limits of their current horn.

Agreed -- I haven't reached the limits of mine, and I've had it for over 30 years! No need for a new one just yet, thanks ...

When the confluence of three things occurs:

1.) I see a tuba that I want.

2.) It is for sale.

3.) I have the money available to spend. (Okay, I've fudged this one a bit here and there.)

Rick "who can't play anyway and therefore who requires no justification other than the above" Denney

Leland wrote:Unfortunately, people tend to think that a new instrument will help them when, in fact, they haven't even reached the limits of their current horn.

I'm going to take you on here, Leland, if you don't mind.

I'm not sure I know many people who have reached the limits of their first decent instruments. I know I have not and never will.

But that doesn't mean the better instruments I've been lucky enough to own haven't improved my product. I like instruments that hide my weaknesses and make me sound like a better player than I am.

Even though I'm never going to see anything like the limits of my instruments, I still paid for them and I still appreciate them for what they are. That seems to me sufficient justification.

Students who are 1.) not spending their own money (or money they can afford to spend on a tuba, which is the same thing), and 2.) who have allowed themselves to believe that a hunk of brass will make them the sort of player they are not, have different rules. It seems to me that they suffer from the same disease that plagues, say, photographers. They buy a Leica or a Hasselblad thinking that's the secret to making art.

The secret to making art isn't that easy.

But since I'm unlikely to make art with a crappy tuba any more than with a great tuba, I might as well enjoy great tubas.

Rick "not feeling guilty" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:
But since I'm unlikely to make art with a crappy tuba any more than with a great tuba, I might as well enjoy great tubas.

Rick "not feeling guilty" Denney

Well put!

It's time to buy a new tuba when you find a horn that matches more to your concept of sound (and possibly that of an audition committee)

It's also time to buy a new and larger tuba when you aren't able to balance with the other instruments in your orchestra.

It's time to buy a new horn when you find a tuba with significant advantages tonally and technically than your horn.

It's time to buy a horn when it's an incredible deal that will hold it's value and you just happen to like anyway.

My current thoughts

Jim Langenberg

Rick Denney wrote:Even though I'm never going to see anything like the limits of my instruments, I still paid for them and I still appreciate them for what they are. That seems to me sufficient justification.

That's the other side, and I highly agree, believe it or not.

I was spending my own money, and didn't believe that a hunk of brass would make me into a new player. Hence my reasoning, which sounds suspiciously like how I'd approach buying a new car.

Speaking of cars -- I keep buying new parts because I like what they do, not because they'll make me into a championship race car driver. Sounds like the same reason for you getting your tubas.

Rick Denney wrote:

Leland wrote:Unfortunately, people tend to think that a new instrument will help them when, in fact, they haven't even reached the limits of their current horn.

.......I'm not sure I know many people who have reached the limits of their first decent instruments. I know I have not and never will...........I like instruments that hide my weaknesses and make me sound like a better player than I am. Even though I'm never going to see anything like the limits of my instruments, I still paid for them and I still appreciate them for what they are. That seems to me sufficient justification..............But since I'm unlikely to make art with a crappy tuba any more than with a great tuba, I might as well enjoy great tubas.

Rick "not feeling guilty" Denney

Amen!

I own far better tubas than I deserve to and I know it. I also figure I spent less on them than some spend on Plasma home theatres, snowmobiles, or home shop equipment and as I spend almost all of my free time from the farm playing my horns with a group or three somewhere, I do not feel guilty about my pretty sounding girls in the least.

Paul Sidey, who has horns that make him sound MUCH better than he really is.

Doc wrote:Parents suck.


Doc (All I really need is money. Then the house would fill up with horns.)

Once we understand that "parents suck," we should be able to figure out what the "parents" should do. This is not difficult to understand. Why even I get it.

Since Dale started this topic, my reply is: You should buy a new tuba when your private instructor tells you that your current tuba is limiting your progress.

Tubas? When I want one. I figure the more I buy the more I support the manufacturers and retailers, and that is a good thing. I can tell the difference between a lousy, a so-so, and a really fine instrument. It's not like there is a waiting list for a Besson 995 or a Miraphone 1291, so I'm not depriving some pro from having his horn on time.

MA, who likes being both the wage earner and the wage spender

You mean individuals actually buy them?

I played a school horn for 3 yrs in High School, and 4 years of college. Never in that time jplayed with an tuba player that owned their horn. I've never been in a store (music or other) taht had a tuba in it. Trumpet, trombones, clarinets, flutes, drum and guitars sure, but never a tuba. (No baritones either now that I think about it) I though you had be a school or orchestra to buy them.