TubeNet

MW Fafner on the left, B&S PT-605 aka GR 51 on right.

Very nice!

Maybe it's just the lights and reflections, but the GR51 bell looks HUGE.

Beautiful tubas. Bet that's quite a sound!

Yes the bell looks bigger to me too, but I'm not sure it isn't an optical delusion.

bort wrote:Maybe it's just the lights and reflections

Also watch for wide angle distortion. Maybe a misnomer, as it isn't an optical defect at all, just a mismatch between reality and the viewer's interpretation, but when things seem a little stretched out of shape towards the corner of a photo, that's why. Ideal distance for capturing actual proportions is as far away as you can get.

The Fafner is 41.7" tall, has a 18.9" bell, and an .846" bore on the rotary version. The piston horn is available in 4 or 5 valves and is .748/.787/.807" across the valves. The GR51 is 39" tall, has a 17.7" bell, and is .748" across the valve set. The GR51 has a pretty wide taper on the bell and has a punchy sound to go with it. I think it is probably one of the best values in German BBb tubas today, but the Fafner is a beast in its own right.

Tuben: I just got one and am crazy in love. Singular experience. Rave reviews too.