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1. Which horn do you like better and why?

I would have to say the yamaha. the smaller dynasty horns aren't exactly the greatest horns in the universie. The bigger ones are awesome. The 4/4 o9nes are also very uncomfortable to hold. The left hand has to hold the large branch of the horn which makes controlling the horn with the left hand almost impossible.

2. Does the 4th valve on the Dynasty help out the intonation of the tuba section enough to justify it being a better horn than the Yamaha?

The fourth valve makes things tricky also. The valves were so big, someone with smaller hands (like me) has trouble playing with the 4th valve.

3. I know the BD use the Dynastys, but if that 4th valve makes such a difference, why do the Cavis, Cadets,SCV, etc. use Yamahas [other than endorsement reasons]?

Simply because of endorsements. The Dynasty is made by Willson, it is a big tuba with a huge sound. The yamaha YMB 202 is basically a YBB201, with a bigger bell. It plays ok, but is also uncomfortable to hold.


4. Weight Difference/Construction?
The Dynasty is heavier. but, if you play on the 5/4 there is a small tube that you can hold onto (similar to the King K90's of the 80's). The yamaha has one of these smaller branches, but it is too far back to grab and hold onto comfortably.

If you want my honest advice. If you are looking for the perfect 4/4 marching horn.... Go with Kanstul. Zig is really talented and put a lot of thought into creating these horns. They aren't very much more expsensive, and they are very comfortable to hold. let me know if you have any other questions.

mark

1. Which horn do you like better and why?

dynasty

2. Does the 4th valve on the Dynasty help out the intonation of the tuba section enough to justify it being a better horn than the Yamaha?

not really it just makes it heavier. i marched southwind and in my two years marching i only used it like four times

3. I know the BD use the Dynastys, but if that 4th valve makes such a difference, why do the Cavis, Cadets,SCV, etc. use Yamahas [other than endorsement reasons]?

they are lighter the yamahas i believe. but the dynastys i know are under some kind of warranty by deg which was nice because when we messed them up they went and fixed em

4. Weight Difference/Construction?

weight hmm i dont' know much. about this one

Read what I wrote after playing all three brand of marching tubas (contras) at the NAMM Show this last January.

viewtopic.php?t=5356

Basically I thought the Yamaha was the best with DEG in second and Kanstul in third. Unless your high school kids are really tiny, they should be able handle a 5/4 horn.

The Kanstul 5/4, maybe the 4/4 if the 5/4 is too heavy.

the 5/4 is 24lbs, the 4/4 is 19lbs.

3 valves is fine for marching, and the tune-any-note makes up fo most issues.

It's not like you gonna be playing low note that wound need the 4th valve when marching, I doubt you go below an Ab maybe G (I never have on a BBb horn).

Bandmaster wrote:Basically I thought the Yamaha was the best with DEG in second and Kanstul in third. Unless your high school kids are really tiny, they should be able handle a 5/4 horn.

You didn't mention which Kanstul you played at NAMM. Was it the 5/4 or the 4/4?

Having heard good things about there (GG) contras, I'm surprized you disliked there BBb horn.

I haven't played too many contras myself, but having just finished my last year of high school marching band and I just have a couple of opinions on this. I personally think most any high school student, male or female, huge or tiny, would be able to handle the larger 5/4 contra, sure they would struggle but after summer rehearsals and band camp they would be able to. Don't expect Drum corp horn snaps but they wouldn't be unreasonable if they had the sound you wanted.

The other thing is that false tones are always there if you need the low notes. I myself am not sure how in tune they are on any of these contras but I'm sure someone here has marched a season or two with these.

As far as the comment on the valves being sluggish on the yamaha, I have heard and experienced something different. If they are well maintained (frequent oil and replacing valve guides before they are completely ruined) they are quite fast.

That's my feelings fwiw

Ben Dennis

A contra thread without input from me??

Well, that's because I've never marched either of these models. I've only done GG for any length of time.

pedal_tones wrote:The Yamaha is a great marching horn. I hated using the 201 as a marching horn

You never explained why

What's the difference (besides size) that made them so horrible?

ThomasDodd wrote:

Bandmaster wrote:Basically I thought the Yamaha was the best with DEG in second and Kanstul in third. Unless your high school kids are really tiny, they should be able handle a 5/4 horn.

You didn't mention which Kanstul you played at NAMM. Was it the 5/4 or the 4/4?

Having heard good things about there (GG) contras, I'm surprized you disliked there BBb horn.

The big 5/4 horn is the one I played. I own a Kanstul 5/4 GG 3v contra, but the BBb just didn't play as well as the DEG BBb or the Yamaha. Now I like the Kanstul GG contra better than the DEG 3v Magnum or 2v King K-90 GG contras. I haven't played a Yamaha GG contra yet.

I haven't played a Yamaha GG contra yet.

Yamaha technically didn't make a GG horn. They just had slide extenders and added them to the YBB 201 convertable horn. All the corps that marched the yammies (Cadets, Crossmen, Crown, Magic, Colts) all had the convertable horns. That must have been killer on their hands all summer. I was so glad I got to march good quality horns.

Mark