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So I will be looking into buying a F tuba next year. What F tubas can you all recommend that have a not-stuffy low register, and good intonation for a maximum of $11,000? Also, does anyone have positive or negative opinions on the Meinl Weston Kodiak and the Miraphone Bel Canto and Firebird? Thanks in advance.

My suggestion: Cerveny CFB 654-6 Harmonia. With a big bore 'quint- valve'.

Assembling Your Tuba Tool Kit:
Large, medium or small???. What else will you have in your arsenal? If you have a 4/4 CC for instance, a 6/4 F might wind up serving the same purpose. So why not get a smaller F tuba. If a 5/4 CC then the 6/4 F might complement things a little better. Do you get my drift? Is its primary role for you a solo instrument or orchestral? I've been thinking about a practical group of horns being a BBb BAT or 5/4, 4/4 CC and a 4/4 F. (even a good euph on top)

The reason for the BBb over the CC BAT is a practical one. I tend to use it in Symphonic Band settings and BBb is just more idiomatic with regard to intonation and fingerings. HOWEVER, as many of us choose horns, we tend to look at each one individually and just pick a great one from what is available without any particular plan as to having a group of horns. (so I happen to have a CC BAT) Ideally it boils down to what you want to use it for, but then again 'ideal' situations rarely seem to occur and we wind up making things do with what we have. Just sayin'.......

But back to the F: there are many to choose from both in brands and sizes and price range. With the newer imports, prices are a bit more affordable and assembling a trio or quartet of horns is not as difficult financially as it used to be. Buying a used F could be tricky or risky. Some of the new models are very well engineered and improved. I seem to notice this phenomenon encourages players to sell older ones and move to the newer, thus leaving problem horns for someone else. (or so they believe)

Okay. Regarding your actually inquiry: For a great low register on an F, I personally think the BMB is the most open. I find it huge. The sound is gorgeous. though not necessarily of a 'European" nature. (More like a small version of the CSO York) The Wessex "Berg" is also being received very well, and being a rotary, more in keeping with the 'Euro-Germanic' tradition. I've played many of the MWs and PTs and company and feel my BMB is the best choice, for my purposes. F tubas, like just about all tubas, have their quirks particularly with intonation. I would want a main tuning slide kicker on any F tuba. But that likely will need to be an "after market" modification. In striving for a big open sound on F tubas, manufacturers will need to compromise something in the 'quirks department' when they open up the bore and bell size. It has always seemed that out of things such as: 1. Sound quality - resonance and presence, 2. Response, 3. Intonation, that it is usally realistic to think you can get 2 of these. All three and there will be compromise. Intonation is adjustable mechanically speaking with triggers or push rods. Items 1 and 2 are not easily remedied. A MP change might influence things a little bit but that is not an "on the fly" process. So when you do try out horns, realize what those 3 issues are and if you are prepared to live with one of them being problematic.

But then again, I've heard it said by great players, that you simply pick a reasonably good instrument and learn to get accustom to it. You are the one to make it work for you. No horn is perfect, and when you hear one played incredibly well, it is more than likely the player.