Bass tuba search

[MikeMason]

well,that sold fast. I'm just not going to spend the time practicing f tuba to make that low c range functional to my standards.looking for alternatives. Thinking about a yeb 321/381. Wanting to keep the budget pretty low since it sits in the closet a lot and I use the 2j for quintet. I've found a 321 nearby I'll be trying this week. I've spent about 10 seconds on it before,but will now be evaluating more seriously.im open to suggestions with a max budget of 3k. No low c disease please. What y'all got out there?

[bisontuba]

Mike-
Maybe a new Danube Eb, a Berg F, a used BMB F, a 981 clone 3 + 1 Eb, a Yamaha Eb YEB 321.... Horns in the $3k range with a low range, just off the top of my head...
Mark

[bort]

No Low C disease?

Well, then anything in Eb should do.

[Donn]

No Low C disease?

Well, then anything in Eb should do.

I think he probably meant "... and if in Eb, no low Bb disease." Or "... where Low C disease on an Eb tuba occurs on Bb."

Not that I know anything about it - the only F tuba I ever had was a Czech helicon that was fine on low C, so I may not have encountered a real fully-open-sore case of Low C disease, but I have seen a pretty crappy low Bb on an Eb Giant Bass.

[bort]

No Low C disease?

Well, then anything in Eb should do.

I think he probably meant "... and if in Eb, no low Bb disease." Or "... where Low C disease on an Eb tuba occurs on Bb."

Not that I know anything about it - the only F tuba I ever had was a Czech helicon that was fine on low C, so I may not have encountered a real fully-open-sore case of Low C disease, but I have seen a pretty crappy low Bb on an Eb Giant Bass.

Yeah, I know, just being stupid.

The BMB F tuba has a VERY good low register. No clue what the price is on those right now, but it's really, really easy to play.

[bisontuba]

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=69994" target="_blank

last time was at $3300... now-?

[bisontuba]

No Low C disease?

Well, then anything in Eb should do.

I have never played F tuba, but picked up one last week and the low C sounds like there is a leak in the horn - is this common?

On many rotary F tubas, ESPECIALLY older rotary F tubas, yes......

[Dan Tuba]

The Wessex Champion,Solo, and Bombino are all very good compensating Eb tubas. I have a Schiller. 981 clone that also plays well and it was not very expensive. Good luck on your search.

[bort]

Well, if actual repair issues are ruled out, yes, it's a common characteristic of old F tubas.

Why? I think some of it has to do with the horn being a smaller bore than we're used to, but overall, it's just a different instrument, and blah blah blah tuba design... we've come a long way since then.

Try this -- blow the air less hard, and "feed" it to the horn until you get it to sound as good as possible. Then work it up from there. It may be very difficult and it might never be great. That's just how it goes with a lot of old F tubas.

Two things I try to keep in mind with F tubas:
-- it's not really about range, it's about timbre
-- don't play it like it's a small tuba; play it like it is it's own thing

BTW, what kind of F tuba do you have?

[bort]

PS -- the fact that you're a professional and are asking these questions NOW makes me realize how much times have changed. Some kids in HS right now have F tubas, and you're... not in HS ... and have these questions. This is NOT anything negative towards you... it's against the "I need an F tuba" craziness that happens these days!

[Bob Kolada]

Terry, try 1+3 and pull, 5+1+2 and push, and appropriately similar valve combos if it has 6 valves.

[bisontuba]

BTW, what kind of F tuba do you have?

This answer may be part of the problem. It is a Dalyan. I bought a collection of horns from a friend who had to quit playing - and it was in the group. I had never wanted an F, but it was in the deal, so I am going to learn about it and do my best to become mildly competent on it.

I think(?) those Dalyan F's were clones of old Miraphone 180 F tubas....

[MikeMason]

Or I can find a different horn that likes what I have to give

[bisontuba]

Or I can find a different horn that likes what I have to give

It is like shoes...it must fit the individual...

[bisontuba]

You can probably fix everything with the proper Blokepiece. I'm sure Joe has something in his stash that will help you out.

[Peach]

Im no player of rotary F tubas (or F tubas at all as it goes), but talk of blowing totally differently when playing a Euphonium doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

For me:

Rotary F = Like a *very* beautiful woman but one who is incredibly high maintenance. Very unpredictable and essentially crazy. You wonder if she's worth the effort, but by God is she beautiful...
Euph = Sort of woman who doesn't care too much about her appearance but still manages to look great wearing whatever. She'd also encourage you to have a beer and think it funny when you farted.

[bisontuba]

Im no player of rotary F tubas (or F tubas at all as it goes), but talk of blowing totally differently when playing a Euphonium doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

For me:

Rotary F = Like a *very* beautiful woman but one who is incredibly high maintenance. Very unpredictable and essentially crazy. You wonder if she's worth the effort, but by God is she beautiful...
Euph = Sort of woman who doesn't care too much about her appearance but still manages to look great wearing whatever. She'd also encourage you to have a beer and think it funny when you farted.

Tubenet post of the month.....

[MikeMason]

Maybe of all times

[humBell]

I still wanna understand how come the low notes tend to go wonky.

I have two Eb tubas what does the same to varying degrees, and i got my theories, i guess, but i haven't done due dilligence to substantiate them.

So this is a place holder should i ever get my act together...

[MikeMason]

My first go with a comp e flat was last Friday when I bought the 321. It was a besson 981.stuffy,weird,and not for me at all.not sure if all comps play like that. Im assuming they must not for so many people to like them. Makes me nervous about any comps without a thorough trial,which is not easy from so far away.