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I don’t get out to try tubas very often but with all of the new tubas at Horn Guys I couldn’t resist. I haven’t been by the shop in quite a while and was surprised by the number of tubas in stock (especially f tubas!). Steve was very patient with me as I tried out just about every F tuba and CC tuba on the floor. Most of the tubas were good players (except for the Alexander 164 CC-WOOF), some were among the best examples of a particular model.

The real standouts to me are:

B&S JBL Classic: Great player, colorful sound! Very in tune tuba! LIKE

Gronitz FZ 127 Rotary F: great low end, very even and in tune. Not my type of sound but great a great tuba none the less.

Meinle Weston 2260 RA Rotary F: Like a 2250 but with an easier high register and a nice point to the sound that the piston versions don’t get. I’ve played four or five and this is by far the best I’ve played.

Mirafone Firebird F (5+1): Both Firebirds in stock are good players but this one is a standout. It seems to have more weight to the sound and is very secure. This would be an awesome Petrouchka tuba.

Mirafone 188: I haven’t liked many of the newer 188’s but this one plays very even and is very responsive. It was fun to play.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to Horn Guys other than being an occasional customer. I just thought with all of the great tubas there I should let people know. Also Steve Ferguson is a great guy and will make sure his customers get the best deal and are totally satisfied with their purchase.
Norm

Great info, thanks!

So what's wrong with that 164, anyway? "Classic" intonation?

bort wrote:Great info, thanks!

So what's wrong with that 164, anyway? "Classic" intonation?

Beyond that: intonation is all over the place, very un-even response. Low G is worse than low C on most rotary f tubas (most Alexander F tubas!). It seems to be a cut BBb and probably would have been better off as a Bb.

FWIW Steve said a Alex 164 BBb may be coming in soon.

Norm

Norm Pearson wrote:

bort wrote:Great info, thanks!

So what's wrong with that 164, anyway? "Classic" intonation?

Beyond that: intonation is all over the place, very un-even response. Low G is worse than low C on most rotary f tubas (most Alexander F tubas!). It seems to be a cut BBb and probably would have been better off as a Bb.

FWIW Steve said a Alex 164 BBb may be coming in soon.

Norm

Thanks, Norm! You saved me a bit of trouble, then.

Curmudgeon wrote:I still own it, too.

Well that's pretty cool. What is it?

Norm Pearson wrote:.

Meinle Weston 2260 RA Rotary F: Like a 2250 but with an easier high register and a nice point to the sound that the piston versions don’t get. I’ve played four or five and this is by far the best I’ve played.

I played a 2260 in Geretsreid back in 2013. I still think about that horn.

I'd like to give a 2260 a try, I'm just not sure about the dependent 5th and 6th valves. I owned a BMB F for a while and wasn't a fan of the 5th.

Norm Pearson wrote:

bort wrote:Great info, thanks!

So what's wrong with that 164, anyway? "Classic" intonation?

Beyond that: intonation is all over the place, very un-even response. Low G is worse than low C on most rotary f tubas (most Alexander F tubas!). It seems to be a cut BBb and probably would have been better off as a Bb.

FWIW Steve said a Alex 164 BBb may be coming in soon.

Norm

The rumors are true. My Alex 164 5V BBb is now at the Horn Guys. Some details are posted in the For Sale section.