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I'm looking for an Eb tuba. My budget is somewhat limited so for the time being, the Miraphone Starlight is not in my budget no matter how much I want one. I've been listening to recordings of people playing Eb tubas on You Tube. Oh my, they vary quite a bit. It's the sound of the Conn Monster that I keep coming back to. I'm afraid of buying a classic Eb horn without playing it first because it's the Eb tubas that traditionally had so many intonation problems back in the day. Clearly, Miraphone is putting five valves on theirs for a reason. I'm concerned with getting a three valve horn sight unseen that ends up having intonation problems, or needs major unexpected expensive work such as valve problems. Also, I'm not considering Chinese tubas, St. Petersburg, Jupiter, Schiller, etc... I would rather have a classic quality made horn restored to look and play like new before I would buy anything from those brands.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I live in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area if anyone happens to have an Eb for sale. I wouldn't mind driving a few hours either. Unfortunately there aren't any music stores around here that would have what I'm looking for.

If I'm unsuccessful at finding something from here, I will be in Kansas City, MO in July for a couple of weeks. I am told there are some fantastic music stores out in that region that regularly have used tubas. I definitely wouldn't mind a few hours drive to go horn shopping.

For what you're looking for, you might want to try the pawn shops in the area. I live in your area as well (Davie) and you can occasionally find an old used Eb that someone traded in that just might be exactly what you're looking for. I would advise you not to buy into the logic that 6 valves is better because Miraphone is making horns that way. It could just be because of their tradition (which it is). There are plenty of really good Eb tubas with 4 or 5 valves. The good news is that you are looking for an instrument that, more than any other, can be found for a very reasonable price. Like you said, playing before buying is a must for what you're searching for. Good hunting!

Jay Bertolet wrote:For what you're looking for, you might want to try the pawn shops in the area.

Sounds like a good idea, but with the hundreds if not over a thousand pawn shops in this county alone, I'd feel lost before I started Wish there was some way to search online. I guess I could make a list and start calling, could be a couple eight-hour days of work to call em' all. Perhaps there's certain ones known for having tubas from time to time?

Jay Bertolet wrote:I live in your area as well (Davie) and you can occasionally find an old used Eb that someone traded in that just might be exactly what you're looking for.

Cool, maybe we'll meet one day. I don't know many tuba players in the area. I'm definitely looking to start off with something inexpensive, but good. An old quality made horn would be great. If it works out as I envisioned, and after playing for a while I still feel the Eb is what I want, then I'll look at an upgrade. York Monster seemed good from some youtube videos. There's an old Conn Continental for seemingly more than its worth on ebay ($750). Then again, from the outside it looks in pretty good shape. There's a thread on TubeNet about it: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=68557 Someone claimed to have paid $150, and the consensus seems that it isn't worth much more.

Jay Bertolet wrote: I would advise you not to buy into the logic that 6 valves is better because Miraphone is making horns that way. It could just be because of their tradition (which it is). There are plenty of really good Eb tubas with 4 or 5 valves. The good news is that you are looking for an instrument that, more than any other, can be found for a very reasonable price. Like you said, playing before buying is a must for what you're searching for. Good hunting!

Very wise advice. I would be concerned buying some antique 3-valve Eb on ebay without trying it out. I got to play the Starlight Eb when I visited Miraphone some months back. I really liked it.

Never seen a miraphone Eb with more than 5 valves... I think you have F tubas in mind.

Yeah, the Miraphone Eb's have 5 valves.

My advice.
If you want to only play in the staff, those 3v Monsters sound tremendous. They sometimes have dead (non-speaking) notes in the high register, and tend to have virtually zero horsepower from low C to A. Some folk love the false tones but I don't. Pedal range is then great down to A.

For a 'proper' instrument with really full range and sound I'd probably go for something modern.

ValveSlide wrote:I know Jay doesn't love them , but a good, used Yamaha YEB 321 can do a LOT. They can be had for $2000 to $3000.

Not at all!!!!! I won my first job using a 321 Eb. They are amazing horns! My issue with them is the lack of a 5th valve and they can sound a little on the light side, making it difficult when used in certain situations with a large ensemble. Honestly, compared to what the OP states he's looking for, I would consider a used 321 Eb as a much better option. I didn't suggest it simply because the OP was quite specific about looking for a Conn or York Eb. I still regret to this day not trying to turn my 321 Eb into a front action, 5 valve model with a bigger bell. I had worked out the process with Rob Rusk back in the day but was convinced that, financially, it just wasn't smart. If I could have been 100% sure the horn would be just as good after the process, I might have done that and not purchased the Willson I eventually bought. Ah, memories...

oedipoes wrote:Never seen a miraphone Eb with more than 5 valves... I think you have F tubas in mind.

Yes, I made a mistake. Both the Starlight and Norwegian Star have 5v. I went back and corrected it. I was being dramatic about the point I was getting at that I would be concerned buying a three valved Eb off of ebay and getting something with major intonation problems.

I'm curious as to why you would be considering both a Starlight (even in fantasy) and a monster-tuba at the same time for apparently the same application. I found the Starlight, when I played one, not to have all that much oomph even as compared to the N Star (a friend of mine has one and I've spent some time on it,) and certainly not in the same sound category as a monster-whatever. I'm not commenting on anyone else's ability to get the Light to do what they want, but on my perceptions based on one example at ITEC in about 2010.