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Hey tuba vets,

I was hoping you guys could help compile a list of trending tubas you're seeing out there and maybe the reasoning behind their use. I'm sure many of us youngsters would appreciate it, as well as those seeing changes in what used to be popular and what's popular now.

*EDIT: Just to clarify, this isn't necessarily me looking to buy a horn, nor is it geared toward a particular style of playing. I'm aware that not every horn works for everyone. That being said, not everyone knows where to start, so I figured this kind of list might give some direction for those in the dark.

Travis99079 wrote:Hey tuba vets,

I was hoping you guys could help compile a list of trending tubas you're seeing out there and maybe the reasoning behind their use. I'm sure many of us youngsters would appreciate it, as well as those seeing changes in what used to be popular and what's popular now.

Example 1
Tuba Student: Hrmmm.... tuba X is being played by tuba player A. So I'm gonna buy tuba X.
Tuba player A: It does what I want it to, that's why I bought it (designed it, had it customized for me, etc ad nauseum)
Answer: Popular tuba is popular because well-respected tuba player uses it in major metropolitan orchestra (even though it's easily identifiable that well-respected tuba player could play a garden hose and it would come out sounding beautiful) viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62173

Example 2
Tuba Student: Heya teacher, my parents are taking out a second mortgage so I can have a tuba, what should I buy?
Tuba Teacher: Well, I think tuba Y is worth going for. But don't buy sight unseen...
Answer: Popular tuba is popular because teacher recommends it (maybe even uses it) and it seems to be working well for a lot of players even if it might not work well for tuba student.

Example 3
Band Director: Hello district comptroller, what is my budget for buying instruments for my school?
District Comptroller: $XXXXX.
Band Director: Hello instrument making company X, Y, and Z. I need an RFP for 4 tubas, 3 marching baritones, a bass clarinet, and a set of tympani
Instrument Making Companies X, Y, and Z: We have a great deal for your school.
District Comptroller: Company Z has the lowest bid, that's what you'll buy.
Answer: Popular tuba is popular because the company could meet the requirements of having the lowest bid.

Question: Tuba popular for what: Jazz? Solos? Orchestral? Large wind band? Chamber music? You're asking a lot by not being specific. Super duper horns may be great one day but give them time, something newer and/or better may come along and unseat it.

Travis99079 wrote: I was hoping you guys could help compile a list of trending tubas you're seeing out there and maybe the reasoning behind their use. I'm sure many of us youngsters would appreciate it, as well as those seeing changes in what used to be popular and what's popular now.

Poke around in the "For Sale" section for a pretty good representation of what's popular and what isn't from every era. Note the "want to buy" and "will trade for..." requests as well.

I'll try to answer your question from my experience:

I have been involved with tuba activities (and taught at, in some capacity or another) two universities.

The trend for "first CC tuba buying" that I have seen leans toward the 4/4+ to 5/4 CC piston valve tuba. Meinl-Weston Thor, PT-6 and PT-6P, B&S MRP, Miraphone 1291/2/3. I don't think this is either a good or bad thing, as they are all fantastic tubas, but I do think that some young players think (and I was one of them) that buying a bigger horn will automatically improve your playing dramatically. It will not.

The Conn 52J series was popular for a while. These seem to have fallen out of fashion in favor of larger German tubas that I mentioned above. I see the occasional Miraphone 1291, but not as much as I did 5-10 years ago. If budget is not a concern, most people I know who were interested in that model seem to be most drawn to the 1293 version.

What seems to be going out of style (in my experience, in my area) is the Miraphone 186 and 188 and the Meinl-Weston 2145, as well as other 4/4 models.

When I heard the youngsters at a clinic a few years ago, they had the biggest horns available, beautiful ones too. More years ago smaller horns were common, and I envied the people with the compact models. The teachers at the aforementioned clinic were the compact horn generation, working the clinic on instruments half the size.