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What's everyone's thoughts and impressions with the big mouth brass and Eastman BBb tubas? I'm possibly looking in the market for a good all around BBb. One I can play in small groups to a larger brass band.

I have not tried the Eastman, but I highly recommend the BMB 4/4 BBb tuba. It is well-built, has great intonation, and easy-blowing.

I haven't played or touched an eastman, but I play a BMB 764 everyday. I've seen many Chinese tubas, in terms of construction quality they are top notch, best I've seen. I also love playing it, great sound and intonation. I had a BMB f and it was also constructed very well so I'm confident that that holds true across the lineup. I'd buy a 4/4 or even the 3/4 bmb BBb in a heartbeat of I needed such an instrument.

The 3/4 BBb BMB is good except for G and Gb below the staff. I have one and I use it when I want a nice-looking small tuba, but those notes require extra effort and might not work at all for a less-experienced player. The 4/4 model does not have those problems.

I owned the 4/4 BMB CC. It was a solid tuba, nice centered sound, well built with excellent pitch. I only sold it because I came across a 1292 that I liked better, that was also a good deal. I still own a BMB F and I've recently begun playing it again in a brass quintet. It is also a solid horn. I did bring it in to a respected repair tech when I bought it just to see what he thought. One valve was just slightly out of alignment, which he fixed. One tuning slide was also out of alignment , which he also fixed. I had him chem clean it too and he said it was pretty clean, as a new tuba should be. He had never seen a tuba coming from China that he thought, in his opinion, was so well built and designed. I highly recommend these tubas. I haven't played any of the BBb's or Eb. I also liked the 6/4 CC, but I wouldn't need it and my back wouldn't like it. I still would love to ply the 3/4 CC. I haven't come across that tuba anywhere yet.

I think you'd like the 3/4 C Bill, it's a very punchy, lively horn. I didn't much care for the 6/4 C.

Hi Bob. But, I never see the 3/4 at any conference I attend. I would hope that it gives me a slightly bigger sound than my 621 CC.

Thanks guys, I was really hoping to find info out on BBb tubas but I'm sure its about the same across the board... or not. lol

When I went to Dillons I really enjoyed playing the eastman 534; it has a very present and lively sound with very good intonation, along with very consistent playing and tonality across the registers. It's an instrument that needs not to be pushed to produce a warm, full round sound. It seems like a pretty versatile horn to me.

mwlorrison893 wrote:Thanks guys, I was really hoping to find info out on BBb tubas but I'm sure its about the same across the board... or not. lol

You got 3 opinions on BBb tubas, what more do you want?

I've never played the Eastman BBb but I own the BMB 6/4 BBb. The richest, darkest sound I've ever heard out of a piston tuba but it can burn if you want it to. I can support an entire band by myself without wearing myself out, highly efficient. Intonation is very solid on the 6/4 so I imagine the smaller horns are amazing as well. It's braced real well and it's pretty durable. I've not played the 3/4 or 4/4 horns, but I imagine they are of the same quality. Do try before you buy one especially the 6/4. It's size might put you off in the ergonomics department if you're not used to playing larger tubas.

58mark wrote:The Eastman EBB534 is a good horn. Of course similar to a king 2341, but maybe better? I like the valves better for sure

I would like to try that horn eventually, it seems like people love it. If it's better than a King 2341 that says a lot considering Kings are already excellent horns.

I played two of the Eastman tubas at the Tuba Workshop at Ft. Myer and liked them both. One was a 3/4 size and the other was more of a Yamaha YBB-641 or Miraphone 186 clone. I have a Yamaha YBB-631 in WV if interested. PM me.

On the Dillon site, there's a picture of an Eastman horn that looks very much like the big B&S BBb GR51.

If size, $$ and number of valves didn't matter, I played and liked the EBB623

http://www.eastmanwinds.com/tubas" target="_blank

I've played a couple of Eastman B-flats (even though I'm no longer in B-flat mode...) and like them. Not bulbous, hulking piles of brass. Nice feel to the valves. Responsive. Good low register. Upper register's about as steady as a B-flat gets.

All that said, I'm just a little nervous about the condition of the valves over a long period of time (or consistent playing). They just feel... fragile.