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The MW3450 is pretty compact and has a good sound. I much prefer it to the 621.

pecktime wrote:The MW3450 is pretty compact and has a good sound. I much prefer it to the 621.

Indeed. Much bigger, and much more expensive, though. The 3450 is a *great* tuba, but a bit hard to feature as the tuba a bass trombone player who plays tuba exclusively into a microphone would run to in order to double on tuba.

Thank you all for the excellent responses. I have an arsenal of equipment to keep my eye out for.

I've been pretty happy with my 621, having gone through a similar search. I like it better than the 184 I once had.

I've tried a few Piggies and like them, though they are somewhat bigger than the 621 and less consistent, pitch-wise. A good one will have a richer sound, especially in the low end.

The RM and MW mentioned are much larger horns.

The G50 I tried just didn't do anything for me. Never tried a PT3, but would like to do so one day.

For work with a microphone, I've been eyeballing the Wessex Mighty Gnome. They don't come smaller than that.

Good luck. Let us know what you get.

Thanks! You know, there is a Mighty Gnome for sale in the classifieds...

The only thing I can't understand is why the 621 is so expensive...I guess it's just a great quality horn. I'd love to try one.

The 621 is as expensive as it is because they are a good design, which the folks at Yamaha put together very carefully, therefore it is very consistent throughout the range, and are consistent from horn to horn.

Concerning adding a 5th rotor to a King BBb, using a .770" rotor after the main tuning slide assembly is placed such that it does not cause any resistance problems.

The OP did not state what sort of budget he was working with, but did post, "Excellence Preferred." Some of the instruments listed might be a good doubling instrument to "get by with," but would not qualify as "excellent."

pauvog1 wrote:http://www.dillonmusic.com/p-21936-east ... -tuba.aspx" target="_blank

Nice horn but stretching the boundaries of 'compact'?

pecktime wrote:

pauvog1 wrote:http://www.dillonmusic.com/p-21936-east ... -tuba.aspx" target="_blank

Nice horn but stretching the boundaries of 'compact'?

As an owner, I respectfully disagree. It's a brilliantly compact tuba with the heart of a big horn.

Hey Brian!

I have a Jin-Bao JBCB-420 I'm interested in selling. It's the same instrument as the Schiller YCB-621 copy that Joe mentioned. I've had the valves aligned which made a huge difference as the stock felts were totally wrong.

It's not high end at all, but it has a great pedal C and is nice and compact for the pit. And CHEAP. The intonation is really good, actually better than the authentic Yamaha, I've found.

Not sure how I'd get it to you in Salt Lake, though -- the Chinese foam-body case is HUGE and not very good.

Barry...I should have checked with you first, knowing your collection of instruments! I'll contact you online. Most of the time shipping is done via Greyhound...usually doesn't cost too much. Good to read you again!

Lee Stofer wrote:When I saw the topic, "Compact CC Tubas - Excellence Preferred," I must say something did come to mind . . . . .

Lee might not say it outright because he's too nice/honest/gentlemanly, but he is currently building his own line of CC tubas from the remaining part stock of the Getzen G/CB-50 mentioned elsewhere in this thread.

Except it's all hand built with near flawless fit-and-finish and comes stock with MAW pistons.

I can say without hyperbole that it's the best compact CC I've played, and one of the best CC tubas I've played period.

A bit spendy perhaps, but worth it for the quality. And were I in the market I'd own one already.

Good to know. I've struck a deal with bbocaner on his old horn. If I love it, great. If not, I'll still be on the lookout. Thank you all for the information!

sliphorn wrote: his old horn

And that is...?

bort wrote:

sliphorn wrote: his old horn

And that is...?

It's the Jin-Bao he mentioned above. We'll see how it is.

Whoops, forgot to scroll up. Yeah, let us know how it works out!

Will do. Barry is a great player and a straight shooter. Thanks again, folks!