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So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 1:48 am
by Heliconer
I got curious and wrote down all of the Tubas I've owned... just Tubas. I'm 26 y/o.
Conn 14K BBb Sousaphone
Henry Distin Eb
King Eb Helicon
Alexander 164 Kaiser BBb
Martin Eb
Conn 20J BBb
Deprins Bros BBb
B&S PT-6P CC
Boston BBb
Miraphone Eb
Berliner (Anon.) Eb
Conn 26K Eb Sousaphone
Conn 28K Eb Sousaphone
Conn 20J BBb (yes, a 2nd one)
Buescher BBb "Franken" Helicon
Miraphone 1291 CC
Holton BBb Sousa
Martin Mammoth BBb Sousa
King 1240 Fixed Bell BBb
King "Monster" Eb
King "Raincatcher" Eb Sousaphone
Crown Eb Sousaphone
"Bulldog" BBb Helicon
B&S 6v F Tuba
Sherman Clay & co Eb "Junior" Sousaophone
Martin Mammoth BBb Sousaphone
Conn 28J BBb
Cerveny "Sanders" CC
Holton Del negro BBb
Shuster Eb Helicon
Keefer BBb Helicon
Getzen Baby GG Contra
32 Tubas. That does not include Baritones, Trombones, Alto Horns, or woodwinds.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 10:59 am
by rodgeman
I have owned the following tubas:
- Conn 20J - BBb
- Mirafone 186 - BBb
Currently own Mirafone 186 BBb bell front - my only instrument.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 11:44 am
by pwhitaker
More than I needed; fewer than I want.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 1:13 pm
by Eflatdoubler
Hmm, I only have owned 1 at a time (from first to current).
Miraphone 186 BBb
King 2341 BBb
Cerveny "Piggy" CC
Conn 3J CC
BMB J-345 Eb
B&S pt-22p Eb
Wessex TE-460 "Solo" Eb
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 1:44 pm
by michael_glenn
I currently own two tubas, my PT-6 and my Firebird. I've previously owned these tubas:
Melton 186 BBb
Buescher Eb
Jinbao 6V F
PT-20P CC
Hisrsbrunner HB-2 CC
Meinl Weston 45 F
PT-10P F
Jinbao 410 CC
Jinbao comp Eb
Firebird F
PT-6 CC
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 1:48 pm
by Ace
Fifteen.
Ace
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 2:01 pm
by GC
Not very many:
Meinl-Weston 25 BBb 1972-77 bought new
Cerveny 601CC (serious experimental mods by previous owner) 2001-2
King 2341 modern series 2002-5 bought new
Conn 25J 2005-8
Conn Monster Eb (1925 3v) 2008-10
Conn Monster Eb (1914 4v; my avatar) 2010-present
Fillmore Bros 1/2-size Eb (circa 1905) 2014-present
I never have more than 2 instruments of a type at a time, usually just one. I've had 9 basses during that time span, usually just one, never more than 2.
Addendum 1/25/2020: I now have a Packer/Sterling JP377 compensating Eb that I got in March 2019 that plays better than any other horn I've ever owned. I'm looking to sell the Conn Monster Eb and the Fillmore. I may buy an inexpensive small BBb for concert band work, and that will probably be it for the rest of my life.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 5:20 pm
by marccromme
Holy moly - Am I seriously under-staffed with tubas ?? I only have three, all Eb
Wessex TE495-S Danube Eb 5v rotary, up for sale
Besson Eb tuba 3+1 compensated 19" bell (with small european receiver), my beater street parade horn
Melton Meinl Weston Eb 2141-L 4FA + 1 rotary 17.3 " bell, my main Brass Band axe
Never had the pleasure of owning or playing a Bb ...
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 5:39 pm
by opus37
I've owned 12, but currently own 7. I want to sell the BBb. All the rest are Eb horns.
2018 - 2019 update: I now own 4 tubas and one baritone. All others have found good homes where they are loved.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 7:02 pm
by edsel585960
I don't think I can remember them all. I'm forever flipping horns. Usually have 11 or 12 in the house at any given time.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 7:04 pm
by DouglasJB
5.
G50
BMB F
Wessex Strauss (then modified to be 6V)
Eastman 632
Beuscher Eb (project in the works)
Soon to be 6, my Eastman has to leave for a rotary horn...
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 8:07 pm
by SousaWarrior9
Most of mine are listed in my signature
As of right now, I have 5:
Martin Mammoth
Conn 20J/21J
King 1241
York (small-size) Sousaphone
Franken-horn BBb Travel Tuba
Previously owned tubas include:
Weril 3/4 CC
Maestro Rotary BBb
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 8:24 pm
by ken k
I have owned my main horn, Boosey & Hawkes Eb Imperial, 3+1 compensator, for longer than you are alive....
It is the only horn that I really care about. My other horns are for fun, a great Pan American Helicon is a close second, the others are or have been just for fun.
kk
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 10:06 pm
by swillafew
Had 3 different F, 2 BBb, and now a CC (currently one of each). My brain likes the first two, and reckons the CC to be more like the Fs than the BBbs.
I think the F is the unsung hero of the family. If I had to play just one, maybe it would be Eb, just never had one to be the one to buy.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 10:15 pm
by bort
I'm on #9 now, and have owned them all one at a time.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 12:54 am
by TUbajohn20J
Conn 20J
Conn 40K
Willson 3100 FA-5
Conn 10J
Conn 26J
Only have 3 now.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 11:14 am
by SousaWarrior9
YORK-aholic wrote:
So the Martin Mammoth moves to the top of the pile?
I whole heartedly agree.
Absolutely! I've barely had this horn for a week and I already think it's one of the best tubas I've played. It's definitely going to be my 'main horn' from here on out. It's a shame, because I probably won't be playing my other horns nearly as much because the Mammoth is so fun to play!

Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 12:56 pm
by tmz1m
More than I recalled, in this order:
Cerveny 681
Yamaha YFB-621
Miraphone 186
B&S 101
Karl Hammerschmidt F
Miraphone 1291
Conn 3J
Chinese Eb
Miraphone 186 (another one)
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 11:45 pm
by Travis99079
I've owned a single tuba:
Mack Brass 410
It's pretty dope.
Re: So how many Tubas have YOU owned?
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 3:21 am
by Charlie C Chowder
Tubas, I have owned 11, still have 8.
Guitars, 18, still have 16.
Cellos, 6, 5.
Transverse silver flutes, 6.
various other flutes, and recorders. Hell I do not know.
Then there are Kotos, a Pipa, a pin, Mandolins, a mandola, and Octave mandolin, a lever harp, a Lute, Ouds, 7 saxophones from soprano to Bari.
Oh I forgot! Baritones and trombones. (Not counted in the tubas.)
and many other things that make a musical noise, as well as, but only one 5 1/2 ft. grand piano. Not enough room for another one.
How many do I make money with? Zero! How good am I with any of them? I do ok. My sight reading sucks but I can play along with others and get that chill which comes when the music is just right. And I can reach that "Zone" where you have washed your day away and now you can go to bed with a clear mind and a clean soul.
Lucky me,
Charlie C. Chowder
PS. Yes, I have been known to lend out instruments. Short term usually. I have helped a lot of "I always wanted to" save a lot of money. They let them set in the corner for a month with out trying to play.