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So, I haven't owned an f tuba in a couple years. I haven't really needed one. Next season we have fantastique programmed,so, my bluff has been called. I've got funds available and have been debating,trying, asking trusted friends. I've got a little down time this summer,so I've decided to experiment and work up f tuba orchestral rep and maybe the RVW on the 2j. I was comparing with a student's petrushka and noticed a lot of similarities,especially the bell. Good qualities of my 2j:Small bore(.656),good intonation,easy low range , colorful sound,paid for. I had a fifth valve added and 3rd and main slide shortened by Bloke. Really an enjoyable tuba to play now. Pondering mouthpiece selection now. I have a 7b,a heavy wall manatuska,a bloke solo,(loaned out shank and can't find),and the bloke imperial. They all work to varying degrees with strengths and weaknesses. I am fully prepared to punt and buy something this fall if this doesn't work out. Wish me luck. There are quite a few of these out there that can be had cheaply... http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c228/ ... G_0039.jpg" target="_blank" target="_blank

I play almost exclusively on a 3J, so perhaps I can help.

For many years I almost exclusively used the Conn 7B. Top to bottom, it worked the best for me on my horn and was what I used to play Symphonie Fantastique in college. After a detour with some larger mouthpieces, I recently settled on the Matanuska as it's almost a copy of the 7B but in steel. I highly recommended digging in on the Matanuska just playing the horn to death-- it'll go wherever you drive it.