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I am in the market for a secondary horn and want an F tuba. But before I get too serious I would like the rundown on F tubas vs. Eb. What are the major advantages of having either one? Should I plan on getting both someday, or will one suffice?...and so on...If anyone has the time to let me know, or has a link to a comparison, I would appreciate it.

Just my opinion, but I think either will suffice. More to the point, you need to decide bore, sound, response, use, $$, etc, and see what presents itself. I used EEb's for years in the symphony when the need arose until I got a good orchestral sounding F. Neither the audience nor the music director seemed to know the difference. I'd liken it to a C versus Bb trumpet issue, or a CC versus BBb tuba thing. Depends more on the horn and it's response/intonation/use than the key (IMHO).

Many (not all) believe the rotary F tubas have a distinctly preferable sound over other choices available for bass tubas. I personally like the sound of this type of instrument, but I also know I dislike the uncentered feeling comes when playing the low D, Db, C notes (just below the staff). The best way I can describe this is that it feels to me like I'm playing a horn with the spit valve open. Some claim there are rotary F tubas out there that do not have this tendency, but I have never found one. I have found that some F tubas are worse than others in this regard.

Eb tubas are typically more affordable, unless you want the Willson 3400 5V Eb. But most Eb tubas are piston horns, not rotary. Also, almost no F tubas use the Besson-style "compensating" design, while may Eb tubas do. Many folks experience an excessive amount of air resistance in the compensating low register of this kind of Eb tuba (myself included).

Note: there are BIG and modest sized Eb and F tubas. Do you want your bass tuba to sound like a 4/4 CC contrabass? Buy a Yamaha YFB-822 or a Willson F, or a Willson 3400 Eb. These tubas may arguably be able to be a "one tuba for all occasions" instrument. If you want a bass tuba that sounds distinctly different from your contrabass tuba, buy something like a Rudy Meinl 4/4 F, the new Miraphone 281 F, the new and not yet available Miraphone 283 Eb, a Yamaha YEB-321 or 381 Eb.

Play several, paying particular attention to the playing response of the compensating Eb tubas from low BBb (two ledger lines + a space below the staff) on down to the pedal Eb. Pay particular attention to the playing response of the low D, Db, C notes of the rotary F tubas. Then, if these characteristics aren't terribly annoying to you, and if you find a horn with the sound you're looking for, buy it -- regardless of which key it's in.

Cheers,

I think the main consideration for getting and F or an Eb tuba should be based on what keyed contrabass you are playing. The CC goes better with an F tuba and those who play BBb seem to work better with an Eb tuba. Perhaps it has something to do with intonation in the subconscious, or just the general P4 relationships. For me it was clear that F was the best choice, playing on a CC.

Are you a "natural" tubist or do you play a little on the "flat" side? It does seem to be the norm that major players use either F and CC or Eb and BBb.

I'm sure there are many great sounding exceptions to this rule, but it's a pretty safe bet when buying your first "other key" horn.

Having owned a Besson 982 for a while and trying to make it work as a bass tuba, I found the low register wasn't the problem. I never got the high register to sing with color and clarity- I always had that high contrabass tuba sound, and it wasn't happenin' for me.

I'm happier with my gold brass PT-10 so far.