Eb Tuba in USA

[bone-a-phone]

I play with 3 tubists regularly in this area. 2 Ebs and 1 BBb.

If you don't mind me asking, what country is this area in?

Um, US. East Coast. A little off the beaten path.

[Yane]

I second the idea of an Eb as an all purpose horn, reasonable low notes but while not
leaving you straining for high notes in the rep that was probably meant for bass saxhorns or such.

[Lee Stofer]

Eb tubas have been seriously underestimated by many in the US for a long time. The first time I knowingly heard an Eb in public performance was in Washington, DC in 1985, when Marty Erickson was in the Navy Band's brass quintet - what a treat to hear! That's when I started considering an Eb as a serious alternative. I have spoken with Professor Bert Nordbloom, an American tuba player who has been living in Germany since 1972, who plays a Besson 3+1 Eb in a German orchestra. He told me that when he came to audition, he was told that he would "have to" play an F tuba. He said he didn't have and F tuba, or access to one, and auditioned with his Eb, thinking that if they don't mention it again, it didn't matter that it was an Eb - and he was right.

Several years ago, I had a customer come to the shop to play-test Eb tubas, as he was looking for an inexpensive 2nd horn to complement his King 2341 BBb. He tried the two antique 3-valve Eb's I had, and then decided to try the new Kanstul York-copy Eb, which was basically as large as his new-style King 2341. After a lot of play-testing, he said, "I hadn't planned to buy a new Eb tuba today!", but he did. Two weeks later, he called me and said, "I'm coming back to the shop, to drop off the BBb for you to sell. The Eb will do everything, and I don't need the other horn."

I'm glad to see that so many people have given good advice about orchestral auditions, which should be approached as an "Excerpts Recital." Enjoy your Eb tuba, don't worry about an F, because at the end of the day, you will sound like you, no matter what you are playing.

[jeopardymaster]

I had to work my butt off on F to make it play it well and in tune. But for me, going from CC to Eb is point and shoot, relatively speaking. I get a bit of tanglefoot at first in low register with the 4th valve down so much, but that's what CCs and BBbs are for anyway.

[barry grrr-ero]

Look at it this way: it's better to have an Eb tuba that you love and feel comfortable with, than to have a not-so-great F tuba.

I'm no expert on F tubas at all. But it seems to me that many F tuba players are constantly switching horns, looking for something better. That kind of tells you something, doesn't it. A very strong local tuba player has tried many different F's, but seems to keep coming back to the Bobo-ha F (Yamaha). Others like the bigger sound and feel of the Yamaha 822. But both of those will set you back, money wise, much more than a Wessex Eb.

[Voisi1ev]

Look at it this way: it's better to have an Eb tuba that you love and feel comfortable with, than to have a not-so-great F tuba.

I'm no expert on F tubas at all. But it seems to me that many F tuba players are constantly switching horns, looking for something better. That kind of tells you something, doesn't it. A very strong local tuba player has tried many different F's, but seems to keep coming back to the Bobo-ha F (Yamaha). Others like the bigger sound and feel of the Yamaha 822. But both of those will set you back, money wise, much more than a Wessex Eb.

The Wessex Eb lineup looks interesting for a horn to dink around on. Lots of options. The Gagney or Calvary look great for someone interested in small groups or solo stuff. Not sure if I feel like transitioning to 3+1.

[Wyvern]

I think any British tuba player can tell you that the Eb tuba, at least in the 19” bell compensated form popular in the UK, is the most adaptable type of tuba, basically capable of handling anything from solo playing to large symphony orchestra.

Yes, F, CC and BBb are better in many situations, but if you are going to a gig and don’t know what music might be put in front of you, the Eb is the most flexible to be able to handle anything.

Now I enjoy playing all keys of tuba, but for 15 years I played everything from Vaughan Williams tuba concerto to Wagner Ring cycle on a compensated Eb.