TubeNet

If you needed to purchase a BBb for a school, what would you purchase? Maximum price: $4000 - $5000.

(asking for a friend)

A nice used Miraphone 186... The gold standard.

I'd look seriously at the Wessex and J. Packard horns. I think you get a lot more value out of those horns. The Miraphone is a really nice horn that plays very well. I don't think most high school players would notice the difference among any of them. The Meinl Westen 25 has been around for years and has proven to be a durable excellent player, if you can find one.

I spent some time with the Eastman king copy. It really played great. I like the real king too.

I would go with a Yamaha 321. They have been the work horse for school bands and hold up well.
Tuba Charlie

bloke wrote: Front-action pistons is the only way to go for schools.
The Eastman King 2341 knock-off (a short/wide tuba, which is less likely to be knocked over) for 4/4, or the John Packer 179 (loosely based on Yamaha 621) for a LARGE BORE (.689" - .728") 4-piston 3/4 tubas tuba.

This. Unless your tech who services your school has a morgue full of King tuba parts, then purchase reconditioned King tubas, 1241 or 2341 doesn't matter. They are all basically (pun intended) the same with the same .687 valve bore for over a century.

A budget of $4,000.00 - $5,000.00 and the slightest bit of patience should easily bring you two serviceable King 1241s with upright bells from the used market.

Skip the questionable quality, hard to find parts for clones.