HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

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HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by MackBrass »

Over the years as we grow older, the weight of the tuba can sometimes be a concern, especially for those dealing with health and back issues. It almost seems that I speak to customers daily regarding the weight of certain models as they research new horns to replace their older or existing heavier equipment.

Question, how much does weight become a factor in your purchase?

Question, what is your current model tuba and its weight?

I am going to guess, but I assume the MW 2165 is the heaviest tuba I have ever owned.

Here is a start to the list and I will add to it as posts are made.

Conn 25J, 31 pounds.

MW Thor Silver 19" bell 27.3 lbs

Willson 3050 RZ -- 25.5 lbs

Alex 163 5v Hand Made raw brass, highly modified 24.4 lbs

Alex 163 4v Hand Made raw brass 22.6 lbs

ZO 6/4 Silver York model Hand Made 23.8 lbs

Gronitz lacquer piston F 18.3 lbs

B&S PT8 6v Gold brass hand raw brass made17.7 lbs

B&S PT8 5v hand made raw brass 16.2 lbs

Mack Brass lacquer 5v F tuba (B&S style) 19.0 lbs

Cerveny 6/4 Giant Helicon 4v F 14.4 lbs

ZO lacquer funky 5v travel Tuba in F 13.3 lbs

MACK Brass lacquer 4v travel F tuba 5.4 lbs
Last edited by MackBrass on Fri Sep 28, 2018 10:32 pm, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Tubaru »

My 5450 in silver plate weighs about 27lbs.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by bort »

Willson 3050 RZ -- 25.5 lbs

Need to weigh the PT7 when I get it back. Feels lighter than the Willson, but not sure that it is.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by GC »

Conn 25J, 31 pounds.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by MackBrass »

Tubaru wrote:My 5450 in silver plate weighs about 27lbs.
It will be interesting to see different weights on same model tubas. The difference could be attributed to the different scale readings and I would imagine that there will be a difference due to manufacturing itself.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by MackBrass »

GC wrote:Conn 25J, 31 pounds.
WOW, is this a 5/4 or 6/4 and how many valves?
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by bort »

Marzan (large piston CC): 24 lbs
Cerveny 653: 14 lbs
Miraphone 1291 CC: 22 lbs
Neptune (rotary): 25 lbs
Miraphone 188 (gold brass): ~22 lbs?
VMI/MW 30: ~20 lbs
Rudy Meinl 4/4 CC: low 20s
Willson 3050RZ: 25.3 lbs

Also,
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=67293" target="_blank" target="_blank
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Ace »

Weril 4 piston valves, 3/4 CC tuba = 14 lbs

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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Mike C855B »

Conn 28J - 23#
Miraphone 191-4V - 23#

The same reading with both horns was suspect until I weighed the empty case for the 191, which came to 28#. At 51# together, no wonder I gripe about the schlep.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Worth »

Wisemann 900 @ 23.2 lbs
2014 Wisemann 900 with Laskey 30H
~1980 Cerveny 4V CC Piggy
1935 Franz Schediwy BBb
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Bill Troiano »

Great thread, Tom. This has been a concern of mine over the past few years. I'm in my mid + 60's and I've messed up my back a few times. I really don't want to deal with any tuba over 20 lbs. anymore. And, I play sousaphone a lot. I think it weighs 25 lbs. I have 2 gigs with it today - a 4 hr. gig followed by a 3 hr. gig. I'll feel it tomorrow, but sousaphone weight should be another whole topic. I'll try and weigh my tubas (not mentioned so far on this thread) tomorrow.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Three Valves »

Using the unscientific digital bathroom scale subtraction method, the Mack 210L is 25lbs without mouthpiece. It feels heavier than that. But then of course, I’m getting older... :(
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Conn 2J CC »

Conn 2J CC - 16 lbs.
Conn 32J BBb - 24 lbs.

Years down the road, I'm sure the 32J will leave the stable first. The 2J is much easier to lug around.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Donn »

mctuba1 wrote:Question, how much does weight become a factor in your purchase?
Not much.
Question, what is your current model tuba and its weight?
Holton 109, 31 lbs.
I am going to guess, but I assume the MW 2165 is the heaviest tuba I have ever owned.
How much does it weight?
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by oedipoes »

B&F kaiser BBb = 9,5kg (20.9lbs)
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Kirley »

mctuba1 wrote:
GC wrote:Conn 25J, 31 pounds.
WOW, is this a 5/4 or 6/4 and how many valves?
Conn 25Js are 6/4 horns with 4 top-action valves and an upright bell. They're classic American BATs. :)
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by GC »

Exactly. It’s like a 20J with 4 short-action valves and a ridiculously wide upright bell. It’s about 3 pounds more than a 20J.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Donn »

SteveP wrote:Anyone know what a 3 valve Besson New Standard Eb weighs? I've got the tuba but no way to even semi-accurately weigh it, and am really curious.
I have to confess, that my 31lb weight for the Holton 109, did not come from a semi-accurate weighing. I don't know what an old bathroom scale is good for, probably lucky to get ±5%.
Oh, by the way, the ball has been cut off.
There must be a name for that operation.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by bigtubby »

I've been leaning toward the lightweight end for some of the "getting old" reasons that Tom cited. Some of my tubas that I weighed:

Schuster Army 4RV BBb ............. 14.8#
King 1241 Tuba 4FP BBb ............ 19.5#
King 1235B 3FP Eb .................. 15.3#
King 1258 Sousaphone 4FP BBb ... 22.4#
Cerveny CCB-481 4RV CC ......... 17.5#
York Helicon 3FP BBb .............. 23.2#
Cerveny Tornister 3RV BBb ......... 7.4#
Cerveny Kaiser 3RV BBb ........... 19.4#
Cerveny Kaiser 4RV F/Eb .......... 15.4#
Cerveny Helicon 4RV F ............. 13.2#
Cerveny Kaiser Helicon 4RV F ..... 16.5#
Lignatone Tuba 4RV F ............... 12.8#
J. Low Kaiser Tuba 4RV BBb ....... 17.8#
York Monster 3TP Eb ............... 15.7#
York Monster 3FP Eb ............... 15.6#
Pepper Helicon 3FP Eb ............ 12.5#
Buescher Helicon 3FP Eb ......... 13.5#
Gronitz Tuba 4RV BBb ............. 17.0#
Yamaha YCB-661 5RV CC .......... 21.2#
Keiv Helicon 3RV BBb ............. 16.8#
B&S Model 101 4RV CC ............ 17.2#
St. Pete Model 200 3RV BBb ...... 14.4#
Conn 20-J 3TP BBb ................ 27.5#

Tom, do you have photos of your Cerveny 6/4 Kaiser Helicon? I would love to see them if so.
Last edited by bigtubby on Mon Oct 01, 2018 6:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?

Post by Bill Troiano »

Here are my tubas' weights, based on my bathroom scale:

Yamaha 621 CC - 15.6 lbs.

BMB J 445 F (large bell) - 19.2

Miraphone 186 5U CC (1965 vintage) - 20.1 lbs.

And, just for fun:
Stofer/Jupiter CC sousaphone (thick fiberglass body with brass bell) - 24.5 lbs.

I hope to be adding another CC under 20 lbs. soon
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