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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

My 5450 in silver plate weighs about 27lbs.

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.

Conn 25J, 31 pounds.

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.

GC wrote:Conn 25J, 31 pounds.

WOW, is this a 5/4 or 6/4 and how many valves?

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

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

Ace

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.

Wisemann 900 @ 23.2 lbs

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.

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...

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.

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?

B&F kaiser BBb = 9,5kg (20.9lbs)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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