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Looking at possibly downsizing to a small Eb or F from my Miraphone 289. I dont play in large groups and dont foresee every being the only tuba in whatever ensemble I do play with. That being said still gravitating to the Willson 3400 Compact and Besson 984. Or possibly the Willson 3200XS. My brain copes with Eb better than F but with all things nothing some practice and time on the horn can't overcome. Yes I am aware of several threads on the Eb as a "do it all horn" and like most amateurs I can only own one horn otherwise I would keep my 289 and add the other (which is an option albeit a more time consuming one)

JJ

I guess they're always too small, and always too big.

Jerryleejr wrote:small Eb or F

Don't know if they make small Eb or F tubas any more, since the "too small" thing is too real for too many players, but there's a nice little Kalison that I might have been kind of hot for if I were closer to Madison.

Donn wrote:I guess they're always too small, and always too big.

Jerryleejr wrote:small Eb or F

Don't know if they make small Eb or F tubas any more, since the "too small" thing is too real for too many players, but there's a nice little Kalison that I might have been kind of hot for if I were closer to Madison.

Must of missed that one, I’ll take a look...

JJ

The Miraphone 289 is not a very common tuba. I'd just suggest being sure that you want to part ways with it, because it might be tricky to find another one later.

Have you thought about a smaller BBb tuba, like a Miraphone 186, 185, or 184?

Kanstul 80 3/4 F is too small. Tried it, did not like it. I thought it would be great to have a smaller horn for storage reasons, full sound, but did not work for me.

As others have stated, is there any reason why you aren't looking more at smaller form factor BBb tubas? If that's what you're used to, the transition should be the least problematic. Eb and F can mean a lot more valves and pulling of things.

If you're still thinking about Eb tubas, Miraphone, Yamaha, Wessex, Willson, and Eastman make multiple sizes from big down to tiny travel tubas. In particular, Wessex has 8 Eb tubas plus an Eb sousaphone, helicon, cimbasso, and an over-the-shoulder saxhorn. They make a small Eb compensator called the Bambino that's a pretty well-playing horn.

And just like the recent flood of very large horns, there's been a recent surge of 3/4 BBb horns that play well and don't cost an arm and a leg. If I hadn't already bought a JP Eb this year, I'd be after some of the new JP or Mack Brass offerings.

I love my big horn, but compact BBb horns are catching my attention lately, too. Over the summer I played the JP379B, and really liked this one - https://www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/pr ... ng-bb-tuba" target="_blank Mack has their version, as well - http://www.mackbrass.com/TU220L_BB.php" target="_blank . There are others available. If you can't get to a large shop to try a variety of tubas, put out a call here to see if someone with a smaller horn lives in your vicinity, maybe they'll let you do a test drive.
Good luck out there!
Tim

bort wrote:The Miraphone 289 is not a very common tuba. I'd just suggest being sure that you want to part ways with it, because it might be tricky to find another one later.

Have you thought about a smaller BBb tuba, like a Miraphone 186, 185, or 184?

Trust me I am wrestling with that, However the two Eb tubas I am looking at dont pop up used very often either and I cant justify the cost of a new one without parting with the one I have...

JJ

If you like Eb tubas, and want a 'smaller' one, you should maybe have a look at the 17" bell models available. I play a 5V FA Meinl&Weston Eb, which is splendid in all respects. They make a 5V rotary as well. I tried the Besson 3+1V compensated 17" bell, which I also consider very good. I had an older Imperial 17" 3V compensated - pretty heavy, but well playing as well.

Well....I found my Norwegian Star enormously easier to play than any longer tuba I tried, including a 3/4 BBb that was pretty good for what it was. Of course the NStar is not cheap, and you have to work a bit harder in the low range. Depends on what you want to do.....if you're laying down the bottom in a band, Eb might not be what you're looking for, and a smaller BBb might be.

If you're serious about either horn new, I'd prefer the Willson. However, I have never seen the 3400C available used. The Besson 983 comes up fairly regularly, and you could be able to find one for a decent price. If you have yet to take a look at the bigger 3400, definitely do that. They have been seen here from time to time. Be sure you are comfortable with playing Eb exclusively. While they do have a better low range than your typical F tubas, they have nothing on bigger BBb or CC tubas. YMMV.

Fwiw, the 3400C had the best low range out of any bass tuba I've played. So if you're serious about Eb, I'd choose the Willson.

marccromme wrote:If you like Eb tubas, and want a 'smaller' one, you should maybe have a look at the 17" bell models available. I play a 5V FA Meinl&Weston Eb, which is splendid in all respects. They make a 5V rotary as well. I tried the Besson 3+1V compensated 17" bell, which I also consider very good. I had an older Imperial 17" 3V compensated - pretty heavy, but well playing as well.

I will take a look, I am trying not to end up with a horn basically the same size as mine just in a different key if that makes sense...

JJ

GC wrote:If you're still thinking about Eb tubas, Miraphone, Yamaha, Wessex, Willson, and Eastman make multiple sizes from big down to tiny travel tubas. In particular, Wessex has 8 Eb tubas plus an Eb sousaphone, helicon, cimbasso, and an over-the-shoulder saxhorn. They make a small Eb compensator called the Bambino that's a pretty well-playing horn.

And just like the recent flood of very large horns, there's been a recent surge of 3/4 BBb horns that play well and don't cost an arm and a leg. If I hadn't already bought a JP Eb this year, I'd be after some of the new JP or Mack Brass offerings.

Sadly not alot of options locally, had to go to ITEC to try and narrow down to the two I am interested in.

JJ

tbonesullivan wrote:As others have stated, is there any reason why you aren't looking more at smaller form factor BBb tubas? If that's what you're used to, the transition should be the least problematic. Eb and F can mean a lot more valves and pulling of things.

I am looking for a sound concept that the Eb seems to accomplish more so than BBb does. Could be my imagination. But the two Eb horns I am looking at were so much more fun for me to play...

JJ

Jerryleejr wrote:

tbonesullivan wrote:As others have stated, is there any reason why you aren't looking more at smaller form factor BBb tubas? If that's what you're used to, the transition should be the least problematic. Eb and F can mean a lot more valves and pulling of things.

I am looking for a sound concept that the Eb seems to accomplish more so than BBb does. Could be my imagination. But the two Eb horns I am looking at were so much more fun for me to play...

JJ

Cool! Sounds like that's the way to go, then!

In what part of the country do you live?...

greenbean wrote:In what part of the country do you live?...

Just North of Nashville....

JJ