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Hi,

I am considering buying a 6 valve F tuba from either O'Malley or Schiller but I am not sure which one to choose.
The O'Malley model is simply called "O’Malley Tuba in key of F 6 rotary Valves", while Schiller has two possible options within my price range: the American Heritage model and the American Heritage Elite 3/4 size model.

Has anyone played any (or optimally several) of these horn and would be kind enough to offer me a word of advise? I have read all the threads I kind find on the subject but I am still not sure whether I should simply go for the cheapest of these models or take some other factors into account, like i.e. if the Schiller elite horn is much better than their standard horn, and whether the more expensive models would be easier to resell in the event that I do not like it.

Maybe better to try and save up to a Wessex "Berg" or a Mack brass F?
Needless to say I am a very much a beginner in the area. Any help is very much appreciated!

Check return policies.
http://www.mackbrass.com/Brass_instrume ... _band.html" target="_blank
http://www.mackbrass.com/MACK-TU700_EEb_Comp.php" target="_blank

You can probably find a used Wessex Berg or Mack Brass which would be a lot better than whatever you are looking at with Schiller or O'Malley. Or you could just buy a new Mack Brass. I would avoid both Schiller and O'Malley unless you enjoy playing severely out of tune.

If there is a university program somewhere near where you live, the teachers/students there might have a connection to a used F horn you could try in advance. Many of these programs want their players to start with a CC and then as they are more advanced, an F horn. Could be some students who didn't want to have a tuba career as much as they thought.

And it looks kind of scruffy in the pictures, though it's really the cutest little Italian thing ever. But the main thing is, it's small - maybe an ideal size in some ways for a bass tuba, but not the F tuba of many players' dreams, now that 6/4 size is sort of expected. I'd have some use for it, though, and I suppose others would too.

The answer you are looking for is "Neither". Neither of these companies have the quality control needed for these instruments. You could very well be buying an instrument that will not work correctly, or will become non-functional soon after purchase. Don't waste your money

Steginkt wrote:The answer you are looking for is "Neither". Neither of these companies have the quality control needed for these instruments. You could very well be buying an instrument that will not work correctly, or will become non-functional soon after purchase. Don't waste your money

Other companies that are highly regarded and sell Chinese tubas stopped selling these 6v things a long time ago. They were clunkers and they sucked. Don't buy it, that's my advice

Ok,everyone so far seems pretty agreed on that if going for a Chinese replica a Mack or a Wessex would be a much better option, both with regard to the quality of the instrument and the returns policy. I can also conclude that I would be better off purchasing a five valve instrument rather than a six valve. How about the Schiller Elite five valve? I have read some good things about it before (e.g. here viewtopic.php?t=90547&p=671355" target="_blank).

bloke wrote:

bort wrote:Other companies that are highly regarded and sell Chinese tubas

cough-cough...

Though I can be a bit controversial, overly-frank (blunt?), and even (occasionally...?? always...??) grating, I suspect that (at least, in my deceased mother's eyes) I [was] highly-regarded, do fall into the category of overlapping circles that you describe above, and (though I could have) was never willing to offer those things for sale.

How about -- highly regarded companies who used to sell them have stopped selling them. Other companies just never sold them in the first place.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions and tips so far everyone! Much appreciated!!

Speaking from experience: consider Schiller instruments to be sold as-is, without a warranty.