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I'm sure this has been asked before but I can't find it.

I'm in the market for an upgrade and want to try things out to know what I want. What are some good places to do this? I'd even be willing to pay for an hour or so at a shop with many tubas, to try things out.

Details
I'm based in Exeter, UK, but I travel a lot to Boston, NY (Albany, NYC) and elsewhere
BBb only
Probably want piston valve
Probably want large bell, but size uncertain
Budget maybe $2000- $6000 but looking for good investments

Probably a little out of your way, but I went to the Tuba Exchange in Durham, NC and had an excellent experience. I probably got to try 12+ tubas in my 1.5 hr time. It was definitely worth the trip for me, as I was leaning towards the Miraphone 1292, having played a friend's and liking it, but ended on my GP13 (a horn I had never even heard of) and loving it. Hopefully someone in your area has a closer recommendation...

Dillon Music is in Woodbridige, NJ, and is a shirt train ride south of NYC. Steps from the train station, and one of the absolute best places you can find for this in the country.

A longer train ride will get you to Baltimore -- Brass is another excellent option. But, it's a little more work to get there from the train station.

Those two stores are arguagbly the best in the US, possibly even the world (besides manufacturer showrooms).

Thanks @adwilson41. I'll have to find an excuse to visit Durham again. Loved their tuba museum (but wished I could try them all out).

Thanks @bort. I have relatives near Woodbridge, so that's a good possibility.

Someone on FB suggested John Packer London (as I'm in the UK), but my impression is that prices are still higher here?

Anyone have suggestions in Boston?

Thanks @adwilson41. I'll have to find an excuse to visit Durham again. Loved their tuba museum (but wished I could try them all out).

Thanks @bort. I have relatives near Woodbridge, so that's a good possibility.

Someone on FB suggested John Packer London (as I'm in the UK), but my impression is that prices are still higher here?

Anyone have suggestions in Boston?

I recommend Baltimore Brass Company in Baltimore, Maryland USA. Their web site is https://www.baltimorebrass.net/

Dillon Music in New Jersey is also superb, but, I find the prices at Baltimore Brass to be a bit lower than Dillon with no compromise in quality and stock for trial. Baltimore is about 3 hours and 45 minutes south of New York. Proprietor, David Fedderly, cannot be beaten for customer service, integrity and knowledge of the instrument.

I would definitely say for Tubas, if you are on the East Coast, Baltimore Brass pretty much can't be beat. Dillon Music is a close second, but doesn't keep as much in stock as Baltimore, from what I've seen. They do however have an EPIC trombone selection, new and used.

That said I picked up my Tuba used from Dillon Music, as well as my Euphonium, and prior to that Four trombones, 3 of which I still own. Also tons of supplies, mouthpieces, etc.

You really can't go wrong either way. A good thing to figure out would be what exactly you want to upgrade to. Tubas take up quite a bit of room, so there's a limit to what any location can keep in stock.

daaronr wrote: Someone on FB suggested John Packer London (as I'm in the UK), but my impression is that prices are still higher here?

Something to keep in mind is if you are planning to play it in the UK, it might end up cheaper buying it there because you don't have to ship it home. If there are some JP horns which interest you, find out their price in the UK including currency exchange with a US purchased horn so you will have something to compare. Not sure if there are any JP dealers in the Boston, NYC, NJ etc. area but there is one in Tennessee.

tbonesullivan wrote:I would definitely say for Tubas, if you are on the East Coast, Baltimore Brass pretty much can't be beat. Dillon Music is a close second, but doesn't keep as much in stock as Baltimore, from what I've seen. They do however have an EPIC trombone selection, new and used.

Yep, partially because...

David Fedderly (owner of BBC) = Tuba player
Steve Dillon (owner of Dillon Music) = Trombone player

Also, BBC just has a lot more square footage than Dillon. It's not very large, but it's a wonderful place. I've been to both many times, have bought tubas from both places, and would love to buy more from them in the future.

This probably goes without saying, but before you make a special trip to any of the shops mentioned, call ahead and ask them what is in stock - especially if you're wanting to try a particular make/model. You don't want to make a big trip only to be disappointed to find that they don't have what you'd hoped they had. Reason being, these specialty shops have the difficult task of balancing the need to keep instruments in stock for people to see/try/buy with the need to not tie up all of their warehouse space and capital by keeping too much expensive inventory on hand. This often means that these shops can get you what you want (on order), but may not have it sitting on the floor for you to try.

Of course, if you were to travel to Washington, DC, on Feb. 7-8, you could see much of what Baltimore Brass AND Dillons have---at the US Army Band Tuba -Euphonium conference. Both will be there, and both bring a ton of inventory. They will bring along instruments of special interest if you ask them ahead of time. Plus, you don't [?] have to pay the VAT, or any other tax.

As you're based in Exeter I would strongly recommend giving Mark Carter aka Mr Tuba a call as he is only the other side of the Severn bridge rather than the North Atlantic and has a wide range of all sorts. If you get up to London then Phil Parkers in Aldgate also has a good range (but not cheap...). Also Wessex in Andover...

https://www.mrtuba.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank

https://www.philparker.biz/" target="_blank" target="_blank