TubeNet

Looks very interesting but has anyone tried it? I'm looking for a small flexible F tuba mainly for quintet and other small settings.

https://www.xuqiumusic.com/f-key-tuba-xta011" target="_blank

I've never heard of that brand. However, it looks like a re stamped M&M/Jinbao, and probably plays similarly.

It probably is. Opinions on other brands of that tuba?

avoid it. It's terrible.

It looks as the Jinbao JBFB-600 is the same tuba. What's so terrible about it?

Any opinions on the Jinbao JBFB-542?

There has been lots of talk of less expensive tubas on this forum. The importer you are asking about has been not mentioned before.

If you want to buy sight unseen (because of covid, remote location, whatever else) go with the horns that have been asked and talked about a lot. That is in my opinion your best bet.

This forum seems pretty committed to Wessex, Mack, Eastman, and JP. Start your research there in my opinion.

I recently bought the Jinboa 6 valve F and this looks very similar. Everyone said not to touch it because of terrible problems. However, I discovered that these had been with the earlier models. Mine was a 2nd hand 2012 version and plays superbly. It has a very wide bore after the valves. I made the 5th valve into a '4th valve' length to aid cross fingerings and the old fourth into a tritone to aid F# and CC# and to allow plenty of extra tubing in the lowest register with fewer valves. Also works great as an EEb with a crook. It is definitely worth considering - if you can try it first!!!!!!

I have to agree with the other people here. While the price is attractive, the headache is probably not. There are several companies working with the factories in China to improve the quality of the instruments, and who stand behind their products.