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I am a band director who needs to buy a new Tuba for the school next year. I am currently looking at getting a Jupiter 582 but I have just seen the Allora 186. What opinions do you have on these horns and are there other models and brands that you would recommend for $2500.

Niether one, you can find a much better instrument that either one of these if you are just patient. You could spend about five or six hundred dollars more and get a cerveny, new. Otherwise search for a young used instrument of higher quality. I am sure that the allora would be fine for an individual, but kids are rough on school instruments-especially tubas. Every jupiter I have every played was awful. The craftsmanship is poor as well. All though this has been several years since I have played a jupiter and I have heard that they have made drastic improvements to their product. I would try to buy something that can hold up to being treated like a pogo stick, like most school tubas are. My 2 cents-Jeremy

May I recommend a third? How about a Weril 980. It is a clone of the Yamaha 321. I think it would hold up much better and be more usuable by students of all sizes. Baltimore Brass sells them and I think the Amazing Joe Sellmansberger can get you one also. Good Luck.

my school uses cerveny 681s and i've had great success with the one i play.

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Charlie,
Joe was refering to the Jupiter and the Allora. The Jupiter is made in Taiwan (Republic o' China) and I'm pretty sure that the Allora is mainland China.

I'd like to chime in on the Jupiter tuba mentioned in the original post. A student of mine recently bought one of these from Steve Ferguson, and it is a fabulous instrument that should be on all band directors' short lists. It has a great sound and response (particularly for a BBb) and relatively good intonation. It is fairly even throughout the entire range of the horn and I have yet to see evidence of poor craftsmanship.

I agree with Joe that schools should not purchase rotary valve instruments. Many small parts that when damaged, too easily throws a horn completely out of commission. Instead, I highly recommend the Jupiter 582 for all of my students looking for a solid, inexpensive BBb horn.

Let me also point out that I believe many of the people that are discounting the Jupiter probably have not played the new 582. Before this horn, I would have never remotely considered recomending a Jupiter to my students. With the 582, I have no problems. It's a great student horn.

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The yamaha 321 would be fine, if you wanted your fourth line f to be 25 cents sharp always. The VMI or Cerveny are worlds ahead better of the 321. it is just a student/intermediate line instrument and you get what you pay for.

I play a Weril 980 euphonium - great horn, it is actually that good of a deal for the price. I sent back an Allora - wouldn't play in tune for anything.

Go with the Weril, you'll be glad that you did.

Ryan