TubeNet

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tuba-F-NEW-Mode ... 3f1150f5b3" target="_blank

Odds that we'll ever find out anything of importance about how it's different from the previous iteration?

I don't see anything that stands out.

I e-mailed the seller and the answer was that it has a different lead pipe from earlier models. The lead pipe on this one is made from gold brass.

FWIW, that is not a bad price for a decent 6 valve F tuba...

It is a shame that the JinBao F does not have better intonations, as it would be really good for students and those on a budget, but having tried myself, I just do not consider it good enough to sell and will now only get to special order.

I just wonder why it is so out of tune with itself? I noticed the expansion in tube diameter increases dramatically in the main tuning slide, so wonder if the problem could be there? I cannot see a gold brass leadpipe would help.

It is rather ironic that this quite 'normal' F tuba has such problems, while the little Bubbie travel tuba has pretty good intonation playing in either F or Eb.

MartyNeilan wrote:FWIW, that is not a bad price for a decent 6 valve F tuba...

So is it an excellent price for a lousy 6 valve F tuba?

bloke wrote:It looks to be a knock-off of the 181 (which features the really sharp second space C) rather than the 281 (which is not burdened with that problem).

A bit fuzzy here, but mine not only had that sharp 3rd, but also a flat 5th, out of tune 6th (I do not remember which way it leaned), a very funny sounding low F, and the known sharp 4th partial. Maybe even a bad 8th. I'm not completely adverse to tubas with intonation difficulties but I didn't want to learn new fingerings for every note and wasn't that fond of the horn's sound.
Mechanically, though, it was pretty solid.

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DavidB wrote:Sure, this model has some problems, but does a true point-and-shoot F exist?

Piston- 1281, the Willsons, the Yamahas, 2250,...
Rotary-182, 653, probably the Firebird,...

For the most part expensive, though I think the little Cerveny computers more than well enough even if bought new.

The Yamaha F tubas are really the most point-and-shoot I can think of. Unfortunately, I also find the sound a bit unsatisfying, at least as much as I can make from it.

The Cerveny 653 isn't a "no maintenance" F tuba, but I would say it's very low maintenance. I don't play F every day (...or week), but it's no trouble to get it out, warm up a bit to remind my ears what they need to hear, and then be ready to go. Easy easy. I doubt that something that requires so many workarounds and alternate fingerings would fit the bill for me and my memory.