TubeNet

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schiller-Americ ... 3ccce1a7e8" target="_blank

Now they've got their hands on the Huashen child size (or 'gentlemen's size', according to Laabs) tuba in addition to the travel tuba, still claiming to have the 'american tuba sound'.

• Genuine Schiller Mouthpiece & Case
• Yellow Rose Leadpipe
• Monel Plated Valves

I guess the $64 question is now "who wants a three-piston Eb tuba?"

Just off-hand... I'd say that market is going to be rather small. That is.... unless educators come to their senses and resume starting fifth-graders on Eb tubas like they did fifty years ago.

Everyone around here remembers the crummy little Couesnon Eb three-bangers that were bought by the dozens by the Evansville School System in the 50-60's. I think those horns were sold off a few years ago for $25 each.

At one time 20 years ago, a district in the KC area s using those Eb Cuesnons for beginners. But...they had the tuba players using BBb fingerings, to avoid having to relearn when switching. So, playing up a 4th the whole time. At least they avoided parallel 5ths...not sure what happened with that experiment.

So, a 1/2 size Eb tuba is a "Gentleman's Tuba."
I play a 6/4 CC, does that make me a Dirty Old Man???

I just inherited a Cousenon 3v Eb tuba from our middle school band director who had to move out of his classroom and had to dump a buncha derelict stuff. It is inhumane to start a kid on Eb fingerings, and drive him insane when he moves to BBb in a year. This horn is a bit crappy, but it works. Maybe I will take it on camping trips.

In this case we sell a very similar Eb tuba at no more as our regular price
http://www.wessex-tubas.com/junior-eb/

These little Eb have their uses, but hardly 'Gentleman's 'tuba

In the UK these are mostly bought by schools for kids to learn tuba