Happy tuba shopping?

[windshieldbug]

I intend to seek the help of an experienced individual prior to purchasing

Please keep your personal life personal. This is a 'G' rated forum...

[Captain Sousie]

This is a 'G' rated forum...

With Doc around? I don't think so.

Sou

[J.Harris]

Why not consider a used horn? In your price range you could find a much better horn used that you would be much more pleased with than the models you've listed. You could also sell a used horn, if you wanted to upgrade later, and not take much of a hit on depreciation. My two cents.

[eupher61]

I just bought a Weril 680. It's maybe not as "nimble" as I might hope, but that's a function of me, and mouthpiece, as much as the horn. The overall sound and pitch is excellent!

It is small, but I think it's a much better built horn than the Jupiter. It's nice to have 1,2,3 valve slides accessible from the left hand top bow position. There's one spit valve in the 4th valve tubing which is in kind of a wierd place, but that's minor. Water noise does get bad pretty quickly, and it easily gets past the valve section, but a quick twirl and it's gone.

I'm still trying to figure out mpc choice...

[MikeMason]

If the used VMI 3302 is still on bassclefbrass.com , buy it immediately.Great horn.Great price...

[iiipopes]

Lots of good used horns out there in the @$4000 range, including M-W, Miraphones, Cerveny (even some new), used Kings, etc. Keep looking.

[bort]

If the used VMI 3302 is still on bassclefbrass.com , buy it immediately.Great horn.Great price...

I'll second that. Why is that horn still there?

[iiipopes]

Because most of us already have our main BBb.

[Rick Denney]

1. Kalison
2. Weril 680/681
3. Jupiter 582

Of these, the only one that I think is a good, general-purpose tuba for concert band is the Jupiter.

But I'm with the others. I'd take a used Miraphone 186 any day of the week, rotary valves notwithstanding. If you insist on pistons, look for a used VMI 3301, maybe even under an alternative brand like F. Schmidt. I helped my wife's uncle obtain (from a member of Tubenet) an F. Schmidt/VMI 3301 and it is a wonderful instrument. Tell people it's a B&S PT-2P if you need to show off.

I'll bet with some judicious searching, you can find a new lacquer King 2341 in your price range. I know several who have bought them new over the last couple of years, and I don't think any of them paid more.

Rick "without the skills to play a Kalison in tune and thinking the Weril is too small for large ensembles use" Denney