Most overrated tubas?

[tubatooter1940]

If you sound good enough on it, a beat up tuba can be an asset and conversation piece if you decorate it just right.

[Donn]

I wasn't referring to the public, btw...just the masses of players. Most like a shiny tuba. Those who have a clue don't care about the pretty factor.

I would have thought it may be possible for an artist or craftsman to enjoy some beauty in the tools he or she uses, without necessarily being completely clueless. If 99% of the sound is the player anyway, isn't that what I've heard? Might as well consider a nice looking tuba, since it certainly contributes more than 1% to your visual presentation.

[Chuck(G)]

I would have thought it may be possible for an artist or craftsman to enjoy some beauty in the tools he or she uses, without necessarily being completely clueless. If 99% of the sound is the player anyway, isn't that what I've heard? Might as well consider a nice looking tuba, since it certainly contributes more than 1% to your visual presentation.

There's always paint.

[OldsRecording]

I would have thought it may be possible for an artist or craftsman to enjoy some beauty in the tools he or she uses, without necessarily being completely clueless. If 99% of the sound is the player anyway, isn't that what I've heard? Might as well consider a nice looking tuba, since it certainly contributes more than 1% to your visual presentation.

There's always paint.

As long as it's not Pepto-Bismol pink...

[Chuck(G)]

To me it seems that an ugly tuba probably won't have good mechanics which is certainly important.

I can think of two "horn hackers" that produce very good-playing instruments for the money--and who don't care for prettifying things. People don't seem to realize that the real labor is in the finish work--that a horn is quite playable with fine mechanics long before it sees the buffer, spray booth or plating tank.

Conversely, I can think of lots of bright shiny instruments that don't play worth s**t.

[bigtubby]

To me it seems that an ugly tuba probably won't have good mechanics which is certainly important.

When I finally shell out for a nice horn I really want a NICE horn.
I won't automatically turn down an "un-pretty" horn, but the horns that I want are all pretty new anyways.

I gotta think that a clean, new-ish looking horn will LAST longer too.

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. My favorite tuba these days is well over 100 years old. Seems to have lasted pretty well and plays wonderfully.



I could shine it up but I kind of like it showing its age.

[Jess Haney]

for me some of the Meinl horns that have that cramped had position with the low 5th towards the bottom of the valve set. the 2165 is huge but not a good horn for the price. The piston Neptune, and some of the Cervenys that were poorly made.

[Dutchtown Sousa]

It has been said before but Yamaha tubas. They are not cheap but sound and feel cheap and are built cheaply, especially their sousaphones which cost about the same as the much better Conn 20K.