Suggest a small C tuba
- Wyvern
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are you planning to play melodies or bass lines?
for bass lines I use a miraphone 184 with a medium-large mouthpiece with a flattish rim. I also use this tuba sometimes in the orchestra for a substitute f sound (german orchestra).
this horn has great clarity and response, but I find it a bit thin sometimes. the intonation is excellent.
for bass lines I use a miraphone 184 with a medium-large mouthpiece with a flattish rim. I also use this tuba sometimes in the orchestra for a substitute f sound (german orchestra).
this horn has great clarity and response, but I find it a bit thin sometimes. the intonation is excellent.
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ArnoldGottlieb
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Funny........Rubberlips wrote:I play bass lines, but not walking bass. Only an acoustic double bass can walk convincingly, even an electric bass sounds wrong. They are more funk/soul oriented, often repetitive. Thanks for your suggestions about horn and mouthpiece.
Right?
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- bill
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Small CC
The Ya mama 621 did what you want a tuba to do for me. I used a Ya mama 65 and a Conn 2 to get that sound.
Always make a good sound; audiences will forget if you miss a note but making a good sound will get you the next job.
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- iiipopes
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Third on a 184. But if you can't get one, I've used a Yammy 621 (.689 bore, smaller bell) for some "down home" stuff, and it would probably be alright.
Depending on the gig, a King BBb or various Eb souzys might fill the bill as well.
Since someone mentioned the Mahillion and the M-W "reissue" or "reinterpretation" of it -- the Johnson model -- and this sounds off the wall, but think about it -- it's basically the same instrument bore and valve wise -- a Conn 5J or 11/12 J. I know, they're in BBb, but the tighter bore with a Helleberg mouthpiece would also serve rather well.
Depending on the gig, a King BBb or various Eb souzys might fill the bill as well.
Since someone mentioned the Mahillion and the M-W "reissue" or "reinterpretation" of it -- the Johnson model -- and this sounds off the wall, but think about it -- it's basically the same instrument bore and valve wise -- a Conn 5J or 11/12 J. I know, they're in BBb, but the tighter bore with a Helleberg mouthpiece would also serve rather well.
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- ken k
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czerveny piggy.
there jsut happens to be one on the for sale thread right now (I have no connection to this BTW, but I saw it there while surfing.
k
there jsut happens to be one on the for sale thread right now (I have no connection to this BTW, but I saw it there while surfing.
k
B&H imperial E flat tuba
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1924 Buescher BBb tuba (Dr. Suessaphone)
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Mirafone 187 BBb
1919 Pan American BBb Helicon
1924 Buescher BBb tuba (Dr. Suessaphone)
2009 Mazda Miata
1996 Honda Pacific Coast PC800
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ASTuba
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Re: Suggest a small C tuba
I will second the 2J/3J. I think they're a bit more nimble and flexible than the Miraphone 184's.Scooby Tuba wrote:Conn 2J...Rubberlips wrote:I'm looking for a C tuba suitable for jazz.
Andy Smith, DMA
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Re: Suggest a small C tuba
And cheaper!!!ASTuba wrote:I will second the 2J/3J. I think they're a bit more nimble and flexible than the Miraphone 184's.Scooby Tuba wrote:Conn 2J...Rubberlips wrote:I'm looking for a C tuba suitable for jazz.
- MartyNeilan
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Check the For Sale...With a shallow bowl mouthpiece the horn I am selling may be what you want; and you turn around and put a large funnel mouthpiece in it and use it for many other environments.
viewtopic.php?t=23364
viewtopic.php?t=23364
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I agree with the four earlier posts regarding the Conn 2Js and 3Js. I haven't used mine in any type of jazz ensemble yet, but I'm sure it would do well for jazz. And at a cheaper price is true too. You might want to check out the Conn 2J on eBay for $1,500 with a new case that's discussed in the eBay section.
Dave
Low Brass musician and Bass Guitarist
Low Brass musician and Bass Guitarist
- Wyvern
- Wessex Tubas

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Yes I played one when I visited the factory earlier this year. Very nice light tone for a BBb. Would make a good quintet, or jazz tuba. However, I thought the front valve 2011FA was the better blower.nxt2laststarfighter wrote:Anyone play the new Meinl-Weston BBb-Tuba 2011TA "Heritage Howard Johnson Gravity". I've never even seen one but I would think it would make a good jazzer.
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Allen
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I have read this thread, and am wondering one thing: How is the query "Suggest a small C tuba for jazz." different from "Suggest a small C tuba for music."? Is the field of jazz music smaller than any other field of music?
I suppose all we can do is give a little anecdotal information on the small C tubas we have played. Here's a tidbit from me: I played the Yamaha 621 small 4-valve C tuba for about a week. It had a good if small sound, and was quite agile. Pitch was quite good (except for the usual problems with 24 and 14 fingerings). I can see why some players like it for quintet work. I noted (this is for Bob) that it had no false tones at all. However, the hand position was impossible for me; it made my right wrist hurt. I talked to others about it, and it seems that people are either willing to put up with the terrible ergonomics or not. Your mileage may vary.
Cheers,
Allen
I suppose all we can do is give a little anecdotal information on the small C tubas we have played. Here's a tidbit from me: I played the Yamaha 621 small 4-valve C tuba for about a week. It had a good if small sound, and was quite agile. Pitch was quite good (except for the usual problems with 24 and 14 fingerings). I can see why some players like it for quintet work. I noted (this is for Bob) that it had no false tones at all. However, the hand position was impossible for me; it made my right wrist hurt. I talked to others about it, and it seems that people are either willing to put up with the terrible ergonomics or not. Your mileage may vary.
Cheers,
Allen
- MartyNeilan
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Well, I think he put that based on the kind of timbre he is looking for in a small tuba. He seems to want something with a lot of "bark and bite" to it - something like a vintage York Eb-CC conversion with a 20" bell may not be the ticket.Allen wrote:I have read this thread, and am wondering one thing: How is the query "Suggest a small C tuba for jazz." different from "Suggest a small C tuba for music."? Is the field of jazz music smaller than any other field of music?
Adjunct Instructor, Trevecca Nazarene University