Economical Tuba Herd

[Eric B]

This is a hypothetical question posed to get your opinions of the low brass instruments that will give you the most bang for your buck.

If you had a budget of $16000, and could buy one of each of the following with the total spent within that budget, what would you choose? I'm speaking of new horn prices here. So as not to prejudice the TNFJ, I will reserve my picks for a few days.

CC:____________________

F:_____________________

Eb:____________________

Euph:__________________

[circusboy]

CC: Rudy 5/4

F: MW 182

Eb: Norwegian Star (or Starlite)

Euph: King 2266


I really don't know what the prices on all of these are new. I'm sure I went over budget. What's a little more debt? It was fun making up my dream team.

[eupher61]

CC Piggy, 3/4 Rudy Meinl, or (agreeing with previous) 60s era 186. Much different horns than later ones.

F: haven't played the Cerveny of late rage, but you can get PT F's used for the $5k range. If solo work is more your concern, maybe a Besson F??

Eb: Why, if you have a good F?? If need be, though, a 60s Besson or Boosey, models escape me right now. OR, possibly better still, a used Yamaha EBB 321 with a 5th valve

Euph: Yamaha 321 w/ 5th valve, or better still, a new Weril copy of the 321.

Small CC/ BBb: Weril 680/681 Amazing low range, very flexible in all ranges, good intonation, good small tuba sound--recording is FUN with these!

[Eric B]

Eb: Why, if you have a good F?? If need be, though, a 60s Besson or Boosey, models escape me right now. OR, possibly better still, a used Yamaha EBB 321 with a 5th valve

I would never get both (F & Eb), just one or the other. I just didn't want to leave the Eb guys out.

BTW, I don't have $16,000. The budget is to keep people from making lists of their dream horns. Also, let's assume that we don't have to purchase the cases and bags.

[Casey Tucker]

CC: Used 2155 (or the 2157 if you can find them)
F: MW 182 or mira 181
~OR~
Eb: used besson 983 4v comp.
euph: Yamaha YEP-321 (not a fan of the compensating 4th valve on the side.)

[Tom]

I think I followed the rules here...horns only...all new...$16,000:

Cerveny 681 5 valve CC (about $4800 new)
Cerveny F tuba ($3200-$5600 new depending on exactly which model)
Besson 983 Eb (about $6500 new)
Weril's copy of the Yamaha 321 euphonium (about $1400 new ???)

You could buy all of them for almost exactly $16,000 brand new depending on which Cerveny F tuba model you picked out.

Going with an F or an Eb (instead of buying both) would open up a fair amount of cash that would allow you to step up to a Miraphone 186 or 188.

[eupher61]

yep...I missed the "new" mention in the OP. Still, why spend the whole $16k when you'd need a different car to haul all that stuff in?? Spend $10k, get a used minivan for $4k, put $2k into fixups and there you go.

[MartyNeilan]

Frankentubas.

Some are very good horns, but typically sell for much less than a comparable horn. Search the want ads and be patient.

Also, being willing to use a few alternate fingerings or put up with a few quirks can also get you a lot more horn for the buck.

[jeopardymaster]

Sam Gnagey's creations are awesome - but I would not call them Frankentubas. Incorporating a York Eb bugle with a King BBb valve section, plus a rotary 5th valve, they are new 4/4 sized instruments the equal of an HB-2P at least. Get one of those, pick up an old Besson Eb and euphonium, and use what's left over to buy a car.

[Eric B]

OK, here are my picks. I was amazed how many of you made the same picks. If I had to get each, I went over budget by about $700. I am a euph doubler, so no need for an overpriced compensating horn. I am not a Eb player, so I just went with the consensus on the TNFJ on that one.

CC: Miraphone 186 $6,600
F: Cerveny 653 5-Valve $3,300
Eb: YEB-321S $5,400
Euph: Weril H980L $1,400

TOTAL $16,700

In reality, here's is how I'd actually go. I would not get the Eb.

CC: Miraphone 1292 (Silver) $8,800
F: Cerveny 653 5-Valve $3,300
Euph: Weril H980S $1,600

TOTAL $13,700

So, I already own the Weril, I could sell my 186 for about $3,000 and purchase the F and the 1292. Time to start saving. I only need $9,100 more! That could happen in a about 3 years from gig money.