F tuba as only tuba (can't find an old thread)

bort · Post by **bort** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:57 pm

I remember a while back (summer?) there was a thread about using an F tuba as a single "do it all" tuba.

I can't seem to get the search function to find this -- help?

Mojo workin' · Post by **Mojo workin'** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:20 pm

Don't know what the concensus was when it was discussed before, but I'm going to say it is not as good of an idea as a CC or Eb being an all around horn.

This past year I've been playing on an F exclusively, Miraphone 181. The main problem is in the breadth of sound needed for certain situations. The middle and upper registers are fantasically nimble, agile, clear, etc. But when required to deliver the goods below the staff, I've found that I've been buried alive by other players with CC tubas. This could be due to the size of F tuba that it is; I know Willson, Yamaha,Gronitz and a couple of other manufacturers have models that have a terrific low range, even comparable to CC tubas.

When I owned just a CC tuba, I felt that I was able to cover the parts in the professional ensembles that I play in with noticeably more ease. However, a very well respected principal trombonist of a major orchestra seemed to like the small equipment that I was using very much this past Christmas in a church brass quintet. That was probably why though, a quintet, not a larger ensemble.

bort · Post by **bort** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:42 pm

Bloke -- what is your 'irreplacable' F tuba?

Kory101 · Post by **Kory101** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:50 pm

I use my YFB-822 almost exclusivley. I have the YCB-861 but it's not getting as much use since getting my F. This thing has such a monsterous low range! The pedal C is soo full. All ranges on this horn are amazing. My teacher JUST bought one today. He had been trying it out and was interested in becoming a Yamaha artist and today they said "Welcome to the Yamaha family" and gave him the tuba at artists price!

Mwtuba32 · Post by **Mwtuba32** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:24 am

If you want to only play F the Willson 3200 may be the tuba for you..I have played one and found it to sound more like a C tuba in the low register than my C did..You should give one a try.

tubeast · Post by **tubeast** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:58 am

I used to tell everybody who wanted to hear it that my F-tuba was all I was going to need. And, in a way, it was:

In youth band I was the only tuba for years, which trained me to have a well working low register. The pedal range sounded A LOT more effective than any BBb-playerÂ´s I came across. (Including ME playing a BBb).

Then I ran into CC-tubas, bought one, and grew comfortable with it. After that I finally met BBb guys who knew what they were doing.
Since that time IÂ´ve become a believer in the "own TWO very different horns"-theory.
Now, simply out of interest and craziness, IÂ´m developing the "own three horns: a small bass, a 4/4 contrabass, and a BAT"- concept.

Cunningham · Post by **Cunningham** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:04 am

I'm with bloke. I'm between CC's right now. But my Willson F is filling every need in the mean time! I'm playing it in brass quintet, tuba quartet, orchestra, and everything in between. My Willson is my baby, and it's not going anywhere! It's by far the most flexible instrument I've ever played. Gorgeous high range and powerful low range.

I actually considered selling it once before. I was using a small mouthpiece and chipping notes all over the place. Then I switched to a huge Parke mouthpiece and the chips disappeared almost instantly. And the big mouthpiece turned out to be really good for my high range too because it forced me to use the correct fundamentals instead of relying on a small mouthpiece to "squeeze" out the high notes. I'm now 100% convinced that I will never need to upgrade my F. Now if I can just find that perfect CC, I'll be set.

OK, sorry for the shameless Willson commercial.

samulirask · Post by **samulirask** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:26 am

Eflat could be the answer, if there would be any good eflats around. Compensated Besson and Yamaha horns are ok, but I think their sound is a bit "muddy" - if you compare them with german f-tubas. Norwegian star is a great horn, but is smallish for all-round use. I donÂ´t know about Willson Eb. I havenÂ´t never even seen one, but for what IÂ´ve heard about Willson instruments and for the specs on their website, it sounds like a good instrument for only tuba.

I have a B&S 4100 F-tuba, and I think itÂ´s large enough to quite a few playing situations. I have a C-tuba also, though.

KevinMadden · Post by **KevinMadden** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:34 am

samulirask wrote: I donÂ´t know about Willson Eb. I havenÂ´t never even seen one, but for what IÂ´ve heard about Willson instruments and for the specs on their website, it sounds like a good instrument for only tuba.

I played one at the USABTEC in Janurary... I would say that unless you're doing heavy Orchestral work (BAT level stuff) it could easily be an all-around horn. I didn't like it is a much as my York, but I don't think I'll ever really be able to replace that, so in the world of 'production' tubas its a solid 'only horn' horn

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:43 am

F as your only horn? I think it depends fundamentally on two things: 1) What sort of sound do you want to produce, and 2) What sort of tone will the organizations you play in need you to produce? For me, I have the same general range on F as I do on BBb, CC, or Eb, so the real difference is in tone quality, response and where the partials are.

I have been playing my small F only for a few months now, even in a large community band. I know it will never sound BAT-ish, and I'm okay with that. All the notes are there, with good tone quality, and it adds a little definition to the sound of the section, where we have 4 CC players and 2 BBb's.

This is based on two assumptions. First, that your horn plays well in all registers. Second, that you are capable of playing the F in all registers. (not trying to insult anyone here, but making some assumptions clear).

tubasinfonian · Post by **tubasinfonian** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:48 am

F tuba is the reason I chose to be a bass trombone double.... crappy F tuba...

I'm a far better bass trombonist anyway, even though my primary instrument is tuba!

American Brass know what they're doing for certain...

My heart will be for the CC tuba for the rest of my life... unless a Meinl Weston 2141 fell into my lap, in which case I'd trade it for my CC.

When I was in the 7th grade (back when they still had soft drinks and Hot Fries in schools) I fell in love with the DARK sound of tuba. Now, some 12 years later, I realize how uncharacteristically light the F tuba sounds to me (for it to still be a tuba), and how much it makes me love the CC tuba even more!

bill · Post by **bill** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:10 am

I can A-men the Willson 3400 Eb. It is my 95% horn and has a low register that is impressive and full and really easy to get to speak. It does not do light, high pitched solo work well, though it does it adequately.

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:03 pm

bort wrote:using an F tuba as a single "do it all" tuba.

Surely this largely depends on your playing situation, your sound concept, personal capabilities and the particular model of F tuba?

No doubt there are plenty of F only players in German, as there are Eb only players in the UK.

However, in my experience after playing a CC for a while, that is the best "do it all" pitch of tuba*.

* With the Besson 981 EEb being next best

Brendan Bohnhorst · Post by **Brendan Bohnhorst** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:32 pm

I'd have to say that it is personal preference. Sure I can play "the ride" on my F tuba, but do I really want to do it in a performance setting? I would use my C tuba unless I was asked to play it on an F by someone signing the check. An F tuba is still a tuba, and you need to be able to play music that says tuba on top.

That said I do use my F for almost everything with my brass quintet.

Just my $0.02,
Brendan

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:01 pm

I worked on the "The Ride" on F for my own amusement, to develop that range, and just in case. I have whatever model B&S was common in '82--besides the Symphonie; this one is 5 rotors--and it had been chosen as an "I might buy this in a month" by a well-known tubist. He turned it down, and I happend to pick it out of a stock of 20 or so, unknowingly. Once the low range stabilized for me, I've rarely looked back. I do have a little Weril BBb for jazz and wherever I don't feel like taking the F, but the F is by all means my prime horn. I've tried another BBb, a great Eb, but they just didn't do it. Granted, I don't play orchestra any more (it's been 10 years, I guess...*sigh) but for ANYthing, I'd feel fine using the F right now, even for the Ride. Maybe...

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F tuba as only tuba (can't find an old thread)

F tuba as only tuba (can't find an old thread)

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