what horns does mr tucci play on

[THE TUBA]

Have you heard of Perantucci?

At the Mendez Institute this summer, Mr. Tucci played a PT-606 (p), but the horn was not his- it was sent from Custom Music in Michigan.

[Wyvern]

I have heard he has a hand-made Fafner

[jonesbrass]

I would suggest that you email him - he's one of the kindest gentlemen on the planet. His store is located on the web here: http://www.hornboerse.de/lshop,shopstart,,d,,,,,,.htm. I pretty sure you would get a reply, and if you do, please share his answer.
When I bought my 188 from him years ago, he had a Willson 3100 (?) BBb in the store that was a real cannon, but I'm pretty sure he could make a bundy screamer sound great. In other words, I wouldn't be suprised to see a very long list of horns he uses to suit his fancy at the time.

[Chris Smith]

I guess not even Mr. Tucci can play a piston CC in germany...

So you asked him what he plays on and he told you that he can't play CC?

I am going to guess no to both of those questions but if I am wrong please correct me. Assuming that he doesn't say that I would guess that he chooses a BBb (if in fact that is what he plays on in European orchestras) because that is what is common practice there and that is what he finds the conductors want to hear him play. If he thought a CC got the sound that the conductor's want then I am sure he would and CAN play it.

[Nick Pierce]

I spoke with him at the Mendez Institute this summer, and when I showed him my PT-3 he said that he'd once used one in a performance of a very large work, so I'm guessing that there is some merit to the guess that he has a large stable.

However, my guess would be that his main horn at any given time just happens to be a prototype of whatever model Perantucci is currently developing/modifying/upgrading, for practical and economic purposes. I know I would.

[jmerring]

I just looked at Mr Tucci's site. I can not believe that the selling prices are so enormous. Even the used horns are $6-8K, with the exchange rate; before shipping, mind you. The new horns are listed for as much as $15K. No thank you. Even though I love the 601, I would never pay those prices (I couldn't, even if I wanted to).

[ljdalen]

Before Mr. Tucci became an online shop only, I got to visit him in October 2006. He does have a personal Fafner in silver. Nice horn to play. I can't say that it was custom other than he has a 2nd valve on the tuning slide for the 4th valve. Makes tuning much easier.

Yes, the exchange rate is tough since it took off. I am glad I brought home a 3103 in 2006 when I did. If only for the days when it was 4 marks to the dollar (mid 60's).

John (glad my brother only lived 2 blocks away from Bob's shop)

[ArnoldGottlieb]

I studied with Mr. Tucci a bit in 99 and was at his shop regularly then and a few times after that when I could make it. At that point he played a PT6 and a few PT F tuba's, he was also playing a PT20 which had just come out on the market. There were lot's of horns in his shop and he could play any one and sound incredible. As of now he is retired, so I'm sure his horn choices are different than when he was working. You can email him at his site if you like.
2 points.
1) He is one of the kindest, nicest people to ever walk the earth, he will honestly answer any question asked of him.
2) If this is a troll, or a veiled attack, I'm going to take it personally.
ASG

[runelk]

When I lived in Germany for about a year, back in 1986-87 and Mr Tucci helped me find a job and in doing so I also got to know him a bit. He is the nicest person that you would ever meet. I asked him one time, what type of horn he played on BBb or CC, and he replied that he played ALL of them BBb, CC, Eb, F. He went on to say that he chose the horn that best matched what the music required.
He invited me to listen to a rehearsal one time and he was playing a Yorkbrunner. He could have pretty much any horn he wanted, he was very tight with all the instrument makers in Europe.
On my last day in Germany, I called him from the train station to tell him I was leaving and to thank him for everything, and he asked how soon my train was leaving, told him that it was leaving that night at 9:00 p.m. (it was about 10:00 am) he told me to come to his house to spend the day rather than staying at the train station. I got to his house,he had lunch ready when I got there and he showed me around his house and the beginnings of his tuba store. Had a great time. I will always be indebted to Mr Tucci.

[jonesbrass]

Before Mr. Tucci became an online shop only. . .

Is this true? I can't imagine that his shop above the shopping plaza is not available to play-test instruments . . .

[Wyvern]

Before Mr. Tucci became an online shop only. . .

Is this true? I can't imagine that his shop above the shopping plaza is not available to play-test instruments . . .

The shop was still there when I dropped in July last year

[imperialbari]

As long as his site shows the following, I guess he still has his store.

Klaus

[sungfw]

I just looked at Mr Tucci's site. I can not believe that the selling prices are so enormous. Even the used horns are $6-8K, with the exchange rate; before shipping, mind you. The new horns are listed for as much as $15K. No thank you. Even though I love the 601, I would never pay those prices (I couldn't, even if I wanted to).

Um ... you DO realize that you need to deduct 19% from the prices shown to get the price for a buyer outside the EU, don't you?

[imperialbari]

The export out of the EU prices are (100/119) * German-list-prices.

Klaus

[ljdalen]

My brother (Peter) said the Eichenau store is closed and Bob is operating from Puchheim, the town next door where he lives. Per Peter, he is operating from his home. See the address on the website http://www.hornboerse.de/cgi-bin/shop/l ... 19220&ls=e" target="_blank .

Sorry to dissapoint everyone. When Manfred moved on, Bob elected to not maintain the old storefront. I did have a great time visiting there and the S-bahn is a short ride from Eichenau to Puchheim, and Puchheim is closer to Munich than Eichenau. Peter visits Bob and he is open to the public, but not in the same format he had before. I do plan on visiting Bob at some point in the future when I can go see Peter again on his turf.

John

[bttmbow]

"Good answer!"... Anyone but DP; name the movie (I own it and love it!).

CJH

[poomshanka]

The Impostors.

Hah!

...D

[Todd S. Malicoate]

It took a while to get a reply, but Mr. Tucci was very nice and answered my email. Here's the reply:

Mr. Tucci,

Thank you for reading my letter. I have been in some discussion with colleagues here in the United States and we are wondering what models (and keys) of tubas you commonly play in orchestras there. There is a common belief here that piston-valve C tubas are somewhat forbidden in Germany, and I am wondering if you can speak to that so that I may share the information with my tuba-playing friends here. My thanks to you for any information you can provide.

Many regards,

Todd S. Malicoate

Dear Todd,

Thank you for your message of 31 August; this was passed around a bit,
finally arrived in my mailbox and now for the reply:

As for myself, most of the time I play a PT-6P, but of course I play
the F-Tuba, the Cimbasso and the BBb-tuba.

You are correct in so far as the typical German tuba player is
concerned: main instrument a large-bore F-tuba such as the PT-10, then a
BBb-tuba for the "Ring" and various symphonic works.

The CC-tuba is not outlawed in German orchestras, it is simply a
different tradition. At the Bavarian State Opera and particularly
during my tenure there, 1972-2005, the repertoire was almost always
full-blown through and through. The orchestra invariably plays as
orchestrated, 104 musicians for "Die Frau ohne Schatten" for example,
similar for "Elektra" or "Salome". Wolfgang Sawallisch was music
director, followed by Zubin Mehta. Both liked the large tuba, Sawallisch
would ask should I bring in something smaller and for Mehta, it was a
matter of course, with his symphonic approach and background.

To answer your question, the "B & S" PT-10, later the PT-12 /six-valve)
for light Verdi or similar scores, the PT-6P for all eighteen Strauss
operas, the Russian ones plus the Russian ballets, almost all the
symphonic programs unless Berlioz was on, otherwise the BBb-tuba for
"Ring".

That's the story - better late than never.

Bob Tucci
Munich

So there's your answer, James.