Greetings! and a question...

[USMCTuba]

Hello all! Being relatively new to tuba (6 years playing, 4 as a Marine) I've spent quite a bit of my time here just trying to assimilate as much knowledge as possible. Now I've decided to step out of the lurker shadows for a moment to ask a question.

My band is looking to purchase a new set of concert tubas and I'm torn between a few models: Miraphone 1291, MW 195, and PT605. I played on all three a year ago, but now that this sudden want for new equipment has come about I can't really remember much beyond liking them more than the beat-up PT2's we have now. I vaguely recall liking the 1291 a bit better, but I can't be sure anymore. I know preferences are as different as the people giving them, but does anyone have any recommendations? Would anyone mind giving sort of an overview of how these horns compare?

[Toad Away]

Never played one, but the Miraphone 1291 has gotten some good reviews, a beautiful horn indeed.

Good Luck, Marine and best wishes !!

[rocksanddirt]

in some what response to bloke.....my experience of individual horn intonation/tuning issues is that it is very VERY operator dependent. So, a chart displaying the individual note issues folks have, to me would not provide much useful information.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

My recommendation:

Go to a brick-and-mortar store with a large selection of tubas and play them all.

Nothing else I can say would make any difference whatsoever.

Good luck, and thanks for serving your country! OORAH!!!