Best Tuba For Middle & High School Band???

[ThomasDodd]

"lamenting the demise of the politely spoken--and politely received--insult"

I always found those the harded hitting insults. I miss them, and I'm not antiquated (yet).

Nothing beats telling somone off with a smile on your face.
... Except the laugh you get when they ask what you just said.

[TubaRay]

Rick and Thomas: You have both stated good points concerning the manner/style of debate we encounter. And yes, Rick, it looks good for the "antiquated thingy" to be able to attend the Army conference. Perhaps you and he could discuss this sometime soon.

[Jay Bertolet]

Well, it wasn't the first time someone called me an idiot and I'm positive it won't be the last time. Such is life in the modern world, especially the mostly (or so they think) anonymous cyber world.

What can I tell you Doc, it's true. If you want to be a great player, just go get a shiny horn. This is all you need. Further, get someone else to pay for it. The world owes it to you anyway, right? Just ask any of the "smarter" posters in this forum. They definitely know better and have the answers. Stop being so antiquey.

It is truly amazing to me that so few of the real targets of my posts on this subject actually figured out the message. Perhaps a sad commentary on the state of music education, and perhaps all forms of education, in this country. How I long for the days when everyone understood:

The worlds owes me nothing.

I'm responsible for my lot in this world.

I can do anything if I truly work hard enough to accomplish it.

Life was so much simpler back then without so many other people to blame for your own problems. Now the difficulty is picking the right target, since pointing the finger of blame at one's self isn't even a real consideration. Ah, politics.

And Rick, thanks for the kind words and the insightful imaginary scenario, though I'm pretty sure that I'll never see Tubaboy in any of the circles I travel in during real life. For that to happen, he'd have to become a successful musician...

I think Bloke hit it exactly. Not one person has shown any argument that convinces me that just about any of these so-called junker horns couldn't be made to sound just fine in the hands of someone with skills. It is so easy to blame the hammer. Let's put it another way:

In golf they make two types of clubs, the type that have a very large "sweet spot" and the type that have a smaller, much more effective one. Pro golfers use the latter, often referred to as "tour grind" clubs. If you can't hit the ball with the more forgiving club, how will you fare with the really good ones?

You want better tools? Why not go out and earn them and in the process, be sure you learn what to do with them and whether or not you truly need them.

Just Practice.

[Chuck(G)]

Just returned from visiting a high-school student (single-parent family, definitely not rolling in dough). He was so proud of his find--a King 2280 euph he found in a second-hand furniture store. It set him back all of $130 and included a case. The lacquer's pretty worn and the 3rd valve tuning trigger's missing (no great loss IMOHO) and the bell's not quite straight. No serious dents and the valves were in pretty good condition. He needed some new felts and corks, so I dropped over and installed some for him.

It's possible to find decent instruments with a bit of determination--he proved that. (Yes, the school provided him with a 3-valve compensating Besson from the 60's, but this was HIS).

[dopey]

Now who here plays on something worse then this?
http://tinypic.com/la4bn
http://tinypic.com/la4d2
http://tinypic.com/la5o0
yes I play on that, and no it doesnt' sound like a garbage can. this is temp, but really its not a bad tuba.. and yes thats duct tape on the bottom..
[/url]

[David Zerkel]

Anyone who could call Jay Bertolet, one of the most intelligent and articulate musicians that I know, an idiot loses all credibility.

God, I miss the old Tubenet.

[dopey]

I dont' know about anyone else but to a certain point I really like the sound this horn puts out. I mean i'd be all means prefer to have a newer horn. But the reaction of people who see the horn then hear me play is quite nice. i've had many people walk up quite shocked that a horn that looks like that can/does sound like it does.

Like i said before the only real complaint is I have to hold the leadpipe to have reassurance it doesnt' come off while I play.. I think this can be fixed pretty easily but besides that it plays in tune and valves dont' stick.. what else can you ask for?

I think it just proves the point its not always the horn's fault. I remember in 8th grade playing on this same horn and blaming my crappy horn as to why I didnt' make regions..

Jacob"who wanted to take this horn to the all region clinic and see the look on peoples face's when the 1st chair tuba pulled that horn out;)"

[Ames0325]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now who here plays on something worse then this?
http://tinypic.com/la4bn
http://tinypic.com/la4d2

http://tinypic.com/la5o0
yes I play on that, and no it doesnt' sound like a garbage can. this is temp, but really its not a bad tuba.. and yes thats duct tape on the bottom..

Looks like the horn I played on for HS/MS cept that you have all you spit valve intact--mine had screws welded in the holes for some reason. And the 3rd valve slide fell to pieces if you for some reason removed. On the other hand of the horns I've played was probably the best sounding (cept perhaps the St. Petersburg) even though it leaked a lot of air through the
screws welded in the spit valves and broken 3rd valve slide.

I have noticed a trend which, as a repairman and musician, bothers me a lot. This trend is towards giving even less money for the repair budgets for schools. This means that all these instruments that can be made into better playing tubas, baritones, bass clarinets, etc. don't get fixed, and then get into even worse shape. The bottom line is that kids are going to quit band because of the inability to improve on these instruments, which is really a shame.

When I was in high school (class of 1999), we had Yamaha 321 BBb's, which I didnt' care for the sound I got with one. So one day, I went digging in the storage room, and found a Conn 24J. I asked why we weren't using these, and the band director said, "No money in the budget to fix these, so we bought new ones."

I'm gonna have to agree here--with the proper repairs that old tuba would have been a very good instrument but we never had enough money to fix it up--the only time in six years it was in the shop was when one of the other tuba players dropped it an broke a piston arm on one of the valves--btw in my school there were 3 tuba players and 1 tuba--we took turns. We were in different bands so it worked out ok but pracitice time was a little tricky. Sometimes we would use the ONE sousaphone we had but it was in such disrepair that it was not always a very good option.

I agree that if one wants a better horn they should purchase their own horn but coming from a large family --definitely not rolling in dough--who also has to support a child with cerebral palsy, I learned to be grateful for what I had and that I was even able to play. I still have not been able to save enough for my own horn yet and feel very grateful that my college is loaning me a Yamaha 641 BBb for now until I have my own horn. I think that as long as its a tuba and it plays its good enough--for now.

[Ames0325]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now who here plays on something worse then this?
http://tinypic.com/la4bn
http://tinypic.com/la4d2

http://tinypic.com/la5o0
yes I play on that, and no it doesnt' sound like a garbage can. this is temp, but really its not a bad tuba.. and yes thats duct tape on the bottom..

Looks like the horn I played on for HS/MS cept that you have all you spit valve intact--mine had screws welded in the holes for some reason. And the 3rd valve slide fell to pieces if you for some reason removed. On the other hand of the horns I've played was probably the best sounding (cept perhaps the St. Petersburg) even though it leaked a lot of air through the
screws welded in the spit valves and broken 3rd valve slide.

I have noticed a trend which, as a repairman and musician, bothers me a lot. This trend is towards giving even less money for the repair budgets for schools. This means that all these instruments that can be made into better playing tubas, baritones, bass clarinets, etc. don't get fixed, and then get into even worse shape. The bottom line is that kids are going to quit band because of the inability to improve on these instruments, which is really a shame.

When I was in high school (class of 1999), we had Yamaha 321 BBb's, which I didnt' care for the sound I got with one. So one day, I went digging in the storage room, and found a Conn 24J. I asked why we weren't using these, and the band director said, "No money in the budget to fix these, so we bought new ones."

I'm gonna have to agree here--with the proper repairs that old tuba would have been a very good instrument but we never had enough money to fix it up--the only time in six years it was in the shop was when one of the other tuba players dropped it an broke a piston arm on one of the valves--btw in my school there were 3 tuba players and 1 tuba--we took turns. We were in different bands so it worked out ok but pracitice time was a little tricky. Sometimes we would use the ONE sousaphone we had but it was in such disrepair that it was not always a very good option.

I agree that if one wants a better horn they should purchase their own horn but coming from a large family --definitely not rolling in dough--who also has to support a child with cerebral palsy, I learned to be grateful for what I had and that I was even able to play. I still have not been able to save enough for my own horn yet and feel very grateful that my college is loaning me a Yamaha 641 BBb for now until I have my own horn. I think that as long as its a tuba and it plays its good enough--for now.

[ThomasDodd]

Now who here plays on something worse then this?
http://tinypic.com/la4bn
http://tinypic.com/la4d2
http://tinypic.com/la5o0
yes I play on that, and no it doesnt' sound like a garbage can. this is temp, but really its not a bad tuba.. and yes thats duct tape on the bottom..
[/url]

Looks better than my horn (other than the bell). Should have seen it when I got it though. Bottom bow was flat. Plays much better now that it's (sort of) round again. My duct tape is on the spit valves though. Bad springs.

[ThomasDodd]

Well, I played on this
http://img67.exs.cx/img67/1251/MondayMa ... Image8.jpg
for 15 years. You do the best you can with what you can afford if you reaaly want to play.

Maybe the pic doesn't show it, but that looks pretty nice to me.

[Doug@GT]

Now who here plays on something worse then this?
http://tinypic.com/la4bn
http://tinypic.com/la4d2
http://tinypic.com/la5o0
yes I play on that, and no it doesnt' sound like a garbage can. this is temp, but really its not a bad tuba.. and yes thats duct tape on the bottom..
[/url]

Looks better than my horn (other than the bell). Should have seen it when I got it though. Bottom bow was flat. Plays much better now that it's (sort of) round again. My duct tape is on the spit valves though. Bad springs.

Any takers?

[ThomasDodd]

Any takers?

Ouch. How'd that happen?

[MaryAnn]

... you're an idiot

A stellar example of someone not having a clue whom he is talking to, nor who is listening. Good luck in the future, my son, because you will need it. I suggest you come up with a new internet personna and drop the old one like a hot potato, assuming no one knows your real name. You could salvage your career yet.

MA, who has said some dumb things on email lists but nothing quite so far out as this.

[Chuck(G)]

Any takers?

Is that lacquer or raw brass?

[ken k]

Goodness, guys! All I really wanted to know was your opinions on what tubas to buy for a middle/high school band. So far, all I've seen is favorable opinions for Jupiter and/or Yamaha tubas. Want to start over?

I will restate King tubas are great for school situtations, sturdy and play easily and in tune:

HS 2341 (4 valved) or 2340 (3 vavled)
MS 1135 (3/4 sized valves in front) or Conn 12J (3 valved) or5J (4 valved)

ken k

[Dan Schultz]

Now who here plays on something worse then this?
http://tinypic.com/la4bn
http://tinypic.com/la4d2
http://tinypic.com/la5o0
yes I play on that, and no it doesnt' sound like a garbage can. this is temp, but really its not a bad tuba.. and yes thats duct tape on the bottom..
[/url]

Looks better than my horn (other than the bell). Should have seen it when I got it though. Bottom bow was flat. Plays much better now that it's (sort of) round again. My duct tape is on the spit valves though. Bad springs.

Any takers?

WOW! Did you get that off the auction? I'll give you $5 for it! Parts is parts.

[CJ Krause]

***

[hurricane_harry]

i want to apologoze to Jay Bertolet. after reading most the posts on this thread i looked in the tuba graveyard in the back of our band room, i took an old king that looked like it had been through a war and it slightly resembled a garbange can, anyways bent back a few parts duct taped a few air lecks and low and behold i now have a horn that souds and responds wonderfully. still looks like its been through a war, but if one tries hard enough they can find a decent horn. and Jay probobly could make anyhorn my school has sound good.