Most in tune tubas.

[TubaRay]

I feel like in the end, this could be the tuba I settle down with

I hope you'll do the right thing. Don't just "live in sin."

[pwhitaker]

In descending order of horns I've owned: Rudy 5/4 BBb, Miraphone 1291 5V BBb, Besson 3+1 compensated Eb with large bell and Miraphone 186 4u Bbb.

The others (Yamahas Eb, Kings BBb, Conns BBb, Besson BBb, Martin and Holton Bbb sousaphones) have had issues with 5th partials and, where applicable, 4th valve + on the low end.

[Alex C]

To paraphrase Roger Lewis, "the most in tune tuba you will ever play is the one that likes what you blow into it." If you and a tuba don't 'match' it's going to be a battle no matter what.

Reading the many posts for the first time, I was surprised by the complaints about tubas that have good pitch, in my opinion. Each tuba has it's on quirks and every tuba design is a collection of compromises. Some of the compromises are cost-driven, some may emphasize sound or a particular quality but in the end, you should choose an instrument that 'likes what you blow into it.'

With that in mind, the YBB-321 may play well in tune for one person and play like a total dog for another.

I always thought that a Besson 982 EEb I owned had the fewest compromises from a performance standpoint but conductors and brass sections alike did not appreciate the bell pointing 'the wrong way.' I couldn't move to the UK -- whachagonnado?

I have come to think that the better fundamentals you have, the higher the number of tubas there are which will 'like what you blow into them.'

[MartyNeilan]

re: controversy re: Kalison D.S. CCWith the removal of a couple of inches of length (or played in a warm room with a shallow-cup mouthpiece ), this model is way towards the top in overall intonation combined with a fat 4/4 sound.

Interestingly enough, I have had to hacksaw my Miraphone 190, Miraphone 1290, and MW2145 (and my first Reynolds bass trombone.) My Cerveny F was already hacksawed. I would probably have had to hacksaw the Miraphone 181 F if it didn't have the second, euro pitch tuning slide.
One of the few tubas that plays up to pitch with any size mouthpiece, and still play in the tuning slide, is the Kalison K2001. Ironically, my current Reynolds single trigger bass trombone plays in tune with the slide out about 1/2"-3/4", but I had to hack at least that much off the double trigger Reynolds I had years ago just to bring it up to pitch.

[iiipopes]

To paraphrase Roger Lewis, "the most in tune tuba you will ever play is the one that likes what you blow into it." If you and a tuba don't 'match' it's going to be a battle no matter what...I have come to think that the better fundamentals you have, the higher the number of tubas there are which will 'like what you blow into them.'

I agree on all counts. I would only add the mouthpiece into the equation. For example, for me on my particular 186, a Bach 18 sounded "rough." A Wick 1L had great breadth of tone, but required a third lung. The PT82 that works so well on the 38K is stuffy on the 186. A LOUD LM-7 had razor sharp tight slotting and intonation, but I'm a band guy, not an orchestra guy. And after getting to try the entire PT line, anything with smaller than @ a .325 throat went really flat in the upper range. After talking to Matt Walters, he suggested the Curry 128D. I had its rim modified to Mt Vernon 18 profile, and life is fantastic for general purpose playing. For solo/high range/I'm the only guy back there stuff needing a lot of air and a lot of overtones, the PT34 works well for me.

The whole point of this discourse is not to recommend any particular mouthpiece, but show the necessity of balance and coordination of the entire "system": player, mouthpiece, horn, repertoire, ability and and especially practice, to play in tune.

Oh, yeah -- I forgot one: The BBb B&S PT605/GR51 with a PT82 mouthpiece was great for intonation and consistency. If I were 20 years younger starting over in band, I'd save my $$ and get one.

[Bill Troiano]

Wade,
When I was interested in the Daryl Smith tubas, I knew Paul K. had one. I called him to ask about how he liked it and he invited me to come and play it. So, I packed the family into the car and drove to Philly. We sat and played the horn. I listened to him and he listened to me. (The family went to a local park.) I decided that I liked it a lot. So, I went home and ordered one from Vince. When it arrived, I was very dissappointed. I couldn't believe that this was the same model that Paul K. had and that I played. This one was very stuffy.

The strange part of the story was that I received a phone call from a guy, I forgot his name, but he was selling an F tuba. He was visiting his parents on LI and someone told him to contact me regarding selling the F tuba. When I asked him what kind of CC he played, he told me he just bought Paul K.'s Daryl Smith. I invited him over and asked him to bring the Daryl Smith, which he did. The difference between the 2 DS tubas was amazing. As it turns out, mine was a dog. I sent it back. I'm just guessing that you probably bought the tuba from this guy, as he claimed he just bought his from Paul. Unless, you are this guy and we met that snowy evening at my house?? And, this was just days after I visited Paul and he seemed to really like his DS. I was surprised that he sold it so quickly. I have no idea what production model mine was, but it appeared to look the same as Paul's. Years later, I tried again. I found 2 other people interested in the DS tubas, so I bought 3 of them. They all played very well. I kept one and the other 2 guys got the other 2 tubas. I kept that DS for 7-8 years before I sold it.

[Bill Troiano]

I owned a 186CC and 2 188CC's when I was a young man - long time ago. I remember those tubas as being in very in tune, but I was also a different player back then. I would have to say that my Sam Gnagey tuba that I presently own, is the most in tune tuba that I ever played.

[Getzeng50s]

Of the tubas I have owned

Yahama YBB 201 Played really well in tune
Getzen G-50 played fantastically in tune
Yamaha YFB 821 Played really well in tune
PT6Rotary Played really well in tune
Miraphone firebird Plays really well in tune
MW 6450/2 Playy in tune quite nicely
Nirschl 6/4 (dont know yet, buying it in 2 weeks.. but im sure it will be fun!)

[sailn2ba]

I loved the used Yami 621 that I tried , and it was in easy ear/lip tune up and down. I've been playing a Cerveny 681 for years, and it slots beautifully from lower GG on up.
I spent last week with a Conn 2J BBb (I was travelling), and found that: mid Bb was 3 cents flat with all the slides in, everything below was flatter (all slides in) until I got below BBb, when it went gradually sharper (GG was awful). Between Bb and F, the open harmonics were pretty good, but the first and third valves were murderousley sharp. Above G, the upper register was pretty good. . . but that's mostly a lip thing anyway. Quite an experience!

[pierso20]

Just wanna say:

Mine

[imperialbari]

2J = CC

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27842&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Maybe you were playing a 4J? There are links to catalog scans in the archives that can answer this for you. The 2J was built by Olds for Conn and was a great little tuba. I have one. It is much more like an Olds O-99 BBb than any Conn BBb. The 3J was a Conn-built "upgrade" to the 2J, which I still prefer despite its shortcomings. I am sorry that I do not know the BBb tuba model numbers better.

Anyway, there it is…

My galleries are under constant revision, so the link in the thread referred to by Wade has just been changed for one that should work.

Klaus

[sailn2ba]

The BBb tuba in question was probably NOT a 2J as the owner said. It had 3 top action pistons.

[tbn.al]

The BBb tuba in question was probably NOT a 2J as the owner said. It had 3 top action pistons.

Ring any bells?

conn10Jbig.jpg

[sailn2ba]

Yep! That's the horn. . . exact match to the photo I took, except it was in yellow lacquer. It was small, not tiny, about 3/4 size. It had a Conn Helleberg 7B with it, but sounded much better (for me, anyway) with my unmarked Helleberg (120?).

[iiipopes]

Yep! That's the horn. . . exact match to the photo I took, except it was in yellow lacquer. It was small, not tiny, about 3/4 size. It had a Conn Helleberg 7B with it, but sounded much better (for me, anyway) with my unmarked Helleberg (120?).

Exactly. I have found the same thing with most 3/4 tubas in the USA that are used in concert band as "student" horns: Yammy 201, Holton, Conn 5J & 11J, Weril, etc. The smaller tubas need the deeper mouthpiece to get good tone and intonation.

[Nick Pierce]

Ring any bells?

Depends. Are you using enough air?

[Funcoot]

This kind of reminds me of the problem I have with the Ab on my Yamaha tuba I use at school. No matter what, it is always pretty flat. I know it isn't entirely the tubas fault though, since I am still new. Recently we have got it to improve though, after sitting down for a bit and really adjusting the slides, we got it pretty close, at least "hidable" when the other guys are playing.

Although, my friend (former section leader), said that the particular model we have tends to play flat on certain notes often. I'm jealous of my friends Conn.