Come on in, the water's fine.chris_paul wrote:BBb, C or Eb - I'm looking for the most versatility and BBb all I've ever played. I do like the "tighter" sound of some of the other keyed tubas I've heard though.
Rotary or piston? 4-valve or 5-valve? Is there a preferred arrangement among you "pros" out there?
Was my Miraphone a 4/4, 5/4 or 6/4 size? I do remember is was not the easiest to transport and I'm a good size guy.
Your Miraphone 186 was a 4/4. It's the most versatile size, and should therefore be the size of your first instrument.
You should play an instrument pitched the same as the one you played before. Most adult amateurs play BBb tubas, and there are some great ones out there. There is absolutely no reason to change, though as you get drawn back in you might decide to branch out. So I would recommend starting back with the BBb, and then if you want to try for an instrument with a lighter sound, add an Eb or an F to the mix later. I've followed that approach myself, and I think it has saved me thousands, because great BBb tubas are cheaper than their CC counterparts. As you improve, you'll discover that you can make as tight a sound on a BBb as on a comparable CC.
A BBb tuba only needs four valves to play everything you'll run across. A CC will need five valves to easily play the commonly seen low F. Eb's and F's need at least five valves.
Your returning instrument should be the something straightforward, proven, generally available used, and that has a good, sustainable value in the used market. That way, you can buy one, use it to restore your former abilities, and then if you decide to, you can sell it for what you paid for it and get something more to your liking. At this stage, however, you won't know what you like. Think of this approach as a no-cost rental with a large deposit.
The Miraphone 186 is perhaps the best tuba made to meet those requirements. It plays in tune, it's easy to play, it sounds good, there are tons of them out there, and used ones have depreciated all they are going to because they have a great reputation. You can buy a good used one, take good care of it, and sell it for the same price five years from now when you are good enough not to need our advice.
If you want to buy a new instrument, I would consider the King 2341. It is a wonderful instrument, fairly priced, and will hold its value well. It's cheaper than a new Miraphone, but more than a used one. It's on the small side of 4/4, but it plays big and therefore makes a versatile instrument.
It's better to buy from a music store that knows tubas even if you have to have it shipped, than to buy locally and be victim to whatever they need to sell at the moment. See the shops page of this site. I highly value the advice of tuba experts and proprietors such as Dave Fedderly, Matt Walters, Lee Stofer, Tony Clements, and Roger Lewis.
Go ahead and spend $3000-3500 to get something already in excellent condition. It will save you in the long run. Your first horn should not be a project horn (save that for later). You'll have to add at least a thousand for a CC, and probably a coupla thousand for a five-valve CC. Spend what you save on a few lessons to help you get started again without forming new bad habits.
There are a lot of bands in the Dallas area, so you'll have a great time.
Rick "formerly of the Plano Community Band, the Town North Concert Band, Wilcrest Baptist Wind Symphony, the Heritage Brass, and alternate to the Mesquite Symphony, before moving away" Denney
