What tuba type do you recommend for small acoustic groups

[bobsacks]

Can anybody tell what they think of this one?

Looks good to me - I'd be tempted to buy it myself. But per above evaluation, valves could be in all kinds of trouble, it's one of those unknowns with online auctions. You may be optimistic, or pessimistic, but either way no clue.

But I at least have played one like it. I know its playing characteristics will work OK for me, if it's all sealed up and acoustically sound. I know how well I can get along with only 3 valves. I know I can carry it pretty easily while playing (I have long arms.) No guarantee it will work for you, without playing first.

good points
Thanks Donn
I haven't heard anything about B&H ?
This looks pretty nice to my untrained eyes
http://cgi.ebay.com/BOOSEY-N-HAWKES-TUB ... dZViewItem" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[ken k]

Yamaha makes small 3/4 tubas YBB=103, or the 105.

they also make a four valved pro model of the same size (YBB-641? not sure)

Very small and light weight, can easily be carried with a strap and will have a nice compact sound and can often be found on ebay. Jupiter (482 or 378) and Weril also make similar small inexpensive models.

http://www.wwbw.com/Jupiter,Bb-Tubas-Tubas.wwbw" target="_blank



ken k

[Donn]

I haven't heard anything about B&H ?
This looks pretty nice to my untrained eyes

Good opportunity to train your eyes a little better. The Olds that circusboy called "pretty rough" was a hell of a lot nicer than this, it just wasn't quite as shiny.

• image 1, from behind, look at the lower left corner, where you should be able to see a seriously mashed inner branch.
• image 2, from front, lower right corner, similar. These won't make the tuba unplayable, but far from pretty nice.
• images 2 and 4, do you see a leadpipe? Remember the Buescher Eb, leadpipe looked like it might be dented, and that's a major problem? Well, not having any leadpipe at all is quite a serious deficiency.

Look, Boosey & Hawkes is OK. Olds, Buescher, Conn are OK. None of these firms would have gotten very far selling trash. What you're buying is going to be trash not because it's Boosey & Hawkes when you should have gotten Olds, but because it has been beat up too much, or its design doesn't match your needs (can you walk and play a top valve tuba at the same time?) or maybe it just doesn't have the tonal characteristics you had in mind ("contrabass trumpet", was it?)

Most of us seem to have some preferences, favorite models of sousaphone etc., but really that's the least of your worries right now. You need a strategy for getting a cheap tuba that doesn't have problems you can't fix.

[David Richoux]

Back in the early '80's, at some music festival I observed a very young group of brass musicians (probably college age...trying to play off some of the comedy that the Canadian Brass was throwing into their act at the time) doing a (no chairs) brass quintet/slap-stick comedy act.

The tuba player used a (still made at the time) front-action * 3 piston * 3/4 * small bore * Yamaha 103. It sounded just fine up there, and he was able to hold/play it without a strap (at least for their 30-40 minute show).

That was "The Brass Band" - I saw them many times around the SF Bay Area. All were local symphonic trained pros tired of sitting around waiting for gigs, so they formed the quintet. Great players and they had a fun time with the stage business and clowning. At least one "world tour" and several recordings were produced, (LP “Just A Tiny Boo-Boo” and "Live & In Debt" EP, and a cassette only story-book thing with Jimby) but the band disappeared by the 1990s.

edit - there are a few Youtube clips of them, mostly from a Japan tour -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZEKtO-8pc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz091hqlbA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD260MPEs1Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjY6pbwBwA

Personnel at the time of their “Just A Tiny Boo-Boo” recording:
CPL. Louis Tooloose (Bob Leach) Trumpets
Jimby (Jim Aaron) Trumpets
The Captain (Bob Jennings) Trombone and Tuba
Buford (Phineas T. Buford III ) Baritone Horn, and Alto Horn, Trombone, Tuba
Fritz Frümheimer (Johannes Mager) Tuba, Trombone
(there have been other members of the group.)

I have tried to find any of the musician with only a little luck - they seem to be in a witness protection program or something ;-) Paul Chawin and Johannes Mager I can find, the others are hiding from their public...

[bobsacks]

I haven't heard anything about B&H ?
This looks pretty nice to my untrained eyes

Good opportunity to train your eyes a little better. The Olds that circusboy called "pretty rough" was a hell of a lot nicer than this, it just wasn't quite as shiny.

• image 1, from behind, look at the lower left corner, where you should be able to see a seriously mashed inner branch.
• image 2, from front, lower right corner, similar. These won't make the tuba unplayable, but far from pretty nice.
• images 2 and 4, do you see a leadpipe? Remember the Buescher Eb, leadpipe looked like it might be dented, and that's a major problem? Well, not having any leadpipe at all is quite a serious deficiency.

Look, Boosey & Hawkes is OK. Olds, Buescher, Conn are OK. None of these firms would have gotten very far selling trash. What you're buying is going to be trash not because it's Boosey & Hawkes when you should have gotten Olds, but because it has been beat up too much, or its design doesn't match your needs (can you walk and play a top valve tuba at the same time?) or maybe it just doesn't have the tonal characteristics you had in mind ("contrabass trumpet", was it?)

Most of us seem to have some preferences, favorite models of sousaphone etc., but really that's the least of your worries right now. You need a strategy for getting a cheap tuba that doesn't have problems you can't fix.

Thanks again for the insights Donn

As far as strategy goes the SF Bay Area is an expensive place to live so repair work is also expensive. This makes fixer-uppers and sold-as-is sales much less tempting.
The B&H went for $186 (the Olds $294)
It did look to me like the B&H was missing it's leadpipe but , again with the untrained eyes, I thought that maybe It had a special kind that I couldn't see I asked the seller about it before the auction ended but didn't hear from him. I'll remind him to be sure to tell the buyer about it. He seems like a good seller. I got a very nice alto clarinet from him at a good price. He sells a lot of instruments. A few weeks ago he had 3 Yamaha's (102's I think). He must have a connection with a few beleaguered school districts .

This brings back the cheap Chinese option.
I've got a Chinese trumpet, pocket trumpet and flugelhorn and they all play very nice and have good valves.

Am I imagining it or did there used to be a lot more Chinese tubas on eBay?

[Donn]

As far as strategy goes the SF Bay Area is an expensive place to live so repair work is also expensive. This makes fixer-uppers and sold-as-is sales much less tempting.

If you ever get down to LA, you might check with Robb Stewart - others here would know better what he's up to these days, but he may have economical used tubas or may know where to look for them.

[tokuno]

That was "The Brass Band" - I saw them many times around the SF Bay Area. All were local symphonic trained pros tired of sitting around waiting for gigs, so they formed the quintet. Great players and they had a fun time with the stage business and clowning. At least one "world tour" and several recordings were produced, (LP “Just A Tiny Boo-Boo” and "Live & In Debt" EP, and a cassette only story-book thing with Jimby) but the band disappeared by the 1990s. . .

Thank you for the info!
I saw these guys a couple times ca '81/'82 with my sibs, and after a bit of reminiscing lately, we were trying to uncover ~anything~ about them, but my googling skills let me down.
We particularly remember a "those aren't raisins" skit that had us nearly rolling on the floor; laughing so hard that my abs ached.
I also remember one of the players donning a tutu and smacking high notes out of a trumpet with his fairy wand. The skit ended with him fruitlessly smacking his groin with the wand. . . You had to be there.
Great memories of tremendous musicians cranking finger-blurring licks while simultaneously clowning and dancing in overblown theatrical military regalia (iirc, someone played while jumping and spinning 360s - I think the baritone player)
Thanks so much for filling in some of the background that I've wondered after for so long.
Wish commonplace video and Youtube had been invented a few decades earlier, but then again, perhaps the memories are better as-is.

[bobsacks]

Any comments on this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Berkeley-BBb-New-Im ... .m20.l1116" target="_blank" target="_blank

I copied their description


BBb New Improved

Berkeley Wind Instrument

BRAND NEW

Full Size BBb Tuba

398 mm (15 1/2") yellow brass bell

three rotary valves

.688 Bore



Bore, detachable 19” upright bell, three front-action valves Tuba

Retail $2500, Our Full size BBb tuba is designed specifically for the younger player. Its user-friendly .688” bore is easy for the beginner to fill even in the lower ranges. The 3 front-action valves and the lead-pipe are located at ideal positions, so even the smallest player can comfortably hold the instrument without fatigue. The fixed upright (398 mm) yellow brass bell is wide-throated enough to offer excellent projection and tone color but small enough to avoid much of the costly damage that afflicts school and church tubas. Come with 18 mouthpiece and belt also glove.

Berkeley Wind TUBA come with ABS case and 2 carrying wheels.

Do your band or school also like to join olympic 2008 in Beijing? now is little late. but still have chance, email to berkeleywind. we alreayd have 15 bands been sigh-up,this horn will rent to most band when they go to china,your school dont have to take your large horn over there,but if you need now, this is the best price in town. One-Piece brass, Stradivarius-style
Body Standard Gauge
Mouthpipe: Yellow Brass Standard Construction
Copper Lead Pipe
overall Length w/12c Mouthpiece
Compact Design
Brass with Nickel Accents
Clear Baked Cellulose Lacquer Finish
Bb Key
12c Mouthpiece
Superb intonation and quality
come with oil and ccessories Included,

[ken k]

i had bought a Berkeley bass bone two years ago and while it wasn't great it didn't suck. I basically bought it to see just what kind of horn $500 would actually buy.

I have also played other Berkeley instruments at the PA Music Educator Assn. conference and they play well for the price.

The problem with any of the Chinese horns right now is service should something break. Where will you be able to get parts and who will fix it? so I think you would be better off getting a used established-name brand instrument.

ken k

[tokuno]

If you're looking for a lightweight horn in great shape, you're welcome to play-test my Weril:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31036&p=271315&hilit=weril#p271315" target="_blank

I'm in the SF Bay Area.
I've also got a Miraphone 1291 that I'm eventually going to post for sale, but that's probably a little too steep, and it's definitely a lot less convenient for standing.

[bobsacks]

Wow Tokuno
that weril sure looks nice
Are these the specs?
J680 Four Valve BBb Compact Tuba

Bell 368mm (14 1/2"), Bore 17.00mm (.670") Yellow brass bell, front action piston valves, Classic wood shell case

[Donn]

If you want a nice looking and playing tuba that you can walk with, you'd be crazy not to check that out. If you want to know more about Weril, search this site.

[tokuno]

Wow Tokuno
that weril sure looks nice
Are these the specs?
J680 Four Valve BBb Compact Tuba

Bell 368mm (14 1/2"), Bore 17.00mm (.670") Yellow brass bell, front action piston valves, Classic wood shell case

Hey, whether or not you're interested in the horn, if you're looking for a fun, patriotic activity on July 4th, give some thought to playing at Saratoga's Independence Day celebration.
Details are here: http://www.villageband.com

For that matter, show up and play test my Weril

Your spec numbers look right, but it's missing the key figure: the weight. I've got an iffy lower back, but I can stand with the Weril.

[bobsacks]

what about this Getzen Meinl Weston ?
Any idea of the model?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0415783568" target="_blank

[bobsacks]

Hey, whether or not you're interested in the horn, if you're looking for a fun, patriotic activity on July 4th, give some thought to playing at Saratoga's Independence Day celebration.
Details are here: http://www.villageband.com

Hi Tokuno
What time do you play? Will there be fireworks?