Big Surprise--Schiller CC Tuba

Ace · Post by **Ace** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:24 pm

This morning I received my new Schiller 5 rotary-valved CC tuba and case with wheels. Total price was $1780. This horn is the REAL deal ----I was amazed at the quality and sound. It is no exaggeration to say the build quality is as good as the two 186 tubas I've owned in the past. Surprisingly, the intonation is as good or better than my 188! Very low D and C# are in-tune, big and resonant as are the pedal C downward to A. Tone color is uniform throughout the range, but with the mouthpiece supplied is a shade brighter than what I would like. I darkened the sound a bit using a PT-50. I ran through some scales, and some Berlioz and Brahms excerpts --------unfortunately, my range just about poops out at the F above the staff, but ascending chromatically to the F on this horn is a very nice experience. The tuba weighs 20 lbs. The brass is thick; inner and outer slides and other trim are nickel silver; and the leadpipe appears to be a special alloy. Buffing and lacquer are flawless. The rotors are fast and silent. The case is beautifully made----I love the wheels.

Even though I was apprehensive, I'm very glad I took the risk of ordering one of these horns without play testing a few. IMHO, these horns are tremendous bargains, and would be even if they were priced much higher. I haven't taken photos yet, but pics of these tubas can be seen on the auction site by dialing in "Schiller CC tuba" in the search box.

Two hours later: I see the auction site no longer lists the Schiller CC tuba. Someone must have snapped it up. Lucky them.

pierso20 · Post by **pierso20** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:51 pm

That is awesome to hear! This may save my tuba playing life! (as far as CC's are concerned)

UTSAtuba · Post by **UTSAtuba** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:25 pm

Sounds like a fantastic deal...especially for those wanting to start playing on CC (ie. college freshmen, etc.).

jeopardymaster · Post by **jeopardymaster** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:52 am

Congrats on your new arrival, Ace.

I've seen lots of ads for this model, and I've seen a few reports on the Schiller BBb Hirsbrunner copy, but not this one. I assume it to be a 186 copy. Have any of you guys who work on horns all the time - tubatinker, Dan O, Bloke, Matt, Sam, et al - taken a look at any samples of this particular model? And are these made by the same guys who produce the MM tubas?

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:20 am

Good, and surprising, news. You got very lucky.

Next test: somebody has to buy a VENTO tuba and let us know. I'm sure it'll be close between the "C tone Tuba Gold lacquer with cupronickel tuning pipe" and the VENTO's.

goodsn4 · Post by **goodsn4** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:31 pm

Just ordered mine today. Have to wait about a month before they get anymore in stock though.

pierso20 · Post by **pierso20** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:31 am

So where are these being bought from (besides ebay)?

Ace · Post by **Ace** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:01 pm

pierso20 wrote:So where are these being bought from (besides ebay)?

Here's a link that might give more information. This may be the only U.S. outlet for Schiller, but I'm not sure. By the way, these instruments are "German engineered" (whatever that is), but are actually built in Shanghai, China. The engraving on my tuba's bell says "SCHILLER- Frankfort, Germany". Likewise, the emblem on the case says the same thing. Confusing? I'm not troubled by it. All I know is that my tuba plays like a dream come true, and cost a very small amount of money.

http://www.schillerinstruments.com/contact.html" target="_blank" target="_blank

Added later:
Here's another link I found. I see the price is no longer $1780--------it's now $2480. I got mine just in time.
http://www.jimlaabsmusic.com/band-orche ... _4162.html" target="_blank

goodsn4 · Post by **goodsn4** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:55 pm

I believe that these are the same instruments that Tuba Exchange sells as their in store horn. Same horns, different engraving.

pierso20 · Post by **pierso20** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:00 pm

goodsn4 wrote:I believe that these are the same instruments that Tuba Exchange sells as their in store horn. Same horns, different engraving.

Looks like it could be. Except the Schiller that was bought was under 2k and can still be found for around that price. It's over 3k at tubaexchange.

pgym · Post by **pgym** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:34 pm

pierso20 wrote:
goodsn4 wrote:I believe that these are the same instruments that Tuba Exchange sells as their in store horn. Same horns, different engraving.
Looks like it could be. Except the Schiller that was bought was under 2k and can still be found for around that price. It's over 3k at tubaexchange.

So what? Different vendors sell the same product for different prices all the time: Hornguys.com is selling the CC Miraphone 186 for $7300; WWBW's price is $6569. Ain't no law in this country that says vendors have to sell the same product for the same price.

Goodsn4: there are at least 4 manufacturers in Guangzhou alone that make tubas (and euphoniums) with the same trade dress as the Shiller and TE horns, and it's probably safe to presume that manufacturers in other cites are as well, so just because they look the same and are spec'ed similarly, one cannot safely presume that they are the same horn. Based on the same model, yes; but the same horn, not necessarily.

Pgym.

pierso20 · Post by **pierso20** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:56 pm

pgym wrote:
pierso20 wrote:
goodsn4 wrote:I believe that these are the same instruments that Tuba Exchange sells as their in store horn. Same horns, different engraving.
Looks like it could be. Except the Schiller that was bought was under 2k and can still be found for around that price. It's over 3k at tubaexchange.
So what? Different vendors sell the same product for different prices all the time: Hornguys.com is selling the CC Miraphone 186 for $7300; WWBW's price is $6569. Ain't no law in this country that says vendors have to sell the same product for the same price.
Pgym.

Actually, I wasn't implying that the same horns don't sell at different prices. I meant that yes, maybe the horn was the same but the TE one was more expensive by $1000. In other words, I'd go the cheap Schiller for 2000, but for 3000 I would just try and grab a used Miraphone.

Again, I have made the crime of poorly wording sentences.....apparently you can't really read voice inflection on the internet

pierso20 · Post by **pierso20** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:03 pm

How's this horn!? Still going good....

Ace · Post by **Ace** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:30 pm

pierso20 wrote:How's this horn!? Still going good....

I'm still very enthusiastic about my Schiller five-rotor CC tuba with wheeled case. I have no complaints other than that the thick brass makes this a fairly heavy horn (20+ lbs) in my lap. This is no dent-o-phone tuba. It could probably survive in middle school band rooms. (Well, that may be a stretch. LOL) One of the esteemed members on this board, JJ in Houston, has a Schiller BBb and I gather he likes it. Maybe he can post his experiences with his tuba.

I noticed this horn below, and it appears to be identical to my Schiller except it is differently branded and costs over $1000 more than what I paid for my Schiller CC ($1780).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tuba-CC-5-Valve_W0Q ... 286.c0.m14" target="_blank" target="_blank

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:36 pm

The case looks interesting...

Can you elaborate a bit on it or post some photos?

It *looks* like (from the ebay photos I've seen) that it sort of a semi-rigid gig bag & hard case hybrid on wheels. Is that correct?

Is the entire case covered in cordura (or nylon?) as it appears to me in the photos?

TUBAD83 · Post by **TUBAD83** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:09 pm

Ace wrote:
pierso20 wrote:How's this horn!? Still going good....
I'm still very enthusiastic about my Schiller five-rotor CC tuba with wheeled case. I have no complaints other than that the thick brass makes this a fairly heavy horn (20+ lbs) in my lap. This is no dent-o-phone tuba. It could probably survive in middle school band rooms. (Well, that may be a stretch. LOL) One of the esteemed members on this board, JJ in Houston, has a Schiller BBb and I gather he likes it. Maybe he can post his experiences with his tuba.

I noticed this horn below, and it appears to be identical to my Schiller except it is differently branded and costs over $1000 more than what I paid for my Schiller CC ($1780).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tuba-CC-5-Valve_W0Q ... 286.c0.m14" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

The same factory makes tubas for Schiller (sold by Jim Laabs Music), M&M, and TE (Tuba Exchange). Same horns, same quality, different prices--Jim Laabs is the cheapest of the three and TE is the most expensive. M&M throws in a 5 year guarantee and a tuba stand. As for my "Schillbrunner", its a really good well made horn and would recommend it without hesitation. I have used it in a number of concerts and was very pleased with its performance.

JJ

Aardvark892 · Post by **Aardvark892** » Thu May 19, 2011 8:27 pm

I'd like to say Thank You to everyone who posted in this thread. I'm on the verge of buying my first Tuba, and I'm excited about the Jim Laabs Schiller horn. Seeing anything that is significantly cheaper than similar models, especially one made in China, can be a very questionable purchase if you don't know the facts.

Since Jim Laabs has videos of a large amount of the instruments that they sell, I've asked them to post one of the Schiller tuba (specifically, the four valve, silver BB flat one that has the much shorter bell, more of a "Swiss" style than a "German" style. If they do, I'll come back here to let you all know it's available.

Again, thank you for your input!

Tim

tubaforce · Post by **tubaforce** » Fri May 20, 2011 2:21 am

If you dish out $1,895.00 to Laab's, you'll be sorry! These are the same JINBAO Tubas Macks' Brass, and bigbottommusicnw sell for $1,850.00 in SILVER!

Al
bigbottommusicnw
Tubenet sponsorship still pending...

curtisthornton · Post by **curtisthornton** » Fri May 20, 2011 8:57 am

Anybody have any opinions on the the 4p+1r CC yet?

tubamlb · Post by **tubamlb** » Fri May 20, 2011 5:37 pm

Hi
M&M Tuba & Instruments has the 4/4 CC 5 vave in stock
ALSO

M&M Tuba & Instruments has the 5/4 CC 5 Valve in Stock

Starting at $1795.00 with case & mouth piece & stand

Parts & warantee service ( 5 years ) on our instruments

Call 954 610 6251 or web tubamm.com

Thank you

TubeNet

Big Surprise--Schiller CC Tuba

Big Surprise--Schiller CC Tuba

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