Alex C wrote:Neptune wrote: The PT-606P is based on an old York 4/4 tuba
The 606P is a very loose copy of the York. I didn't find many parallels at all. The horn wasn't bad, it fits in the 1291-Nirschl4/4-et al niche. Whether you like it or not depends on whether you like it or not. It sounded too dark for me but I only played one.
As former owner of the copied York C I'll chime in...
The 606P is a fairly faithful copy of the York in bell, bottom and top bows. Beyond that, PT did their own thing somewhat with the wrap. I understand the tapers though are moreorless as-per York.
The York was 4 piston from the factory and that was how Bob Tucci played it for quite a time. Mike Johnson added a 5th after the main slide which worked great. The York valves are at quite an angle but PT showed no interest in copying those so they plonked on their Big-Valves which go on everything
they make.
A lot of folks look at the 606 and think the bell is nothing like those York made but that's how it came from the factory. Interestingly, the York has a detachable bell and came with a larger (22"?) bell-front as well as the 19" upright. It played better with the bell-front for me and some high-level players who tried it. The bell-front was very lightly used and had fairly thick brass but the upright had obviously been heavily filed/buffed in its 1960's overhaul as it was pretty thin around the edges.
Anyway, all this has little to do with comparing the PT6 to the 606P.
IMO they're quite different tubas - try them both and see! That original York had substantial intonation difficulties and the 606 inherited some of those and lacks much of the great sound although both these factors vary from tuba to tuba.
Best of luck!
But sizewise the 606 is a bit bigger (not a lot) than a 56J, and the PT6 is about the size of a 1291 (I haven't seen them side by side).
