Travelling overseas to buy a BBb...

[tubalux]

Hi Board,

I'm a bit of a lurker on here, so thanks for reading! I'm a tuba player out in Australia. I currently play a Rudy Meinl 4/4 BBb and a Sovereign BBb. Most of my playing is brass band related, with a bit of wind band stuff... I have absolutely no orchestral aspirations! I did a music degree and then did the logical thing and got a job in IT.

I'm considering selling my Rudy and going on a trip overseas to find the **BBb of my dreams**. There just aren't enough horns in Australia to play, try out and buy!

I find the 4/4 Rudy has a sound that is too direct to really support a brass band, and absolutely detest the muddy-ness of the Sovereign. I used to own a 5/4 Rudy CC and absolutely loved the playing characteristics, but I know there are a stack of tubas out there I've never played at all.

So, I'm looking at selling my Rudy and using the high Australian dollar to book a ticket to Germany or the USA, play a bunch of (second hand) big BBbs, buy one, and fly home. Ideally front action. I prefer pistons to rotors but I prefer a massive dark sound over everything else!

I'm looking for:

- tips on where to go to play heaps of second hand tubas (Germany? USA? and more!?)
- anyone selling a 5/4 BBb Rudy?
- advice on other models of tubas that should be on my radar

Thanks!

Tim

[T. J. Ricer]

You may or may not be interested in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38495" target="_blank

Of note in there is the W. Nirschl BBb that is coming out of Brazil new for under 5K, I think.

--T. J.

[termite]

G'day Tim

I'm a BBb player in Melbourne. For a massive dark sound you're probably looking at the Rudy 5/4 (or the 6/4! - there's been a bit of discussion on this tuba around here) or the Fafner (MW 195) Most reports I've read on the Fafner have been the rotary version - I don't know much about the piston version. Whereabouts are you? I know someone in Victoria with a Rudy 5/4 BBb - it's definitely NOT for sale. If you're near Melbourne I have a Miraphone 1291 BBb which you're welcome to have a blast on. The 1291 is smaller than the Rudy but it's possibly less directly orchestral. Cerveny also make a large rotary BBb and Wilson make a large BBb in various valve configurations. I've heard that the Wilson sounds good out in the hall but feels distant to the player.

There is at least one shop in Germany which fits the bill - someone will chime in with the name and there are several in the US - I'm not sure how far apart they are. You might want to consider shipping a tuba back rather than checking it as luggage. There are a few threads here on shipping tubas.

I use my 1291 in a brass band next to a Hirsbrunner 5/4 BBb and it works really well but it is a fairly orchestral sounding BBb section by brass band standards (which I like). If we had a strong BBb player with the real British brass band sound it probably wouldn't work as well.

I'm told that the Sovereign varies a lot from instrument to instrument. The only one I've ever played felt like it had a rag stuck down it compared to my Miraphone - no thanks! If your Rudy sounds too colourful from where you're sitting it might sound better out the front. In a loud, large ensemble situation a tuba sound which is nicely rounded and pretty to the player and the guy next to him can sound dull to the audience whereas a sound which seems a bit edgy and harsh to your section mate will be mellower out the front while still retaining interest and colour. There's been a bit of discussion on this on this board somewhere - it's an interesting subject.

There are also the giant American BBb's - the Holton 345 and the various Conn's, Kings, Martin's etc. You could also ask Sam Gnagey to make you a 6/4 BBb Frankenhorn. Actually if I had some spare money I would be looking into this.

Regards

Gerard

[bort]

If you come to America, a trip to the east coast would get you two major stores in close proximity:

http://www.baltimorebrass.net" target="_blank
http://www.dillonmusic.com" target="_blank

They're about 3 or 4 hours drive away from each other. And, you'll be close to both Washington DC and New York -- must-see places if you've never been to the US before!

[Wyvern]

I think you would do best flying to the USA to try simply because tubas are cheaper in the states than Europe - even German made tubas cost less than they would in Germany.

Remember you will have to pay import duty if you buy in the USA, or Europe, so worth factoring into your budget.

The new piston Fafner certainly seems one to check out

[iiipopes]

If I were purchasing a new, "Professional" 4/4+, 5/4 or larger BBb, these are the horns I'd consider, and they're all so good it's a matter of preference of nuance of tone, not of quality:

Miraphone 187 or 1291
Rudy 18 inch bell or larger
Willson 3100 variant
Hirsbrunner 192 or 193
B&S GR51 (European model designation)/PT605 (American model designation)

For 4/4 standard multi-use tuba: King 1241 or Miraphone 186.

[tubalux]

Hi all,

From having a look things seem to be cheaper in the US than Germany, so I guess my trip will involve heading there. (Woohoo!)

I wouldn't consider buying a horn without playing it first, unless it was actually a 5/4 BBb Rudy, (since I've played one a little before and spend a lot of time on the 5/4 C and 4/4 BBb versions). *hint, i'm in the market if you know anyone who might be selling*

I am getting a good idea of some of the other big Bb tubas around to try out if/when I get somewhere that has them all!

Thanks for your help with this, and for the couple of emails and PMs I received as well.

If anyone has any more thoughts, suggestions or friends-with-5/4-Rudy-BBbs for sale, let me know!