GRONITZ PCK or THOR 5450 ???

[Gustavotuba]

Hey Evererybody,

I wanna like to buy a tuba, but I need some commentary about the tubas.
What do you think about these two Tubas: GRONITZ PCK and THOR 5450 ?
What´s the best choice ?

Best Regards !

[Roger Lewis]

Both of these are great instruments and they can both easily get the job done. I love the response of the PCK and it has a beautiful bloom to the note after the attack. It also has a very good low range on it for a larger horn. There are few horns that can match it.

The Thor is also a great instrument and you will not find a horn (other than perhaps the new Miraphone 1293) with such a user friendly low register. We earn our money in the low register, (the cash register as some call it), I would want a horn that is easy to play and responsive from the middle of the staff on down.

You would do best to play both horns side by side and see which one has the sound that you prefer and likes how you play. This is a granny smith to a delicious/apples to apples comparison. I would love either one of them.

Good luck on your search.

Roger

[joh_tuba]

Given the two options I'd pick the 5450 BUT my experience suggests that the Gronitz PCM is the better all around package and is still PLENTY big. If you think you need something bigger then I'd suggest a rotor PT6. If your question were between the rotor PT6 and Gronitz PCM now THAT would be a tough call.

[Mcordon1]

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[ckalaher1]

I know it's a little smaller than the 2 horns listed, but I'd give the Bruckner a try too. I spent about 30 minutes on one @6 wks ago and was really impressed. It didn't back up or break up in the low register the way the smaller Miraphones are prone to do. Seemed that it had a great scale along with it. Nice tuba. I'm pretty curious how the 1293 is too.

[TubaNerd88]

If you're looking to decide between these two, sit down with both side to side and compare the two in terms of tone color, easiness of response, low range, high range, etc. There's lots of things to consider as these two horns are made by two different companies.

As a player who has owned a Thor for over a year now, I can tell you that the Thor has, by far, one of the easiest low ranges that I've ever played. The sound is a little hollow to me. The high range can be a little hard to control and to respond, but it's not major. It has that "hammer sound" that's described in the advertisement for it, but it's quite hard to get the horn to lose that sound.

As far as a Gronitz PCK is concerned, I tried one out at ITEC this past summer, and in my opinion, I did not care for it. The sound was a little stuffy to me and I had a hard time getting notes to respond clearly. Again, just my opinion.

....In all honesty, what it's going to take is to just sit down with both horns and play them back to back. I'm sure you'll find the answer you're looking for. As much as we all like to help a fellow tuba/euphonium player in need, TubeNet can only do so much. Find out for yourself. Happy choosing!

- Matthew "offering appropriate advice?" Gray

[Jobey Wilson]

I just posted this last night for a current PCK seller under the For Sale section:

Bump for a PCK! As a PCK player/lover, I thought I'd throw down my 2 cents about the horn...

I sold my beloved Alexander (my first tuba...tear...) to buy a PCK. My principal teachers, Ted Cox & Chester Schmitz, have two of the most glorious Alex sounds in the world...a huge range of colors (pallet), utmost clarity & core, shear BEAUTY! I found the PCK to be MY perfect "Alex on Steroids!" ...a large, modern BAT with the flexibility in color, size & volume of an Alex & great intonation...and then some again on the volume ...oops, did i do that?? I've also used it in Triton & pit orchestras very comfortably, and I am currently working up a Cello Suite on it. Incredibly versatile horn for its size.

I actually have never played a Thor, so i can't give you a side by side comparison there. Some people have mentioned PT-6 above...the PT-6 is one of my favorite tubas in production (i personally prefer the rotor versions), but I am simply able to do more on the PCK. Take the above advice and try both. I can't think of anyone here in Boston that has a Thor, but if your in the area, hell, you can come try my PCK!

Good luck & enjoy the search!! We're all different, as are all tubas...try as many as you can and try a plethora of mouthpieces with each tuba, as well. I use a Laskey 30H (little bored out), also really liked the 28H & original G&W Baer on the PCK.

[ztuba]

I personally believe the Thor to have too splatty of a low register. I like the response, but at what cost... You should be able to play loud and low without sounding like a sousaphone

[Roger Lewis]

Actually, if you use the "Blokepiece" Symphony model, it tames the possible potential for getting bright in the low register. I know because I own one - the mouthpiece not the Thor - but I've played my share of Thors.

Roger