The 6/4 of your dreams

[TYA]

I'm just wondering if you could have any 6/4 tuba out there which one would it be and why? Mines would be the Meinl Weston handmade Baer model, but that's because that's the only 6/4 I have played. I can't wait to hear everyone's choice.

[Wyvern]

I am a very luck man that I have got it in the form of my goldbrass handmade Neptune. It was a big gamble ordering (and not a small price!), but has turned out to be exactly the tuba of my dreams

BTW The main differences I find from my previous standard Neptune are it weighs a lot less, seems more immediately responsive, it has a more secure high register and certain low notes are more open, particular low G.

[tubatom91]

An old Holton, ideally with 5 valves, I could work with four though. I don't care if it's BBb or CC. If I knew that I could play in an orchestra for the rest of my life I would have bought the one that just got sold in the For Sale section. I love my 188CC but I had to push it pretty hard for Shostakovich 5 the other night...did it get the job done, yes...could a big old Holton have done a better job .

(Fwiw, the 188 is a fantastic horn it's not too small by any means but it certainly isn't that big.)

[bort]

Lenny Jung's old Martin 6/4. I'm sure I'd still "sound like me" on that tuba, but holy crap, did he "sound like him" on that tuba.

[UTSAtuba]

DP's Holton 345

[MartyNeilan]

A Kalison K2001 with BlokeWashers® AND an in tune open high C.

[Rick Denney]

There are very few tubas of the grand orchestral style that I have played that I liked better than my Holton. One of them was a handmade 6450 Baer model. Another one was a converted York (though I've played other converted Yorks that didn't do it for me). I've played some pretty high-end 6/4 tubas, so I have to think that mine is pretty much what I would dream about, especially given my preference for Bb.

I'm fortunate. And that's especially true now that I'm a gubmint employee without as much toy money as I used to have.

Rick "who can't think of a big tuba he'd rather own than his Holton" Denney

[THE TUBA]

York #3.

Hey, you said dreams!

[k001k47]

a)4 valve CC with two tuning triggers (1st and 4th) operated by left hand paddles*
b)6450 bugle
c)slide orientation of a Marzan of undecided bore and taper, if any(adjusted for easy LH main tuning slide access)
d)Short piston action of a Conn 2xJ/K


*: powered by some sort of SPACE AGE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM that responds faster than I can even think to press the paddle. In fact, it should be so advanced, that it'll read my mind and adjust slides on it's own. Yes, self adjusting slides. THAT is my dream tuba.

[iiipopes]

A Conn 40K in tuba wrap with both bells, upright & recording. No, not a 2XJ, I want the more manageable .734 bore, and a custom tuba stand for it.

[Cameron Gates]

Lenny Jung's old Martin 6/4. I'm sure I'd still "sound like me" on that tuba, but holy crap, did he "sound like him" on that tuba.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

That horn is fantastic. I remember working on it in the mid-90's and taking my own sweet time on the repair.

What happened to that horn?

[bort]

Lenny Jung's old Martin 6/4. I'm sure I'd still "sound like me" on that tuba, but holy crap, did he "sound like him" on that tuba.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

That horn is fantastic. I remember working on it in the mid-90's and taking my own sweet time on the repair.

What happened to that horn?

It's in the Tuba Exchange museum. I really wish it wasn't, it deserves to be played (and heard!). I think I remember reading that once he got into his 80s, it was just too big for him to keep up with. I really only briefly knew him for a few months, but hope he's doing well!

[Tuba-G Bass]

The Rudolf Meinl BBb 6/4 in Silver, like Mr. Kauffman used to own,
(it's really a 7/4) I am the only Tuba in both concert bands I play in,
I need some more power!

[Rick Denney]

It's in the Tuba Exchange museum. I really wish it wasn't, it deserves to be played (and heard!). I think I remember reading that once he got into his 80s, it was just too big for him to keep up with. I really only briefly knew him for a few months, but hope he's doing well!

He was playing in the National Concert Band at the time, and he switched to a 4/4 Martin with a fiberglass body because it was much easier to carry. Nice little horn, though certainly not perfect. He used a big tuning stick on the main slide to address the valve swindle and other issues. He retired from playing altogether several years ago.

That instrument is not in the Tuba Exchange museum. It is awaiting restoration by its, um, current owner.

Rick "who subbed in the NCB a couple of years ago and heard the latest from his former playing mate, but hasn't heard anything about Mr. Jung since then" Denney

[TUbajohn20J]

Conn 26J BBb 4 short action front facing valves in satin silver w/gold trim

[bisontuba]

Hi-
OH, throw in a Cerveny 601 in the mix...
mark

[toobagrowl]

I don't really have a need or desire for a 6/4 tuba as I consider most, if not all of them, a bit "woofy" for my needs. But I will say that I do like pretty much all of them that I have played on. The old Holton 6/4 CCs, VMI/B&S rotary Neptune and a good Yorkbrunner "Grand Orchestral" are among my favorites.

[SousaSaver]

J.W.York 6/4 with a Hirsbrunner cluster
60's era Holton 345
Boehm and Meinl (Nirschl) 6/4 York copy

Basically, J.W. York.

[SousaSaver]

It's in the Tuba Exchange museum. I really wish it wasn't, it deserves to be played (and heard!). I think I remember reading that once he got into his 80s, it was just too big for him to keep up with. I really only briefly knew him for a few months, but hope he's doing well!

That instrument is not in the Tuba Exchange museum. It is awaiting restoration by its, um, current owner.

Good. With all due respect to that (ahem.... pointless) museum..... Great instruments should be played and heard. Don't believe me, ask these people... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_St ... nstruments

The museum is not as pointless as you may think. In my opinion, it provides a caring home for instruments that may otherwise end up corroded and dusty in someones attic or garage. Tuba Exchange also provides pictures and simple descriptions on their website, so if you find a similar instrument and need help identifying it, you can. Vince and the lot at Tuba Exchange do a great service to the Tuba community with their museum.

[Lew]

I would have to go with those who said the 4 valve, front action, 2XJ, which I guess would be a 26J with recording bell or 27J with an upright bell. Ideally one with both original bells in satin silver. Unfortunately I have never actually seen one in person, although I have seen photos of at least one. It must have been the rarest configuration of those horns ever made. My 22J was pretty close to being an ideal 6/4, but even with the decent pedals I found myself missing the 4th valve.

I tried the 6/4 Rudolph Meinl rotary BBb that Lee Stofer had at the USABTEC a few years ago and that comes close too. I wonder if Mike gets to play it much? I have tried a few Holton 345s and it may be the specific horns, but I never got the same feeling about them as the Conns.