BBb or CC?

[tclements]

Play a CC. There are a few guys that play BBb, Mr Jenkins being one GREAT example. But there is a reason that 99.9% of all American pros (and it is invading Europe as well) play CC. I have my own reasons, that I'll be happy to discuss privately (email me), but look at the great orchestral players, with rare exceptions, they play CC. I don't know this definitively, but I believe all the guys in the service bands as well, are playing CC's now. Perhaps our Armed Services professionals can chime in here. There is a common misconception that BBb is for band, CC for orchestra. The argument just does not hold water. WHATEVER you play, you should consider 5 valves and SOME kind of tuning jigger, either in the 2nd slide or the main slide. Good luck!

[taylorbeaty]

personally, I think there's too much emphasis on CC's being played in American orchestras. I mean, the trombones are in BBb. There's probably some really good reasons the CC tuba is used but I think the player should have the freedom to choose whatever contrabass/bass duo the player is best on.

[pinedale]

Those who play Bb fall into one of several categories:

1. Doesn't care but found a Bb that was particularly suited to his inner voice.
2. Learned Bb in school and doesn't want to learn new fingerings.
3. Learned on Bb and never felt the need to change sufficient to justify the extra cost.
4. Plays Bb for works particularly well-suited to Bb, such as the Shostakovich 5.
5. Plays in a German orchestra.
6. Plays a sousaphone.

or:

7. Owns a Willson 3050 CC and Getzen CB-50 CC, recently bought a *gasp* clone 1291 5v BBb and loves the sound and response, so is considering selling one or both of the CCs. (Perhaps a special case of 1?)

---
Willson 3050s CC
Getzen CB-50 CC
Chinese 5v 1291 BBb
MW 45-SLP F
Willson 2900 Euph
Schilke F/G trumpet
Yamaha Bb trumpet
Yamaha Eb/D trumpet
On the way: Chinese 6v F
On the way: Chinese 831 bass trombone

[Tubajug]

I switched to CC as a freshman in college. There was a tuba grad student acting as moderator at the auditions for ensemble placement and when I left the room he simply said that I had a great CC sound (I was playing on a BBb) so I switched and have loved it ever since. That's why I would vote for CC.

[curtisthornton]

There is a lot of great advice here. Thanks guys. I think i'm gonna try out as much as possible at sertec next month but i've played a meinl weston 2145 and absolutely loved the sound( just not the price ). But i'll probably end up on a CC seeing as how i would love to play orchestrally one day.

[EdFirth]

When I lived in New Orleans in the late 70's I would fill in for Neal Tidwell in the banjo band at Houlihan's Oyster Bar. Trombone, two banjos, and tuba. One night a group of college age guys came in who seemed particularly interested in the tuba. At the break the oldest among them came up leading the rest and introduced himself as Winston Morris. The group, of course, were his students. He opened with "Neal Tidwell I presume". I told him Neal was off and I usually filled in for him to which he tactfully replied "Well you certainly have a beautiful sound. What kind of C (rolling his eyes towards his students for emphasis) tuba is that?" It was a Bb Alexander like horn that I had bought from Norn Bartold while on the circus which had belonged to Buddy Hayes, the guy before Rich Maloof on the Welk Band. My point is that the only people that care what key and make of horn you play are other tuba players. If you are in an orchestra that isn't an issue. Whatever horn unlocks the sound in your head without putting you through a gymnastic routine to do it will do just fine. That being said, as this thread demonstrates most people who play and Teach (like your teacher at college) think one must play a C to be a professional. So it's less of an upstream swim to just go along and play C. And there's no law prohibiting you from eventually having both. Ed

[1895King]

I began playing tuba in the 8th grade 50 years ago this spring. My band director started me on an Eb Sousaphone. When I went to high school that fall, all we had was BBb horns, 3 or 4 sousaphones and a Conn 20J so I played BBb exclusively all through college.
I was always intrigued by Eb so when I got the chance to pick up an old Buescher Eb, I did so. Now I play Eb as often as I can, but for tomorrow's band concert I'm using my 1895 era King BBb as the other player does not have the low range we need for a couple of the tunes. (Last week's concert was done on a King Eb but there were 3 other players whereas tomorrow's concert only has 1 other.) It all goes back to what works best for you in a given situation.
I tried CC about 25 years ago and I was lost so I traded that horn off on an ancient Cerveny Eb which I traded off for a couple of alto horns if I remember correctly.
I'm comfortable with either Eb or BBb as long as I don't try to use both on the same performance or rehearsal.

[ral1988]

You may want to consider the type of tuba, like york copy or kaiser.

As some have already said, the market you're in uses CC. That CC is usually a york copy of some sorts. At auditions, people are going to expect that sound.

Anyway, I personally love the Miraphone 187 that I have for the color, especially for solo and chamber works. I sometimes pull out the BBb for some orchestral stuff, but the rest of the time I use a CC. It's the expected sound. When you're in an ensemble with more than one tuba, it's more likely they are going to have CC.

Anyway, good luck picking a horn!