Cerveny? B&S? Yamaha? Meinl Weston? Miraphone?

[Rick Denney]

The Dillon tuba that Rodgeman posted is a copy of the Yamaha 641

Just what the world needed, a copy of a generally unpopular Yamaha tuba.

Rick "who'd rather have a 1241 at any price" Denney

[Ken Herrick]

And to boost the King 1241 idea along, a couple points. The "Bell Model" CCis virtually a 1241 but with rotary valves and quite likely cut from a 1241 with a smaller bell. These are good instruments and at the sort of price at which one could get one right now, it would be almost silly not to get it.

Hey, it might not win a beauty contest but fair chance it would be half decent, at the least, and even have the advantage that down the line somebody like Sam Gnagey, or Matt Walters, or Joe, or a few others, could use it as the guts for making a good CC if such was really wanted.

My advice, admitting that I can not test it and would be relying on sellers trust and honesty: Buy, practice like mad, spend some of the left over cash on a few lessons with a good pro, in the job, playing teacher and still have money to get cases to fly to Europe with it and later on either refurbish it or get another axe - but don't sell it - as unless you trash it, it will probably appreciate in value.

I'll pretty well second what advice Rick D has been offering you.

[toobagrowl]

The Dillon tuba that Rodgeman posted is a copy of the Yamaha 641

Just what the world needed, a copy of a generally unpopular Yamaha tuba.

Rick "who'd rather have a 1241 at any price" Denney

Your opinion. My bandmate plays on a YBB-641 and sounds quite good on it. I have tooted on his horn several times and think it is a very good BBb tuba. It has a great deep sound and an awesome low register. Intonation and response are just "good", but the build, sound and low range kick *** on that tuba
Interestingly, it's one of the FEW Yamaha tubas I like.


too "who'd take a YBB-641 ANY day over a Miraphone 186 BBb" ba

[tubaforce]

Hi!
I will most likely be selling my Cerveney 6865MR CC Tuba via this forum in the coming days, otherwise PM me if you're at all interested.

Thanks,
Al

[Rick Denney]

Your opinion.

Well, not just mine, but it's a big world.

Rick "go forth in peace" Denney

[tubacrow]

I would suggest playing as many tubas as possible. You will know the horn when you find it. The other suggestion, is bring an extra set of Trained ears (ie professor or fellow student).

[Bob Kolada]

[of a Miraphone 186...] Difficult to play, too tubby and lean at the same time,... 184's may well rock (haven't played one), but to me 186's have all the advantages of sitting on a fence.

Bravo sierra.

Your opinion.

Well, not just mine, but it's a big world.
Rick "go forth in peace" Denney

What a class act- someone disagrees with you and gives as many opinions as necessary to support their statement, and you call bullshit.
I still stand by my opinion. I find 186's to be difficult to play and don't give me the sound I want as a mostly-do-all contrabass horn. I much prefer a 2341 as a do all contrabass. THOSE are FINE, classic, contrabass horns without the weirdness 5xJ's seem to have.


Some people don't like/dislike 186's. Get over it. There's lots of horns out there to enjoy and even more music to enjoy playing.

[k001k47]

Some people don't like/dislike 186's.

So...would they be the hipsters of the tuba world?
"Too mainstream man."

hmmmm

Well I guess there would be the other end of the spectrum too.
"I liked the 186 before it was cool."

[Tubaguy32478]

You need to think about your future on tuba. Are you planning on playing in college? If so, I think you should wait and save your money to buy a 5,000-6,000 horn. In my opinion, you can't rely on finding a good CC horn to play through college for 3,000.

There are many good CC tubas. If i had to suggest one it would be a B&S PT-6P, an excellent orchestral horn. They are pricy, but used ones can be found at good prices. I recently purchased a used PT-6P (In excellent condition) for 6,000.

Good Luck with your tuba search!

[Rick Denney]

What a class act- someone disagrees with you and gives as many opinions as necessary to support their statement, and you call bullshit.

I never claimed to be classy. If you like a Chinese-imitation Yamaha 641 better than a Miraphone 186, then, as I said, the world is a big place.

Rick "but don't expect me to agree with your minority report when giving advice to 11th-graders" Denney

[Rick Denney]

There are many good CC tubas. If i had to suggest one it would be a B&S PT-6P, an excellent orchestral horn. They are pricy, but used ones can be found at good prices. I recently purchased a used PT-6P (In excellent condition) for 6,000.

Andy, your advice about waiting and then having a choice of better instruments is good.

But I can't go with a choice of a PT-6P as a first C tuba. It's a large tuba, and good for someone trying for an orchestra position. But the chances of getting a gig like that are about nil, and those who will make money playing tuba will more likely be doing it by being able to play all kinds of music in all kinds of settings. It seems to me that a gigging pro will need a tuba that can cover nearly all bases, only then adding specialty instruments. I know one professional who plays a (dreaded) Miraphone 186 as his main axe, and then supplements it with a Rudy Meinl 5/4 when he subs in the local symphony. He plays all manner of gigs--quintet, quartet, polka bands--you name it. It all pays, but only to the versatile performer.

The first tuba should be something that can do it all, even if not perfectly, as a starting point. And if you buy one that will maintain its value, then you can change later and it will cost you little or nothing.

In this case, the OP does not have an instrument he feels he can grow on, and he is (wisely) considering a better Bb tuba that is within his budget so that he can continue to improve. That instrument will also fetch what he is considering paying for it when the time comes for him to move on.

Buying a tuba is not a marriage. There are no moral consequences for getting a divorce. It's a business relationship and as such the return on investment and cash flow have to be considered. Only amateurs can buy a tuba just for love (or a pro scratching an amateur itch).

Rick "who resists the easy advice to ask a 17-year-old to spend into oblivion" Denney

[BuzzedB]

If I were you I wouldn't exclude some other brands such as kanstul and hirsbrunner. But now that I think about it hirsbrunner would be out of the price range unless you can find a really cheap one (don't mistake cheap for low quality). And I've heard a lot of good things about the kanstul tubas and you really can't beat it for the price.


Nick" Who is in the same boat as you are for finding his first tuba as you"Busby