Can anyone give me Suggestions for a tuba?

[Novicekiddo]

Currently my school decided to stop lending me a tuba and I am planning to take an exam in 1 year but now i have no tuba =(. I am wanted to get a tuba a few years later because my teacher said I was not ready for my own tuba.Now,I guess I really need one and can anyone suggest any tuba for me? I prefer 4 pistol BBb tuba and what i am really worried about is getting a wrong tuba. I also do not have much air but can anyone recommend a tuba that does not require much air and can last me till maybe a more " Professional" band? I have used a Yamaha 641 for 5 years and Meinl Weston 25 for 3months.My country do not really import in tuba(except those that are really PROFESSIONAL) unless someone orders for a tuba.My budget is around 5-7k USD...


Also are these BBb tubas good?
Conn 52J
Miraphone 12724


Thank You!

[Dan Schultz]

Where are you located?

[Novicekiddo]

Singapore.

[toobagrowl]

Now,I guess I really need one and can anyone suggest any tuba for me? I prefer 4 pistol BBb tuba and what i am really worried about is getting a wrong tuba. I also do not have much air but can anyone recommend a tuba that does not require much air and can last me till maybe a more " Professional" band? My budget is around 5-7k USD...

Thank You!

King 2341
http://www.musiciansbuy.com/King_2341_B ... 12341.html" target="_blank

[Rick Denney]

I also recommend a King 2341. It seems to me the best combination of good sound, good price, and ease of play of any 4-piston Bb tuba that can be bought new.

Rick "or a Miraphone 186" Denney

[tubaforce]

Hi!
If there is no one dealing in Tubas at your disposal, you might try Tuba Exchange. The owner has always given me sound advice, and he doesn't need to sell you a Tuba! He's one of the biggest dealers in the US., and sells overseas too. Tell Mr.Simonetti what you're looking for. He may be able to get something shipped to you direct...
There may be some other options thrown out by the TubeNet body, so be patient!

Good luck,
Al

[Novicekiddo]

The is only shop that really have and allowed me to tried Tubas.However their choices are limited as shown in this link
http://www.topbrass.com.sg/index.php?op ... 7&TreeId=4" target="_blank
most of them are also more than 15 thousand USD.

Then again i have been looking at the B & S 3301 BB piston Tuba 3301. But it should be quite exp and I am still quite unsure what to look out for when choose a tuba.The King seems good and I have saw how its made on youtube =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIP53NEBIY" target="_blank

[Novicekiddo]

Also I have been looking around and if i am going for a budget of around 5-6k USD

which would be a better choice?

Conn5J
https://www.dillonmusic.com/p-2231-conn ... -tuba.aspx" target="_blank

or

King 2341
https://www.dillonmusic.com/p-2232-king ... -tuba.aspx" target="_blank

[Novicekiddo]

Hmm I have found a distributor in my country which sells Miraphone,Conn and King. Not sure if they stock up tubas i think the best thing is to go down and try.

[tubaforce]

Great!
Make sure you ask for a discount! "What's the lowest price you can give me on this Tuba?" Then leave and think about it overnight!
Al

[Novicekiddo]

I just called up...They said they will check the price and the stock and get back to me.

[tclements]

You can't go wrong with a Mirafone 186, 188, or 191. BBb or CC your choice. (there is no 188 BBb, tho).

[Kevin Hendrick]

You can't go wrong with a Mirafone 186, 188, or 191. BBb or CC your choice. (there is no 188 BBb, tho).

IIRC, the BBb version of the 188 is the 187, just as the CC version of the 191 is the 291. When it comes to Mira[f|ph]one model numbers vs. keys, the only hard-and-fast rule is that there are no hard-and-fast rules (including this one) ...

[tclements]

Hmmm. never seen a 187. Anyone got a pict of one?

[toobagrowl]

Guys -

The OP has stated that he prefers a 4 piston BBb tuba that does not require much air.

The King 2341 is a proven horn that fits what he is looking for: smallish .687 bore that does not require much air, 4 pistons, in BBb, and plays very well with a good sound.

IMO, the Conn 5J is almost like a glorified middle school horn due to it's specs and sound, but could be an OK horn also.

The Miraphones listed in this thread are all rotary and all have at least a medium-large .772 bore or larger. The Miraphone 191 has a very large .835 bore, and is a rotary 5/4. It is also more expensive than the other horns listed.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Hmmm. never seen a 187. Anyone got a pict of one?

Pictures (and specs) are available:

http://www.wwbw.com/Miraphone-187-Serie ... 13829.wwbw
http://www.tubaexchange.com/product-det ... MIR-TE187A
http://www.dillonmusic.com/p-4970-mirap ... -tuba.aspx

[tubaforce]

Guys -

The OP has stated that he prefers a 4 piston BBb tuba that does not require much air.

The King 2341 is a proven horn that fits what he is looking for: smallish .687 bore that does not require much air, 4 pistons, in BBb, and plays very well with a good sound.

IMO, the Conn 5J is almost like a glorified middle school horn due to it's specs and sound, but could be an OK horn also.

The Miraphones listed in this thread are all rotary and all have at least a medium-large .772 bore or larger. The Miraphone 191 has a very large .835 bore, and is a rotary 5/4. It is also more expensive than the other horns listed.

No Tuba requires more or less air than any other! If you buzz into your mouthpeice, and insert it into any variety of different size Tubas, one after the other, I think you might well agree with my statement! Effeciency of the Bugle, and the back pressure are the issues we confuse with "air consumption", IMHO!

Al

[The Big Ben]

Here's a shot in the dark:

Contact the symphony or opera in your town and send a message to their tuba player that you are looking for a horn and would like some help. You might make a good connection for some information on making a good choice in a new or used tuba that would work well for you.

[Rick Denney]

Effeciency of the Bugle, and the back pressure are the issues we confuse with "air consumption", IMHO!

If the bugle is not efficient, what do you do to make more sound?

You use more air.

Point is: The King 2341 is a very efficient bugle.

Rick "thinking this is a semantic discussion" Denney

[Bob Kolada]

I play a 187 occasionally (not as much as I used to). It's not my favorite kind of horn but it plays well and low D is fun.

EDIT- 2341's are pretty spot on horns. They play well, are in tune, and don't have any of the quirkiness some other horns have. I can't speak to the low low range on them. The 56J I play is ok there and has usable, if somewhat oddly pitched (low Eb is on 5, D 52, Db 51), false tones.