4/4 F vs. 3/4 CC

[jrobba]

Hello TubeNet,

I have been going so back and forth on deciding on what would be the best investment for me. I am about to go back into the service and I would like to invest in a work horse. Most military bands keep a good stock of 4/4 or 5/4 BBb and CC tubas, but not much in the way of smaller contrabass or bass tubas. I would like to find something for myself that I won't likely get issued while I'm in.

I will be be playing a LOT of brass quintet gigs and would like to own something that I could play in both quintet and in wind ensemble. I will most likely not be the only tuba in the section, and have always liked sound of a section with a couple big contrabass tubas and one or two bass tubas.

I've thought a lot about the Yamaha YFB-822. I've test played several and feel like you can't get a better "do-everything" horn. I love F tubas, but I feel like if I'm not performing solos or recitals, I might be better off getting a small 4/4 or 3/4 CC tuba. Maybe a Rudy or the Meinl Weston 3450.

I'm at a loss as to which direction to head down... F or CC. I have owned and sold a couple tubas now and I don't want to rush into buying anything that isn't right for me. Please let me know you're thoughts on the matter.

Thanks!
-Jason

[TheHatTuba]

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[jrobba]

I'm going to have to head up to La Crescenta to try some miraphone 18Xs.

As far as yamahas go, I haven't had the opportunity to ever get behind any of their CCs. I really enjoyed the YFB-822, and if they have a 4/4 or 3/4 CC that plays anything like it, I would love to test play one.

[Odins dog]

Having been in a Marine field band, I think you'd be better served going the Eb route. I have good luck with a Besson 983. A MW 2145 is also a good smallish CC that a buddy of mine uses with great success.

There's also a couple of Getzen CB 50s floating around that would seem to fulfill your requirements.

Just my 2 cents.

[Tom Holtz]

I'm an all-on-Eb guy, but if you've never owned an eefer, and don't want to spend several months having your brain bent every time you play, a small CC is always an option. Especially if you find a good CB-50. Those were sweet.

[Bob Kolada]

Another vote for Eb here. We just got a Miraphone 1281 and, while a sweet horn with great intonation and a nice low range, it doesn't have the same "big little horn" heft or feel a good Eb has (I do like small F tubas for different reasons). For me it reminds me of the C vs. Bb thing- it plays like a big tuba but doesn't feel like one. ymmawv.

[jimgray]

I'm biased here, but...
Rudy 3/4 cc-
Ideal horn for these situations if you favor a German sound.
Spot on-
Superb quintet tuba IMO.
Flexible enough to do pretty much anything.

[pierso20]

My Tuba key choice is usually more related to sound color. Even a 3/4 CC will still have a different sound/color than an F tuba. Yes, the "size" might feel similar but remember, an F tuba is still shorter than a 3/4 CC tuba.

[JCalkin]

I'd go with a 3/4 CC if it were me making the choice. I play a big F tuba for quintet most of the time, but I have a big CC to go to for wind ensemble and those moments when I need to be the bass player in quintet and not a fifth brass instrument (jazz transcriptions, mostly).

I think either a big F or a small CC works fine in quintet and could make arguments for both, but for me the kicker is you mentioned you'd be using the horn for wind ensemble too. IMO the F would be less appropriate for wind ensemble primarily due to the timbre (a lighter sound which is tougher to support an ensemble with) but also because the wind band stuff is generally written lower, and the fingering acrobatics and more difficult tuning would make an F tougher to manage. Sure, both are doable, but why work harder than you have to?

Just thinking about playing the bottom octave of Toccata Marziale on F... *shivers*

[Wyvern]

I would also suggest Eb (or EEb as we would say in UK) having tried CC and F as well myself.

Eb gives security in the higher register, while still (if you choose the right model) have a broad tone, and easy low register.

But anyway, try and get what suits you

[Lectron]

Ive started this post dunno how many time

• "Mostly playing BBb and Eb, I feel with the CC get the register of the BBb with the"
  
  "Eb often being surprisingly similar in sound to CC"
  
  "CC gives you that contrabass register with the ease of play of an Eb"
  
  "I just too often misses that CC color"

I'll just jump to the conclusion....I use a CC for quint/ensemble for it's versatility.
A true do it all horn.

(and then you hear a recording of Warren Deck on an F)

[DPlander]

I have to go with a Small CC horn. I just came out of 8 years in the navy Band Program and like you said they have a large ammount of large horns but not so many small horns. I think the small CC would be your best bet. I picked up a new Kanstul 902-4C model for around 4500 with case/warrenty. I love it and wish I had it many years ago when I first joined. just my two cents.

Douglas Plander
Orlando Concert Band
Kanstul 902-4C

[Alex C]

I have to go with the choice of a small CC as well. There's a lot of stuff that moves around below the staff in quintet literature and I'm more comfortable with a CC down there. The F is great for solos and works well in quintet, it's just a personal opinion.

You might consider the Conn 2J or 3J. You can get a heck of deal on them and they play consistently. Remember that Chuck D. played the Yamaha 621CC for several years with the Canadian Brass. I always felt that the sound was just too compact but if you're looking for a way to blend with the quintet, the 621 is a good bet.

The Miraphone 184 is good choice if you like rotary valves. Everybody has their own ideas about which horn is best.

[jrobba]

Hello everyone,

Thank you all for your input and advice on the subject. As I said, I've been going back and forth for a long time trying to decide what horn to invest in next, and after test playing and listening to what's out there, I went ahead and got a new YFB 822. I love it and I feel very comfortable playing it.

Thanks again for all the responses and personal messages.

-Jason

[TheHatTuba]

Hello everyone,

Thank you all for your input and advice on the subject. As I said, I've been going back and forth for a long time trying to decide what horn to invest in next, and after test playing and listening to what's out there, I went ahead and got a new YFB 822. I love it and I feel very comfortable playing it.

Thanks again for all the responses and personal messages.

-Jason

Congrats on the new addition!