Thomann small BBb tubas

[Lingon]

Anyone tested any of the small Thomann tubas and has some opinions? For example this model:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_bbtuba ... junior.htm
which looks like a small Yamaha but with rotaries.

[Lectron]

And from the pics...removable valve cluster

[bububassboner]

It's Chinese. It's a clone of a Jupiter tuba. Now not all thomann brand horns are Chinese. Some like the f tuba, one larger BBb tuba, oval baritone and tenor horns, are handmade Nirschl horns. Those will say handmade and Nirschl on the bell. Those are very nice horns. If it doesn't say that on the bell it's Chinese.

[Lingon]

Yes I thought it was Chinese, but any opinions how it play?
As Lectron mentioned about removable valve cluster might indicate that it may be the same open horn as the pump valve version?

[Wyvern]

Anyone tested any of the small Thomann tubas and has some opinions? For example this model:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_bbtuba ... junior.htm
which looks like a small Yamaha but with rotaries.

It is JinBao made. I have not played one as yet and have not seen enough demand to want to stock. I do wonder about the slide pipes running downhill when the tuba is played? One of the things I like about rotary tubas is all the water collecting at the main water key where as this design has multiple places where it can collect

[Lingon]

...I do wonder about the slide pipes running downhill when the tuba is played? One of the things I like about rotary tubas is all the water collecting at the main water key where as this design has multiple places where it can collect...

Good point. That is not possible with this one I think. However there is a spit valve for the 3rd valve but it seems that there will be some spinning to empty the rest. I have seen and heard the pump valve version http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_bb_tub ... tudent.htm which played very well though but maybe the angle of the valves is a bit awkward. Anyone tested that one? Also Jinbao maybe? Anyway, excellent size for the seven year old boy that wants to start with the tuba.

[iiipopes]

My main criticism is that it has a "left-handed" valve block & main tuning slide layout. As posted above, this prevents one of the great attributes of traditional rotary valve instruments: the water collecting at one point (yes, we all know that water can get up into the 3rd & 4th valve circuits - but in general). Worse, the main tuning slide is simply not usable. Yes, I'm spoiled on my 186 being able to adjust the main slide "on the fly," but that should be standard on any tuba in the 21st century.