Large Eb or Large F

[Jay Bertolet]

I've tried the Willson F and was impressed. Are the two more similar than they are different?

IMO, yes. I didn't ever buy one because I was already playing Eb for a very long time when the Willson F came along. The ones I played were so similar to the Eb, I never felt the desire to buy an F and learn F fingerings seriously. There really wasn't any advantage to it because the horns played so similarly. I'm sure part of my opinion is based on my preference for 5 valve, non-compensating instruments. I once owned a Boosey Sovereign Eb that was an incredible sounding horn but, not having grown up in the 3+1 tradition, I found the technique of that valve configuration difficult to truly master. I've always been kinda clumsy so maybe using both hands for valve manipulation is just not for me. Now that I think about it, I also never really liked F tubas that used left hand 5th and/or 6th valves. I even had my 184 CC 5th valve converted to right thumb usage (thanks Lee Stofer, that horn still rocks!).

[bort]

Thanks!

Does Willson make a large rotary F tuba? I only see the small rotary F on their site. I'm not quite on a Willson budget right now, but still curious to learn more. Who sells these in the US now, anyway??

[TheHatTuba]

Thanks!

Does Willson make a large rotary F tuba? I only see the small rotary F on their site. I'm not quite on a Willson budget right now, but still curious to learn more. Who sells these in the US now, anyway??

I only see the big rotary F... Do they make a small one?

http://willson.ch/instr_e/tuba/ftuba3200rz-5-e.pdf" target="_blank

[bort]

Well how about that. Not sure what I read wrong...whoops (and thanks)!

[bort]

Bort, To meet your criteria, I would suggest a Miraphone Norwegian Star should be what you check out.

No F is truly a 'do-it-all' tuba, but I believe you could on the Star.

The 2040/5 has a great sound and plays well, but IMHO has two things against it;

1) The ergonomics are nowhere near so good as the Star (it is top heavy)

2) For me it has a very 'difficult' E above the staff (I used to dread playing anything with high E on that tuba as would split, as often as not)

Thanks Jonathan, good advice about both. Next time I have a chance to try some things out, I'll try both of those and see what I think.

I might try out a Besson 983, too, though I really prefer rotors to pistons.

Thanks for the help, everyone!

[modelerdc]

I've always liked the sound of small F tubas and large E flats, anyone else feel this way?

[J.c. Sherman]

I'm always a screaming, frothing-at-the-mouth Eb fan. You really can do everything with a compensating Eb. The 983 is unbelievably similar to my Imperials... and I've played 110 piece orchestra concerts with mine. You have to slow your air a little in the bottom notes to nuke a good low F or E, but it's plenty manageable, the pitch is very good... I could go on.

I've never been able to deal with the 4-in-a-row of the 983, however. I'm biased and trained on the 3+1. I'd love to take one and replace that 4th valve with a thumb operated rotor... I'll bet that would make me a very happy, socially acceptable tubist

Never met a do-it-all F... I've played most of the Fs out there. The 4450 Meinl Weston makes a good case for itself, as do the Yamaha 822 and BMB F. But the Eb has more "chest".

I like the big Meinl and Willson Ebs too...

J.c.S.

[Roger Lewis]

I second the recommendation for the 983. Get one and don't look back. It is a great all around horn.

Just my $0.02.

Roger

[TMurphy]

I love my 983. It has been my only horn for years, and while I will add a big horn at some point (though not as soon as I'd like), I'll never get rid of my 983.