Size comparison-186 vs YCB 621

[mshores]

Does anyone have a picture of a YCB 621 with a 186 sized tuba? I know the 621 is smaller but I was wondering just how much smaller. Thanks in advance to anyone that can help me out.

Matthew

[Untersatz]

The Miraphone 186 is a full-size 4/4 tuba with a very tall bell stack.
The Yamaha 621 series is a 3/4 size tuba & is much smaller in size and in sound.
These images may not be exactly to scale, but should be pretty close.

Yamaha YBB-621 - Miraphone-186.jpg

[mshores]

Thanks!
Does anyone know the exact height measurement for the YCB 621?

[Untersatz]

Specifications YCB-621
Level Professional Tuba
Key of C
Size 3/4
Bore 0.689"
Bell Diameter 14 3/8" upright bell
Leadpipe Material Gold Brass
Body/ Bell Material Yellow Brass
Finish Clear epoxy lacquer; Silver (YCB-621S)
Mouthpiece YAC BB67C4
Pistons/ Valves (4) Monel, front action
Case BBC-67

[bort]

I think it's 32" tall.

[mshores]

Yeah, I found that info on the Yamaha website but it doesn't give a height measurement.

[mshores]

Thanks, Bort.

[bort]

Oh, and the 186 is 39" tall.

They are WAY different tubas in just about every way. Both have lots of good applications, but I think they're VERY different from each other.

[Untersatz]

Oh, and the 186 is 39" tall.

They are WAY different tubas in just about every way. Both have lots of good applications, but I think they're VERY different from each other.

+1

[Untersatz]

My section mates in one of the concert bands I play in, both play Miraphones.
One plays a 186 BBb & the other plays a 188 CC, but he brings his Yamaha YCB-621 to rehearsals
and to me it sounds like a large euphonium But when we play our concerts, he always brings
his 188 for that & as Bort will tell you, these are very awesome horns!

[PaulTkachenko]

The 621s have a great sound when you mike then up.

They are not really designed to cut the mustard as the bass in an acoustic large ensemble.

[mshores]

I never get a chance to play in a large ensemble any more. Most of my playing is for me or my middle school band students. Any paid gigs are with a brass quintet. Also, I have always wanted to get into playing tuba in a jazz combo. Any opinions on the YCB 621 for these types of playing?

[Bill Troiano]

I love my 621 CC. I thought of selling it many times, and have even posted it for sale, and then I change my mind. It's not the kind of tuba I would have ever thought, " I got to get me one of these!" It was basically thrown at me, brand new, and very cheap. Actually, it was 2 Yammy's and a friend bought the other. I probably shouldn't get into details, but it was a totally legal sale. I figured I'd turn it around and make a nice profit, but the more I played it, the more I liked it.

I think with many tubas, and maybe it's because the bell isn't that close to our ears, we sound different to ourselves than we do to others listening to us. That's even true with speech - when you hear a recording of yourself speaking and it doesn't sound anything like you think you sound. I think with the 621, it does sound very small to me when I'm playing it, but when I hear a recording of it, it sounds like a tuba. It just doesn't project well. It's got a great, free-blowing low register.

As far as applications, it's definitely not a large ensemble tuba. It works fine in brass quintets, although I don't use it in that situation often. Wasn't it basically designed for brass quintet usage - Canadian Brass? I use mine mostly for trad. jazz. I used to use it jamming with rock/blues bands on LI. In those situations, I would have a mic down the bell. With trad. jazz, it works just fine until you add drums or just a lot of players. I usually use it with 5-7 players and no drums. It's great for parades and for standing while playing too. For projection reasons, that's why I've been looking for a CC helicon. It's still a great little tuba - well built and well designed too.

[Untersatz]

The Yamaha YCB-621 to me, sounds like a large euphonium

Before I get slammed for this.......

I DID mean that in a large ensemble with other tubas (4/4 5/4 & 6/4). That's not to say that it doesn't have its uses,
because is DOES have many uses & IS an awesome little tuba. In fact, it's one of the best 3/4 size tubas you can buy.
Chuck Daellenbach has always been able to make one of these sound like a much larger tuba & depending on what you
are going to use a Yammy 621 for, it can be the ideal horn.

[mshores]

Bill, ever wish it had a 5th valve? My first CC had 4 valves so I'm comfortable without a 5th. But as someone that has used a 621 in different situations, what are your thoughts?

[Roger Lewis]

I owned a YFB621S and it was a good horn but I hated the sound of it. Though, I have a recording of a pops concert that I did where I played my Yorkbrunner for everything but one piece, where I used the 621. You can't tell I changed horns. But I still didn't like the sound of it.

Roger

[Bill Troiano]

Follow up to my last post: No, I never did wish it had a 5th valve. I'm one who prefers a 4 valve tuba, but this is a subject for another post. Or, see my post in the, For Sale, section regarding my BMB J844 tuba.

I know what you mean, Roger. It doesn't have a sound I'm in love with, but it sounds fine on recordings and other musicians seem to like it.

[PaulTkachenko]

621 in jazz?

I just got back from a studio session and my 621 Bb is pretty much perfect.

Loads of people make a 186 work really well in jazz (Marcus Rojas ...) though.

If I need to play acoustic jazz - Sousa. Miked - 621.

I was thinking about making the lead pipes detachable on my 621s so I could have a 5th valve on my Bb when I fancied (I could get an extension bit made). Best of both worlds?