new to the tuba game

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Miraphone 186 & King 2341/1241 are both workhorses, and often available used.

[NCSUSousa]

30 years old. Not a high school student. English is not my first language. In fact... its no. 4.

I get the feeling i need a bb tuba. What are some models i could look at?

General advice: Play anything you can find used. Don't settle. You already have a good Eb tuba so you can wait for a good used Bb to become available.

About models/brands:
The Germans have been building some of the best BBb tubas for years. Miraphone, B&S, Melton, Rudy Meinl and Alexander are current top brands from Germany. If you can find something used from them in your price range, give it a try. Most traditional german designs are 38"-42" tall (1000mm) so they're a little larger than your Eb tuba. They do have some models that aren't as tall - Miraphone 191, Melton 18 to name a couple.
Hirsbrunner in Switzerland is also very good, but may be out of your price range even used.

Cerveny/Amati is in the Czech Republic and sells new horns for less than their German competitors. St Petersburg (Russian made) is also competing in that price range here in the US. I don't know how their prices are near you. Their horns are typically made of brass that is not as thick/heavy as the german made instruments, so they dent easier. That shouldn't be an issue for you as an adult player. They're very good instruments, just not for teenagers. They also make some instruments that aren't quite as tall if you're still looking for something in a more manageable size.

[scottw]

Miraphone 186 is a do-everything tuba that will consistently sound good in all ranges, generally well in tune, gives plenty of bottom, blends well with quartets and quintets and weighs only about 15-18 lbs. Holds it's value better than almost any other model and is usually available due to so many of them produced over the years. Hard to go wrong here.

[Lectron]

For a one do it all tuba, I'd probably go for a CC tuba (sorry)

eb part in Brass band is easy enough to read (I assume it's transposed treble cleff)
It's big and resonant enough to get a solid BBb pedal but still nimble enough
do do close to everything written for the Eb

On a CC you can do close to everything pretty good.
I prefer the sound of a BBb tuba, but it's very often harder work.
But OK...Between the two options in your OP, I'd probably go for the Luzern (in 5V)

Everything played on BBb tuba can be played on CC tuba, but not everything played on CC tuba so much can be played on BBb tuba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGqdAOegDEM" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[trnewcomb]

From your posts, it sounds like you'd probably be better off with a BBb but regardless, play as many as you can.

If you can find a good Miraphone186, that's a great one to get and used they are fairly reasonable in price. For doublers, that horn's a workhorse and it will do everything you need. Plenty of sound, but a really light touch when you want one. That's the model I got when I started seriously doubling. And as a doubler, you need something that will sound good immediately. The 186 or the similar Cerveny horns definitely fit that bill.

[cozzagiorgi]

Ok Miraphone 186 sounds good!

Anyone know a place where they turn up?

[cozzagiorgi]

Ok Miraphone 186 sounds good!

Anyone know a place where they turn up?

And what prices are we talking about?

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Check: Dillons, Baltimore Brass, Horn Guys & Flea-Bay

[bort]

186 BBb's are up for sale pretty often here as well.

Depending on age and condition, probably in the $2,500 to $4,000 range. Maybe as low as $2,000 if it's really old and worn, and maybe as high as $6,000 if it's like new and in great condition. Brand new, I think they are around $8,000.

[tbn.al]

This listing is a couple of weeks old but I'll bet it hasn't sold yet.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59442&p=498116&hilit=186#p498116" target="_blank

You can go to the Advanced Search tab, specify to look for the text 186, then narrow your search to the For Sale forum and message topic only. You should be able to find a lot more possibilities. I just copied the first one for you. Good hunting.

[k001k47]

Think of it this way: a small Eb is as playing bass-y music through a small integrated laptop speaker, while a big BBb is like playing it through a big woofer. Keep in mind that bass-anemic music can be played through the latter.

If you want more 'bass', get a big ol BBb! A 21J would be cool, but I dont think you'll go wrong with that Wessex.

[imperialbari]

Opportunities for testing and buying very much depend on where you live. Are you in Italy?

Klaus

[cozzagiorgi]

Im in switzerland.

[cozzagiorgi]

Ok, could you guys help me get a feeling whats a good deal and what i have to look for?

I have looked at those horns on the net. Wich one would be your choice?

Yamaha ybb641 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-YBB-641- ... 4d183dfe7b" target="_blank

Schiller http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schiller-Americ ... 4619ad7932" target="_blank

King 2341 http://www.ebay.com/itm/KING-4-VALVE-BB ... 27dd51b518" target="_blank

Tuba exchange http://www.tubaexchange.com/tubas/te-1915l" target="_blank

Wessex http://www.wessex-tubas.co.uk/bbb-luzern/" target="_blank

Not that much good offerings at the moment i think.

[k001k47]

Ok, could you guys help me get a feeling whats a good deal and what i have to look for?

I have looked at those horns on the net. Wich one would be your choice?

Yamaha ybb641 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-YBB-641- ... 4d183dfe7b" target="_blank" target="_blank

Schiller http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schiller-Americ ... 4619ad7932" target="_blank" target="_blank

King 2341 http://www.ebay.com/itm/KING-4-VALVE-BB ... 27dd51b518" target="_blank" target="_blank

Tuba exchange http://www.tubaexchange.com/tubas/te-1915l" target="_blank" target="_blank

Wessex http://www.wessex-tubas.co.uk/bbb-luzern/" target="_blank" target="_blank

Not that much good offerings at the moment i think.

I think the Wessex is good for you. You won't have to deal with overseas shipping.