If you could do it all again....

[Michael Bush]

This question is especially for the older folks on here who went through a long time ago. If you were starting college again, and could only have one horn, what horn would you choose? Would it be a BBb, CC, Eb, or F?

I quit and majored in political science rather than switching from BBb to CC as my teacher wanted me to. If I had it to do again, I wouldn't be stupid. I could still have done for a living what I've done, and I still would have been a community band hack, but I would have made a lot more music along the way and would have had a lot more fun over the years.

[eupher61]

If I were limited to only 1 tuba, it would be a Rudy 3/4 CC. Mouthpieces would be a different story.

[Mojo workin']

Just what I did....switched from BBb to CC in college. But I would have taken the obvious trend towards playing CC and F more seriously earlier on. Didn't touch an F until grad school. Didn't really practice an F until after it was basically too late. The best way to learn F is to put the CC away for a while, IMO.

[groovlow]

One shot and we did it in STYLE! 70s 80s
'merican souzaphones for mobility
Any german horn for "legit" work... CC prefered.

Funny so many orchestral players were using old American tubas back then. The American instrument makers were in a fix like the auto makers... not making classics. All of the great old horns were building patina in basements, attics and barns waiting for a day when descendants of the players of these great American horns could distribute them to another generation via a few strokes on a keyboard.

I did play a great old family Holton 345 CC in college for a few things in the LSU symphony. At the time I owned a 1940 Pan American Eb (1912 pre Conn design) took me till 2010 to start gigging on it. That Pan Am is my favorite horn today! Thanks Dan Schultz

Concepts of sound change so much in a generation collectively and personally...Imagine a world without electronic instruments amplifiers etc... Shall I chant or play the stick on a log ? or a bone on the log?

Thanks for the question
Joe

[mshores]

I would have just stayed on BBb and focused more on music and less on equipment.

[smitwill1]

Probably would have done it the way I did it the first time, but this time for all the right reasons. Switched to CC in high school--borrowed a university horn. Got my own Miraphone 185 in college (it was TTU in the '80's--everyone had a 185!). Got it because I got a deal on it from a former student. Now, I'd get the same thing (or equivalent--a 3/4 CC) since I'm among the other community players here. It was great in quintet, for solos, in tuba quartet and in for polka gigs. Put enough of them together in a concert band (and don't push them too hard) and they work well. Heck, they even work in small orchestras in a pinch. I learned a lot of music with that horn.

[Edit: By "right reasons" I don't mean to imply that I didn't get good advice--I feel like I got great mentoring; just that at that time my choice of tuba was a function of what was available and what I could afford. Now, I'd probably get the same horn, but because it was a well-made versatile instrument that helped me learn a bit about music. I suspect that ultimately that same balance of what's available/what can I afford plays a role in all purchases, just that with more capital come more options.]

[Tim Jackson]

hmmm... what tuba to buy?

Here's what a kid should do:
Option 1: play/learn solo violin for wedding ceremonies = $250-$350
dj at the reception $550-$750
provide a few lighting accents $350
average $1000 per week. You'll start at $50,000 plus annually right out of college. Don't need experience... the wedding planners always hire the young folks. requires 2 office hours per week and every Saturday.
Pay for the cheap violin and DJ gear in 3 months then finance a YAMAYORK.
You get to play tuba every morning plus enjoy being with your family most of the day. everyday.
I know this plan will work, I've been in the event biz for 20 years... or... what tuba to buy? hmm...

Option 2: you could continue toward becoming a pro tubist... buy a nice F and CC, ( don't really matter which brand... I like silver) teach tuba adjunct at 2-3 local colleges. run yourself crazy trying to get $150 gigs or the symphony per service $175 for 2 rehearsals and a concert. Get ready to be so busy you won't have time to practice much less try and support a family.

Most violinists are to stuck-up to DJ and most DJs never have the musical talent to play an instrument.
A smart young musically talented tubist could really run with this. Mastering the violin will do wonders for your ear.

If you should have the foresight to take this advice send me a couple of C notes in a year or so for showing you the easy life.

Tim Jackson
with more tubas than gigs will ever pay for!

[GC]

If I knew then what I know now, I'd have bought a Holton 345 BBb and a Besson Eb.

Addendum: and a string bass.

[hbcrandy]

In retrospect, I would have started taking private lessons earlier in life than I did. My high school band director, rather than saying, "You have great potential, you should study privately.", told me how good I was so that I would continue playing in his band. I don't care how well you play or how old you are, there is always someone who can show you something to improve your playing and musicianship. NEVER STOP LEARNING!!!

Otherwise, I don't think I would change anything. I was fortunate to live on the East coast with easy access to Phildelphia and New York. So I was able to attend a good school and study with some really high-end players such as Paul Krzywicki and Warren Deck. I was even able to catch some lessons with Mr. Torchinsky. There was also more free-lance work available then. The proximity to large cities afforded me good contacts.

[windshieldbug]

This question is especially for the older folks on here who went through a long time ago. If you were starting college again, and could only have one horn, what horn would you choose? Would it be a BBb, CC, Eb, or F?

Yes.

[bort]

...I would have stuck with rotary tubas all along. I try to like piston tubas, but they never quite work for me. All things considered, I've only spent about 4 or 5 years with piston tubas, but I still think those years would have been more enjoyable on a rotary tuba.

That said, I'm not old, and I might change my mind again.

[circusboy]

Mine's an unusual case. I started playing in my 20s on an Eb. After a few years I switched to F. Then after a few more years I switched to CC.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd get a nice, big BBb and call it a day.

[Bob Kolada]

If I grew up where I now live (Chicago), and keeping an emphasis on low horns, bass trombone and bari sax with tuba way down the list. I've never had a tuba gig pay -anywhere- near the bass trombone gigs I've done.

Really, electric/upright bass should be at the front but I'm not a string guy.

[tofu]

Well if I could only have one horn I would go with a 3/4 Rudy CC for the great versatility and sound. I had a 4/4 but always wished it was the 3/4. I've currently got a Mirafone 185 and the versatility/projection/portability is why I love it and probably use it for 75% of my gigs.

[bort]

I had a 4/4 but always wished it was the 3/4.

Interesting, how come?

[MartyNeilan]

If I could do it all again, I would get Cisco certified instead of a music ed degree. That way I could afford any tuba I wanted.

[Lew]

I agree that Eb is a very versatile instrument, but that is irrelevant to US orchestras if a position with one of them is what one seeks. In that case now you really need to play CC and F. When I entered college in the early 70s as an engineering major all I knew was BBb and that's what they had for the band musicians, so I was fine with that. That wasn't really a choice, but I don't think I would have changed it and it has never been an issue in the community bands in which I play or have played.

[EdFirth]

I started college after getting out of the West Point Band in 73'. I was the only guy playing a C, a Kaiser Cerveny. In retrospect I still would have played C but on a Mirafone 188 if they were even around then. The teacher played on a Besson Eb.Ed

[Lew]

I agree that Eb is a very versatile instrument, but that is irrelevant to US orchestras

Why would it be irrelevant?

I say it is irrelevant because most orchestras in the US have a bias against using them. Of course, that doesn't mean that if you had one and tried to use it instead of an F that most conductors would have a clue that it was any different. On the other hand, even the largest Eb would seem small compared to the CCs that are expected for most pieces and most conductors would question their use for most playing, even if they heard it and its sound worked.

[hbcrandy]

In this country, the Contrabass tuba in CC seems to be the preferred tuba of professional orchestra players. The eb is a bass tuba. In the 1970's and 1980's. Paaul Kryzwicki used the Eb as his bass tuba in the Philadelphia Orchestra. I designed one for him in the early 1980's that he owned and used for about 9 years. He did eventually switch back to F tuba.