Which tuba is visually the most aesthetically pleasing?

[bort]

So... like you usually say, the answer for you is "the one that I own?"

I will say, the recording Bessons are still better looking than these:

[imperialbari]

So... like you usually say, the answer for you is "the one that I own?"

I will say, the recording Bessons are still better looking than these:

Enharmonic?

[otakuphill]

Besson Sovereign BE995-2 CC Tuba - Silver Plated

[highsierra]

Alex 163 Bb

[LoyalTubist]

When I was in college I had a professor who always reminded us that it didn't matter so much what we like to play but rather what the audience wants to hear. (And at that time, what audiences wanted to hear was disco music.) Anyway, I can remember one of the better high school bands in the San Diego area that never marched with sousaphones. My old high school band director took over as band director and insisted they use recording basses (which were starting to be no longer made at that time), and the students complained they were too heavy. Audiences complained they looked ugly with all the dents and pits. So my old band director went on to become a university band director and the next band director insisted that the band start using sousaphones. Since they had a big band, i think they had to buy 10 or 12 sousaphones and so they got the cheapest they could find... white fiberglass! And they marched with those for about three years until they were able to get some metal sousaphones. And then someone in the band boosters complained that metal wasn't as pretty as white fiberglass and told the band director they should paint the metal sousaphones white! Fortunately that never happened.

[j1007hc]

Oh my. This is worse in subjectivity than describing sound quality!

For some unknown reason, I really don't like the way the valves look on an Alexander 173. Nothing to do with how they sound, I just don't think they look good.

PT6, York #? (the one the Nirschl copied), YamaYork, etc. would be my choices.

[Bob Kolada]

I wouldn't mind picking one of those up at the original price!

[Watchman]

I never saw one of these in person, or knew of anyone who owned one, so I can't confirm that they exist. However, the Kalison rotary tuba is pretty cool looking:

[toobagrowl]

I agree with a previous poster who mentioned the Kalison DS. Not my favorite tuba to play, but, it is a very pretty tuba; especially in silverplate

One of the board members used to own a Cazzani (Kalison or G&P took over Cazzani) that looked identical to this. I played a few notes on it. +.900" bore, but with a 3/4 size body. He had a couple offers from people to buy it just to tear the valves out of it!

I'm the one who bought that tuba several years ago. Guess you forgot I've used that tuba on only a few concerts over the years I've had it. It is actually a Rampone & Cazzani, but it's just easier to call it a Cazzani. It plays alright and does have a nice sound, but would play even better if the bore wasn't so huge and the rotor valve knuckles were straight instead of curved. Because of the curved rotor knuckles and huge valve bore, it makes slotting somewhat difficult. I've been thinking of selling it because it's just sitting around collecting dust.

[bort]

If you ever decide to take it out and dust if off, I'd LOVE to see a photo of it.

[tkdchamp2021]

Mike Roylance's tuba that he uses in the BSO.

[Wyvern]

In terms of sheer bling, it's got to be Jonathan Hodgetts' goldbrass Neptune.

With or without Bling I think the Neptune is the most beautiful tuba ever made. I fell for it on first sight!


You might wonder if Wessex will ever bring out a clone of my Neptune - unlikely. First I would not want to risk flying with so special a tuba. Then from a business point of view the market for rotary 6/4 CC seems a lot less than piston valve

[Untersatz]

You might wonder if Wessex will ever bring out a clone of my Neptune - unlikely. Then from a business point of view the market for rotary 6/4 CC seems a lot less than piston valve

But there is a better market for Sackbuts & Ophicleides???

[Mark E. Chachich]

for me:
1- Alexander 163
2- Meinl Weston 32
3- Miraphone 186

[EMC]

Kinda like the tarnished look on top of this one.

[bigtubby]

This one had it all goin on...and I sold it

Yeah, that's the one.

[Dan Schultz]

Gotta throw this one into the fray!

[EMC]

This one had it all goin on...and I sold it

I think I tried to buy this from you awhile back but I dont think I was fast enough,

[J.c. Sherman]

Gotta throw this one into the fray!

Where did this tuba stand come from?!?

[bort]

CMC has a BBb Scherzer/Sandner for sale on fleabay currently. Unfortunately it's nowhere near as cool as the copper one.

The Scherzer CC at Baltimore Brass is much cooler. Probably prices higher than anyone wants to pay though, its been there for years!