Packer F Tuba Review

[bisontuba]

http://www.tempestmusicalinstruments.co ... egory_id=3" target="_blank

http://youtu.be/8iPTQZrZl_E" target="_blank

[Michael Bush]

I'd like to see some real innovation; not just more improved/variants of existing designs, but new, original designs

This is fine, and I'm as curious as the next guy about different tubas. And at the same time, every time I read this thought about tubas, I remember that probably 90% of all trumpets are visually identical for all practical purposes...

[TubaZac2012]

I'm sure most people know that Packer is not Jinbao.

My cimbasso is Jinbao...
My cimbasso plays "great". The tuning is "easy", and the sound of it is "just what I hoped it would be"...
...but my cimbasso is NOT a "daily player" instrument.
Were my cimbasso a "daily player" instrument, I would definitely be looking for another set of linkage (perhaps rotors as well...??) for it.

Different people, though, have different levels of needs, and different levels of priorities.
As just one type of example, many people bring (definitely high-end) tubas (with high-end build quality) into my shop with (potentially) extraordinarily-good valves...but those valves are often filthy, and often function FAR WORSE than Jinbao valves...
...but NEARLY NONE of those people ask me to clean their valves or make their valves work better. Typically, they want dents removed, want new felts, or want some gadgety thing added to their instrument.

Packer costs more than Jinbao. The higher pricing matches the build quality.

It cost more, but the couple grand extra is seriously worth it, because it plays better than the horn they copied. I can't say and be positive that the Packer is the BEST F tuba made by the Chinese, but it's the best I've played.

[eupher61]

The new Eastman CC is Matt Walter's design. It's not an identical clone of the Conn 56J. There are, according to Matt, several key differences between what Conn cobbled together and what Eastman built.

And at the same time, every time I read this thought about tubas, I remember that probably 90% of all trumpets are visually identical for all practical purposes...

Until consideration for different keys and rotary valves is made, easily. The differences in new designs aren't in visual changes as much as bore and materials. And cryogenics.

[Michael Bush]

And cryogenics.

[PaulMaybery]

And cryogenics.

You can keep them in my Minnesota garage for the winter if you wish.