"Fad" instruments

[anonymous4]

When I was in school back in the 90's the coolest horns were Getzen G50s and Kalison DS tubas. Now you can't find them anywhere.

Someone also had a Kurath F tuba and one of those Miraphones with the "presto" valves in my studio. Don't see many of those these days either.

I can remember in the early 2000's when the Conn 5XJ instruments were the bee's knees as well. Are these even made anymore?

What are some of today's "fad" instruments/trends that probably won't be around in fifteen years?

[bort]

Big Bottom Brass

But really, in 15 years, its hard to say, but here are a few things that should be better sorted out by then, if they haven't already:
Chinese instruments
MAW valves
PVAK
AGR (probably already a fad...)

And just to clarify, "fad" doesn't mean "bad." It's just something that is popular or new, but doesn't survive as being popular in the long run.

[Three Valves]

Ukulele??

[eupher61]

Those silly haircuts those screaming kids from Liverpool had.

[DouglasJB]

Looks like i own two of these "fad" instruments, both are great though.

[Kevin_Iaquinto]

186

Here's hoping... I don't know what it is that I don't like, but I just despise the 18X series of Miraphones (Excluding the F models). I think it's just how overused they are in the school system. I play on one at my high school when I don't want to lug my CC to and from school. They aren't bad horns, but something about them just ticks me off.

[Dan Schultz]

In the 60's and for about twenty years... the big Conns with recording bells were plentiful. I don't even remember seeing an upright bell for one of those horns around here in the school systems.

In fact... recording bells are pretty much a thing of the past.

However... I can certainly see them becoming popular again since the current 'fad' is for just about everyone owning multiple tubas. A student owning their own horn in the 60's was a rare thing indeed.

[anonymous4]

Can something that 1% of 1% of 1% of 1% of 1% of 1% of 1% of 1% of the people know about be considered a "fad" ?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fad

I made sure to use air quotes around fad in the title, but I guess if you want, we can add "among tuba players" and then we'll be good here.

[PaulMaybery]

Fiberglass 'tubas' (Martin, Reynolds)
DEG (commuter) tuba with plastic bell.
Graphite Tuba bell (carbon fiber?)
Kelly Colored plastic mps
P Bones, P Tubas and all the others
Colored lacquer and other strange custom finishes
The BAT - to some it is a fad - to others a serious tool.
Tuba harnesses - (same as above)

[bort]

Whoa.... I already forgot about the P-tuba.

[Jess Haney]

here in Colorado its:

Chinese horns,
York copies,
Miraphone 1291, 191, 186
Cerveny 681, 686,