Schiller Tuba ???

[jonathanb11]

I have been browsing the web looking at tuba's and I ran across Schiller tuba's. They caught my eye with the price. I was just wandering if anyone has owned or played one and what do u think about it. (Im interested in the Schiller CC tuba's)

[eupho]

Search a thread on Schiller tubas here. There is lots of discussion. They are of course made by Jinbao in China and several other sellers(Mack Brass, Wessex, M&M, O'Malley) carry them under their own labels. Schiller is the label of Jim Laab's Music. The Model 410 4/4 CC is a fav of a loy of people.

[Michael Bush]

And just to add two small facts without going into everything that might be said, Laabs does not check instruments before shipping, and will only give store credit on a return. You're better off looking at the versions of the same instruments sold by http://www.mackbrass.com and http://www.wessex-tubas.com.

[Dan Schultz]

Be very careful who you buy a Chinese horn from. There are good dealers and bad ones. Don't shop price.

[tubasaz]

Could it be this simple:
1. You either buy a new Chinese CC tuba from Wessex or Mack Brass
OR
2. You buy a good used tuba of well known mark from responsible music shop ?

Option 1 works but its valve mechanism may feel "springy" and also valves may need good oiling during first year or so (based on my personal experience).
Option 2 is a sure one if you have chance to play test it.

Some 2000 or more USD is so lot of money that you must be sure that you have an option to send it back if you are not satisfied.

[Art Hovey]

Some of the Schillers are listed on Ebay as "compensating" while the photos show clearly that they are not. That makes me wonder about the reliability of Mr. Laabs' descriptions.

If I were in the market for a new tuba and found a Schiller that I really liked (after playing it) then I would not hesitate to buy it. But I would not order one without trying it first.

[tubasaz]

Some of the Schillers are listed on Ebay as "compensating" while the photos show clearly that they are not. That makes me wonder about the reliability of Mr. Laabs' descriptions.

True. Feels like somebody has told to Mr. Laabs that his Eb Tuba is compensating and then he is listing other piston valve tubas as "compensating" as well. Misleading to someone who is searching his/hers first tuba (just adding 5th valve does not make a real compensation).