Kalison Daryl Smith vs. Getzen G50 (or Eastman 632 CC)

[sdnk4]

Maybe an odd combo....but has anybody had experience on a Kalison DS model against a G50 or the new Eastman 632? I have no experience on any of the three, but would love to find out some inputs and reviews on them.

Also, this would be for a college kid about to switch to CC for the first time.


Thanks!

[imperialbari]

Kalinin was a Soviet politician, so you may get more tuba relevant replies, if you edit your headline.

[Adam C.]

I owned a Kalison Daryl Smith from 1993-1997, it was my first tuba. It played well and was a decent instrument. A little bright, and easy to overblow. I sold it in college and didn't miss it.

I spent about 30 minutes an Eastman CC recently at Dillon's. It was a fantastic instrument, very even in sound and response. I don't know of a better CC tuba for less than 10K, much less the 6K you'll pay for one.

[Tubadork]

I'd steer away from the Kalison.

G50's are good (sometimes weird intonation)

632's are really great (but I'm biased, I have one and other reasons).

B

[Kayla]

The Getzen i do not have any experience with unfortunately.

I owned a Kalison once upon a time, went through a couple horns, and now I own the Eastman. Everything that has been said already is similar to my experiences with the Kalison. If you get a good one, it'll serve you well.

I prefer the Eastman over it because I think the consistency of sound throughout the registers is better, and intonation is more accurate. These are also being made currently as opposed to the Kalison, which is now G&P. Parts might be hard to come by.

The price is hard to beat for the quality of the Eastman.

[MartyNeilan]

A good Kalison is hard to beat. A bad Kalison should be beat.

[bort]

True or false -- the Eastman is more comparable with the Conn 56J than the Getzen.

[TheHatTuba]

A good Kalison is hard to beat. A bad Kalison should be beat.

I used to own a KAB77. It's similar to the Daryl Smith with a Rotax 5th instead of the standard rotary. Good horn (supposedly a good example of a Kalison, only one I had ever played), but I'd take the Eastman any day of the week.

[toobagrowl]

I've played and listened to the Kalison DS and Getzen G-50 tubas, but not the new Eastman CC. I've played the Conn 56J, and thought it just OK. The new Eastman 632 CC seems like the "Conn 56J 'done right'".

The Kalisons always seemed (to me) to have a strangely muffled/covered quality to the sound. Some brighter in tone than others. I remember one kid at music camp years ago had one. He had a dark, but muffled sound and I remember his 2nd valve Eb-in-the-staff was quite flat. Kalisons are pretty tubas, though, and seem to be well-made.

The Getzen G-50 (in my limited experience) had a dark, but clear, refined sound, and played well in-tune. They were also very well-made (German/Meinl parts, USA/Getzen-assembled).

I'd personally pick the G-50 out of the above tubas

[DouglasJB]

I parted with my G50 (now for sale at Dillon's) and i now play on an Eastman CC, everyone is different but i am happy with the choice i made.

[Rivercity Tuba]

If I were looking for one tuba that would do it all for a college kid switching to CC I'd check the horn I linked to. I have played it and you aren't going to find a handmade CC tuba that plays and is set up so well by the seller at such a low price. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to one of my students. Feel free to PM if you'd like to chat further.


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[J.c. Sherman]

I miss my Kalison DS CC often. Loved both of the ones I owned.

That said, if I could only own one horn, it'd be the Eastman. I loved my 52J, but HOLY HE|| the Eastman fixed some important issues with it.

If you're in an orchestra/band and not a chamber player with it, try the Kalison.

J.c.S.