Suggestions for 3/4 BBb tuba

[Joemac]

I'm looking for suggestions for a 3/4 tuba that I could walk and carry. Maybe with a strap on both shoulders for help. Or full size but light weight. I'm just starting out and a sousaphone would be appropriate but I just put one on and I know there is no way you shoulders are going to be able to deal with standing to practice every day. Are there any reasonably priced options out there for me. I was about to spend $1000 on a souse. Am I gonna have to stick with trombone? Is it the Tiger tuba for me? Is there any hope? Just sold a guitar to fund this. I don't mind the weight for a gig but I need the option to sit.

[Joemac]

I do not care. And I could spent a little more.

[Joemac]

Boston. Nothing there now. I was looking at the wessix

[Three Valves]

Do you care if it has 4 valves?

Heh, heh.

[ghmerrill]

I do not care. And I could spent a little more.

When I was looking around and hadn't yet decided to go in the EEb direction, the small BBb that attracted me most was this one: http://www.mackbrass.com/MACK-TU520L__BBb_Tuba.php.

[Three Valves]

Obviously these student models have their limits, but they aren't horrible!!

https://www.dillonmusic.com/p-10002-dil ... -tuba.aspx" target="_blank

http://www.wessex-tubas.com/product/tb330/" target="_blank

[TheGoyWonder]

I don't think there's a better 3/4 tuba than these (all the same):
Olds O-99/O-99-1
Reynolds Contempora (fixed bell)
Bach 869/879

Almost as good:
Conn 12J/15J/5J

Still pretty good. Best for carrying:
Yamaha YBB-103

All easy to find. Usually mislabeled on ebay or in a Craigslist titled simply "tuba". They all shrug off moderate body damage and continue to play fine. Also these are rarely played to death, usually cast aside early in life after body damage so tend to have great valve compression.

[ghmerrill]

Mack Brass doesn't carry that one anymore, but it is available from Jimlabbs

Really? It's still on the web site. Is this a very recent change, then?

[The Big Ben]

I don't think there's a better 3/4 tuba than these (all the same):
Olds O-99/O-99-1
Reynolds Contempora (fixed bell)
Bach 869/879
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The Olds horns are very good. As noted by the OP, the only difficulty is that many of them have made a trip through a junior high band room and are worse for the wear. The 0-99 is a 3v, the 0-99-1 is 4v. You might have to look at more than one of them to find one you want. Getting dents pushed out is more expensive than many like to admit and it might be cheaper to let a particular instrument go and keep looking for a better one.

One of the new Wessex horns might be a better value.

[Joemac]

The Wessex trombones are on sale. Trying to find out if perhaps the tubas are.

[Joemac]

It's easy to sit and play a sousaphone - whether on a stand, or on the player's shoulder.

Could I find a way to rest my shoulder while practicing? Buying a sousaphone would be easier.

[Donn]

It's easy to sit and play a sousaphone - whether on a stand, or on the player's shoulder.

Could I find a way to rest my shoulder while practicing? Buying a sousaphone would be easier.

I took this general line of question up to its own thread, because for myself it would be good to get the opinions of people who might not be interested in inexpensive 3/4 BBb tubas.

[edsel585960]

I don't think there's a better 3/4 tuba than these (all the same):
Olds O-99/O-99-1
Reynolds Contempora (fixed bell)
Bach 869/879

Almost as good:
Conn 12J/15J/5J

Still pretty good. Best for carrying:
Yamaha YBB-103

All easy to find. Usually mislabeled on ebay or in a Craigslist titled simply "tuba". They all shrug off moderate body damage and continue to play fine. Also these are rarely played to death, usually cast aside early in life after body damage so tend to have great valve compression.

I agree the Olds 99's have great sound for their size. Usually can find for reasonable price anywhere from great shape to survivor of Normandy landing. I have a 991 that is a combat tuba and still plays well even with the dents and dings and one that is in pristine condition as well. I like the sound of the beat up one better. 10J Conn is another good player and does not weigh much.

[edsel585960]

It's easy to sit and play a sousaphone - whether on a stand, or on the player's shoulder.

Could I find a way to rest my shoulder while practicing? Buying a sousaphone would be easier.

The other tuba player in my German band used to have an ancient White jumbo sousa. It was too heavy to shoulder. He had a welder friend make a simple stand to put behind a regular chair that the horn could rest in. I wish I had a picture of it. Was just a 1 foot square metal base with about 3 foot metal bar going up to a cradle made from 2 pieces of metal welded together in a V shape. Worked really well.

[The Big Ben]

It's easy to sit and play a sousaphone - whether on a stand, or on the player's shoulder.

Could I find a way to rest my shoulder while practicing? Buying a sousaphone would be easier.

The other tuba player in my German band used to have an ancient White jumbo sousa. It was too heavy to shoulder. He had a welder friend make a simple stand to put behind a regular chair that the horn could rest in. I wish I had a picture of it. Was just a 1 foot square metal base with about 3 foot metal bar going up to a cradle made from 2 pieces of metal welded together in a V shape. Worked really well.

My junior high had a sousaphone stand where the instrument was mounted on the stand, the neck and bits were rotated to the side and the player sat in a chair next to the stand. The band didn't march so I don't know why they had a sousaphone but it seemed to work pretty well.

[Sam Gnagey]

I've been looking at this horn. It seems to sell for anywhere from $1600 to over $3000 depending on who you buy it from, but i can't swear I know what the differences are

Warning, this seller does not offer returns, only exchanges, but they have so much stock it might not be hard for you to find what you need there

http://www.jimlaabsmusic.com/band-orche ... _5422.html" target="_blank" target="_blank

I have a young student with an identical horn from Wessex. It's a very sweet instrument. It puts out lots of sound with little effort. Reminds me of the Cerveny "Piggy" model CC. If the Schiller/Laabs is as good quality as the Wessex the Schiller is a very good deal. FWIW

[Joemac]

It's easy to sit and play a sousaphone - whether on a stand, or on the player's shoulder.

Could I find a way to rest my shoulder while practicing? Buying a sousaphone would be easier.

The other tuba player in my German band used to have an ancient White jumbo sousa. It was too heavy to shoulder. He had a welder friend make a simple stand to put behind a regular chair that the horn could rest in. I wish I had a picture of it. Was just a 1 foot square metal base with about 3 foot metal bar going up to a cradle made from 2 pieces of metal welded together in a V shape. Worked really well.

This makes me think of taking a mic stand and attaching some kind of hook or v shaped thing and have it behind me to support the horn.

[Donn]

A mic stand falls over too easy.

It's kind of a mystery why the problem holding up a sousaphone as it's naturally intended. I mean, it isn't any of my business what's behind your physical limitations, but I'm thinking you may be overestimating the problem. Or tuba may not be for you. Something to think about - what kind of performance shape are you going to be in, if it involves doing something that's unbearably uncomfortable for practice? A lot of us here are facing issues like this, but started down this road a long time ago when we were younger and less fragile, and it kind of makes less sense if you're ready to have trouble right from the beginning, especially when you already have an axe anyway.

My sousaphone is well over 30 lbs, but it has an integral shoulder plate and rests pretty easy on the shoulder - if it didn't have that plate, I imagine I'd want to rig something up. The fiberglass-or-whatever sousaphones that have been recommended here weigh a lot less.

[Joemac]

A mic stand falls over too easy.

It's kind of a mystery why the problem holding up a sousaphone as it's naturally intended. I mean, it isn't any of my business what's behind your physical limitations, but I'm thinking you may be overestimating the problem. Or tuba may not be for you. Something to think about - what kind of performance shape are you going to be in, if it involves doing something that's unbearably uncomfortable for practice? A lot of us here are facing issues like this, but started down this road a long time ago when we were younger and less fragile, and it kind of makes less sense if you're ready to have trouble right from the beginning, especially when you already have an axe anyway.

My sousaphone is well over 30 lbs, but it has an integral shoulder plate and rests pretty easy on the shoulder - if it didn't have that plate, I imagine I'd want to rig something up. The fiberglass-or-whatever sousaphones that have been recommended here weigh a lot less.

I've got tired sore shoulders and back at times. Don't know why. Maybe it's from playing bass for the last 20 years. Maybe it's wear and tear from playing hockey for 25 years or so. Who knows. In great shape otherwise I'd say. When it comes to bass I've been able to make adjustments. Sit at some gigs, lightweight basses, homemade straps.i get sore sometimes then it goes away. Not playing is NOT an option. I'm just looking for some info before I spend a bunch of money on a horn and I appreciate anyone willing to share their knowledge.

[Joemac]

I am. That would be great. Was is the Wessex you ordered?