Neptune vs. Fasolt (and GR 55)

[tyrell1111]

Having played a Fasolt recently, I can shed some light on that half. I really liked the openness of the sound. It really felt like my school's Miraphone 1291, that I play. Flexibility wise, it was quite exceptional. My only complaint is a slightly stuffy high range, but that could be easily worked out/around. I would still take my Miraphone over the Fasolt, but if one came along for the right price, I'd be all over it.

[tyrell1111]

Sure was!

[Ken Crawford]

I used to own a GR55. It really was fantastic! The sound it could produce was great. But the really amazing thing about it was how in tune with itself it was! Required absolutely no slide pulling or lipping, it was just perfect everywhere, until you got down into super pedal range, but that's to be expected. I haven't played the other horns on your list but the GR55 is a huge winner in its category of tuba!

[bort]

The Neptune BELL, though, (I believe) is responsible for it's very "covered" type of sound, and thus extraordinary energy is required to bring a lot of ...well... "energy" to the sound of these instruments.

AHA! That's a great way to sum up what I thought about the Neptune. It was all there, but that 20.5" bell really seemed a little excessive to me. At one point, I started to think, what if a Neptune had a smaller (19"?) bell... I bet that would be great... oh wait, that would just be a PT6.

If you want a kaiser sound, I would say don't go with the Neptune. It's great, but it's not a kaisertuba.

[Bob Kolada]

Isn't the Fasolt the -big- one?


Edit- compared to the Fafner.

[Matt Good]

The 196 Fasolt is a 195 Fafner with a 2165 size bell.

[tyrell1111]

Sure was!

How was the intonation?

For me, the intonation was really pretty good, a little pull here and there was all I needed

[jimgray]

It's hard for me to imagine needing a bigger bell on the Fafner... Such a well balanced instrument.

[oedipoes]

I have searched the archives and researched these instruments, but I have not found a comparison of them. Has anyone played all of these instruments and can make a reasonably detailed comparison on sound, size, playability, intonation, openness down low, high range, etc.?

Alternatively, if you have played only one or two of these instruments, please offer your experience/opinion/review. I will extrapolate what I can from your contributions.

I know the GR55 may be more of a little brother to these, but I'd still like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

Bill

If you are looking for that size of BBb tubas, you could consider the Rudy 4/4, 5/4 and the new Miraphone Hagen 5/4 and 6/4 models as well.
I have tried a (normal, not handmade) Fafner 195 next to my Rudy 4/4 and was not impressed, don't know about the Fasolt though.

[barry grrr-ero]

Bloke, you've nailed it about the Neptune. The "covered" sound is what I like about it because I feel I can play softly and just blend in. I'm still a newbie to the BAT game, but I also feel like I have a huge dynamic range with the Neptune - much bigger than what I've had on any other tuba. Maybe it's true for all BATs but I love being able to crescendo out of the fog and suddenly put a huge bottom on to things. It's a gas. And thanks to your insights, Blokemeister, I'm better able to deal with those tuning quirks (not to mention the Bloke Piece you put together for me). Your perceptions about the horn seem spot on to me.

I got interested in BAT tubas because of Matt Good. He's the one who told me that BATs, in his opinion, make it easier for people with smaller lung capacities like myself (due to scarring in the lungs from Sarcoid). I think he's right.