Best key for all a round use

[ThomasDodd]

So if you could only have one horn, what key would it be.
Say you have no place to store them like me, or you connot carry multiple horn with you.

I'm thinking Bb, but what do you think, and why?
Would you primay ensemble(s) affect you choice?

[TubaRay]

I am going to respond to the survey with saying BBb, because I feel it probably is the best all-around for the most players. For myself, I would say CC. This is because I have been playing a CC tuba as my primary instrument for a very long time.

[Rick Denney]

So if you could only have one horn, what key would it be.
Say you have no place to store them like me, or you connot carry multiple horn with you.

I'm thinking Bb, but what do you think, and why?
Would you primay ensemble(s) affect you choice?

I wouldn't say that my primary ensemble would affect it, because I keep tubas longer than "gigs". But I routinely play in a wind ensemble and a brass quintet, and have in my life played extensively in a tuba quartet. I contributed best in the latter using an F with a good low range, and I also play an (bigger) F in quintet. But an F would be utterly unsuited to a wind ensemble.

If I had to sell all but one of my current horns, I'd likely keep the Miraphon 186 BBb. It stands a better chance of doing it all. But I would deeply miss the F's on that high and light chamber stuff. If I used an F, though, I'd deeply miss the Bb in wind ensemble.

Perhaps that would be the thing that would force me to get a good, medium-small C, or a big Eb. But I don't consider those choices. For the cost of a decent C or an Eb with five valves, I could buy an excellent used Bb and F tuba. In Eb, there are only a couple of choices, and they are expensive. C's are expensive by nature. For the $6000 that would be a great deal on a used Willson Eb, for example, I could get a first class used Bb and a decent used F. In fact, I paid less than that for my Miraphone and B&S combination.

Rick "glad he doesn't have to choose" Denney

[ThomasDodd]

Interesting. Early results show a lot for Eb (5 of 12). But no mention as to the reasons.
I'd like to hear why.

Also I expect the "prefered horn" to be different than this one. I'd prefer a BAT in C, but definately not my choice in this situation (hence a 3/4 Bb horn).

Should size matter in this case? Say a 4/4 Bb versus a 5/4 C?

[TonyZ]

I enjoy the versatility of my Eb. Works well for me in all situations. With the quality of instruments now being produced in ALL keys, I feel that it is quite easy to find an instrument that will serve many functions.

[Rick Denney]

Interesting. Early results show a lot for Eb (5 of 12). But no mention as to the reasons.
I'd like to hear why.

Also I expect the "prefered horn" to be different than this one. I'd prefer a BAT in C, but definately not my choice in this situation (hence a 3/4 Bb horn).

Should size matter in this case? Say a 4/4 Bb versus a 5/4 C?

The question you posed came with a crucial constraint, and that is we can have only one tuba. The rationale behind picking an Eb is that it has some of the weight in the sound of a contrabass, but the ease and security of range like an F.

If I only played in a band, I'd choose a Bb and probably not even consider other options. If I only played in a chamber group, I'd choose an F with a good low range and enjoy it's greater agility and security.

So, the choice for me would be between a small contrabass and a big bass, if I could only have one. C and Eb are closest to that middle.

As much as I like my Holton, and as much as the sound makes me like it all over again every time I play it, I don't think I could use it for much quintet work. And as much as I like my Yamaha F (or even the B&S), and even though it's the only tuba I own that has paid for itself, I'd be blowing my lips off to little effect in a full band. But both of those can only really exist in each other's company. Having an F covers for the parts that I can't do well on the Holton and vice versa.

That's why I keep the Miraphone.

Rick "who used to play everything on BBb" Denney

[Dan Schultz]

I use different horns to suit the type of music and setting. However, if I had to choose only one horn, it would be my King 4V monster Eb bell-front with front action. Why? because it's the most versatile. It works for everything except stuffy quintet or orchestral gigs... but I can do without them! I won't give up concerts bands and Dixieland ensembles.

[scottw]

I think that the poll just above this one: "Which tuba do you prefer?", (or something like that, posted by T Dodd) is very much tied up together with this one. "All-around use" implies either of two things--you will play all types of music, from orchestral to concert band, to brass ensemble, to dixieland, or that you will play what you are now playing, eg., concert band, where an F tuba would be more a liability than an asset. Rick Denney put it best when he said he was glad he didn't have to choose! I play in certain type groups now and, quite likely, into the future; I am not planning a symphonic gig, or a solo career, so the Mirafone 186 I am now playing will suit me quite nicely. JMHO

[ThomasDodd]

I think that the poll just above this one: "Which tuba do you prefer?", (or something like that, posted by T Dodd) is very much tied up together with this one.

You got them backwards, but yes, Matthew's (youngtubbaboy) questions led to mine.
As I said earlier, the horn I prefer is different for what I think is all around usable. I prefer a BAT, but I know it's not good for many(most?) situations.

"All-around use" implies either of two things--you will play all types of music, from orchestral to concert band, to brass ensemble, to dixieland, or that you will play what you are now playing, eg., concert band, where an F tuba would be more a liability than an asset.

A mixture of styles. Especiall small town concert bands and orchestras, but the ocasional ensembles, brass, wind, maybe Jazz.
[quote[JMHO[/quote]
I'm looking for not so humble opinions:)
Thomas

[Chuck(G)]

Okay, I decided that I'd solve this issue once and for all...

First take the frequencies of the open 2nd partial on all of the instruments:

BBb: 58.3 Hz
CC: 65.4
Eb: 77.8
F: 87.3

Now, add them all up and divide by 4:

58.3+65.4+77.8+87.3 = 288.8
288.8/4 = 72.3 Hz

Which corresponds pretty closely to a D natural just below the staff.

So, if you want a tuba that'll do everything, find one in D.

(Me, I like a good-sized Eb as an all-around horn).

[imperialbari]

Beautiful design, Joe!

I assume you use it when playing the sonatas by Schlüter and Locksmith.

Klaus

[tubatooter1940]

Hi gang,
I bought an E flat King -bell forward,three valves on top for cheap on
E-bay.
I use it for pop rock and country with a vocalist/guitarist and a har-
monica player.Our lead singer is a low tenor or a high baritone.He real-
ly likes the range of the E-flat in that the bass line is an octave or two
below him and tuba lead lines can be nice and high-maybe an octave or
more above him.
Love that King!
Tubatooter1940

[tubacdk]

If I had to take one tuba to a gig and I didn't know what the gig was, I'd take my RM-43 CC tuba, which I really think is the ideal all-around tuba. It's certainly not a BAT and it's not a bass tuba, but it fakes those things really well. I use it in quintet all the time and love it, and I've also used it on Mahler symphonies without complaint. I haven't found a situation yet where I didn't think the RM-43 could handle it.

So my vote is for a smallish contrabass that has guts.

-ck

[imperialbari]

.... I've found with hard, chop-busting work, (at least in the past), that I can conquer high range as much on CC as I can on my E-flat. I cannot, however, play in the lowest register on my E-flat with the same clarity and intonation.

I agree with your approach!

However for me the situation is the other way round, as I play Eb and BBb tubas. I would have to work more than possible for me to make the hugaphones sound elegantly in the upper range, even if getting the notes would not be the biggest problem.

It would rather be possible to make the best of my Eb's, the 981, work in the contrabass range. Reading BBb parts would not be the worst problem after having played Bb cornet parts on Eb cornet.

Large BBb's are the archetype tubas and they are fun to play. But having access to them implies, that one does not take the low range of ones bass tubas too much to the workbench, so there is a bit of potential to exploit.

However one of the benefits of these years is that many of us can afford more than one tuba. That was rare among amateurs 40 years ago.

Let's enjoy the diversity!

Klaus

[Rob Wilson]

After retiring from 25 years of teaching music I came back to playing tuba for enjoyment last year. I purchased a Willson 3400 because of the versitility of a large quality EEb. With a MF4 I can play like a solo F horn. With a MF3B it sounds like a good CC. I do most of my practice with a MF2, it is most like the Bach 18 that I played all through High School. Most of my work is with Brass Choir, Dixiland Band and Community Bands. Being that we play mostly in flat keys the fingering is added (easier) by the instruments key. When I do use my Willson for orchestra it is with a local Community Orchestra and the music selections are not so advanced that I can not work-over the short hard sections till they are perfect. Overall I am very pleased with my choice of a EEb Willson 3400.

God Bless,
Rob W <><