Um... he said he'd buy the horn again, not the car...bloke wrote:' certainly something to consider...tubeast wrote:If mine got ran over by said vehicle, I´d buy it (the horn) again anytime.
bloke "who never went out on a blind date with a girl described as 'sturdy'."
Tubeast -- when I was quoted a replacement cost (for insurance purposes) for my CC tuba, a Willson 3050RZ, it was a good bit more than what a Siegfried costs here in the US. I'm not sure what the 3100 BBb costs, but I'd doubt it's that much different.
If I were considering buying a brand new tuba I'd consider traveling to Europe to buy it (or at least ordering it from a European company). Even with shipping and duty/import fees, the savings could be quite significant and come out ahead. Or, take a trip to Europe to buy it in person, and spend the same amount as if you stayed home. Seriously, get me to the Alps any day.
My rotary Willson is (to me, and to others) a cut above the usual piston Willson horns (which I also like). The response, feedback, and liveliness are all more normal to what you'd expect out of another horn. If I were looking for a 5-valve BBb, I'd definitely consider a Willson. Yes, it would be heavy. But now that I am not living in NYC, and live a car-based life again, I've realized that carrying an extra couple of pounds around for a short distance is a minor inconvenience. Plus, once the tuba is in my lap, it's easy to hold and support.
When I got my WIllson, yes, I complained about the weight. But someone told me to either 1) get stronger or 2) buy a stand -- and I was too cheap to buy a stand.