20k+ tubas

[Jay Bertolet]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. I remember this same discussion when the Yorkbrunner (HB50) 6/4 CC first came out. At the time, it was initially priced at a scandalous $10,000.00! This at a time when you could buy a brand new Rudy or Alexander or even 4/4 Hirsbrunner for around $5,000.00. For the same reason you should not discount trying any horn you come across in your search for the right match for you, it seems prudent to also be willing to consider higher priced horns because you simply never know what equipment will help you the most. In the grand scheme of things, these dollar amounts are not insurmountable and what price do you put on the satisfaction of sounding like you want?

[Three Valves]

$20k tubas in the same world as children with no shoes??

No wonder the terrorists hate us!!

[chronolith]

I've always liked this post from Craig Knox on the gear issue.

But in my opinion you play the gear that makes you sound the most like the tuba in your head. You start there. If you are a amateur like myself you add to that the gear that you enjoy playing the most, and if you are a pro you add to that the gear that gives you the best edge in auditions/performance/recording. Once selected, simply remove the options you cannot afford, which is the end of the process.

[bort]

That's a really great post by Craig Knox, I hadn't seen that before... thanks!

I'm not a professional and I'll never be in that neck and neck 5% matters situation... but that doesn't mean that I won't notice it. If you are running at 95%, and can do something to get you an extra 1%... you've accounted for 20% of what was missing, and that's pretty significant. These numbers are all kind of hokey anyway, since you can't actually quantify this stuff, but the concept is there.

It's like eating french fries without enough salt on them. They're fine, and maybe even really good. But they're BETTER with just a little more salt. And $20,000 french fries taste amazing! (What are we even talking about anymore!)

[MartyNeilan]

That's a really great post by Craig Knox, I hadn't seen that before... thanks!

I'm not a professional and I'll never be in that neck and neck 5% matters situation... but that doesn't mean that I won't notice it. If you are running at 95%, and can do something to get you an extra 1%... you've accounted for 20% of what was missing, and that's pretty significant. These numbers are all kind of hokey anyway, since you can't actually quantify this stuff, but the concept is there.

It's like eating french fries without enough salt on them. They're fine, and maybe even really good. But they're BETTER with just a little more salt. And $20,000 french fries taste amazing! (What are we even talking about anymore!)

Too much salt will kill you, Bort.

[Three Valves]

(What are we even talking about anymore!)

The law of diminished returns??

[windshieldbug]

The TNFJ is alive and well!

And that still looks good to us freaks!

[vespa50sp]

So,what's up with that? Are some of you really making that much playing the tuba? Are they really that much better? Do your audiences/conductors really care? Am I just jealous?discuss...

It's cheaper than many new cars...

[vespa50sp]

So,what's up with that? Are some of you really making that much playing the tuba? Are they really that much better? Do your audiences/conductors really care? Am I just jealous?discuss...

It's cheaper than many new cars...

[happyroman]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. I remember this same discussion when the Yorkbrunner (HB50) 6/4 CC first came out. At the time, it was initially priced at a scandalous $10,000.00! This at a time when you could buy a brand new Rudy or Alexander or even 4/4 Hirsbrunner for around $5,000.00. For the same reason you should not discount trying any horn you come across in your search for the right match for you, it seems prudent to also be willing to consider higher priced horns because you simply never know what equipment will help you the most. In the grand scheme of things, these dollar amounts are not insurmountable and what price do you put on the satisfaction of sounding like you want?

At the time the YorkBrunner came out, Warren Deck did a weekend of masterclasses at Indiana University. During one of our attitude adjustment sessions, we asked him his opinion of the "new" tuba. He said the best line he had heard about the YorkBrunner was from Toby Hanks, who said "For $10,000, it ought to blow you."

[bort]

HA!

[bisontuba]

We need this pic modified for tubas...

[Rick Denney]

Observations from working at a music store for 22 years now.
1) Bad tuba players sound like crap no matter how expensive of a tuba they try.
2) Great tuba players have an easier time sounding great by playing on better horns that have less quirks and are a better fit to them and the job they are doing.
3) Mediocre tuba players have a easier time sounding better by playing on better horns that have less quirks and are a better fit to them and the ensemble(s) they play in.
4) People will afford what they truly value. i.e. people who think spending their money on a superior tuba is a waste will instead spend extra money on nicer cars, gun collection, fishing gear, house, jewelry, or money in the bank, etc.

If you and your friends can't tell the difference between a cheaper instrument and a more expensive instrument when you play it, buy the cheaper horn and put the rest back in the bank or god forbid make a charitable donation. Don't dismiss the fact that someone else can feel and hear what you can't.

I just wanted to quote this message for everyone to read again.

I'm somewhere between bad and mediocre in Matt's ranking, but I can tell the difference between a good tuba and a great tuba. I own a tuba that, if bought new, which I didn't, would be in that price class. And another that if still made (to a current standard of quality) would be close. They have taught me that differences are sometimes real.

Neither make me a good tuba player, and I surely cannot exploit their full potential. But I think I'm better when I play them. If I can notice the difference, they must glow in the dark to someone who can exploit the potential of those instruments.

Rick "not prone to self-delusion" Denney