Which tuba would you play?

[Michael Bush]

I voted CC, but at any rate I'd play one of the contrabasses, until the section gets its pins under it, then switch to one of the more preferrable options (Eb or bass trombone).

[edsel585960]

I'd prefer a HUGE BBb but that was not an option.

[GC]

Will the 601 overpower the group? If you're the only tuba player, can the little Eb put a proper bottom on the band?

[DouglasJB]

If you have the room, take both. Trial and error

[bort]

Big CC. Show 'em who's the boss!

[pecktime]

If you want to play the small Eb- show up at the first rehearsal with the HUGE CC and wearing a groucho marx disguise (this is crucial). Make an enormous production of finding enough room to take the horn out of it's case. Explain constantly to everyone that the CC is 'too much tuba' for the band. Make sure the whole band has to reposition their chairs/ music stands because there's 'not enough room' for your CC as the band is currently positioned. When the rehearsal actually starts, play everything at FFF and significantly faster/ slower/ 3 bars out than the conductor. Explain that 'this is how real orchestras play'. Yawn constantly and check your ipad during tacets while taking pulls on a hipflask of absinthe.
Leave half an hour early as you 'have some excerpts to run through with my quintet'.
Come back the next week out of disguise and play the small Eb.

[cjk]

I personally would bring whatever tuba I wanted but I do not earn any income from playing the tuba.

However, for you:
Will this be an opportunity for you get more students?
Could playing in a community band be an unforeseen job audition?

You should impress people playing this community band. You may end up with more students as a result. Play whatever horn makes you sound most impressive.

[Lars Trawen]

Hi,
It depends on what type of band it is.
If a brass band there are normally two tuba parts, one for BBb and one for Eb tuba, both written in G clef.
If a symphonic band it doesn't matter. There is nomally only one tuba part.
All play the same part. The director doesn't care what tubas they play. He/she will be glad for all who come.
Personally as an amateur I have only one tuba, a big BBb kaiser. It's used for everything.
Good luck and enjoy the time,
Lars

[opus37]

Play the Eb. You are the most comfortable with it, it fits the size of the group and you are there to have fun. If the group grows you can always go bigger.

[windshieldbug]

Take the Eb and make it sound bigger if need be.
Two birds with one horn and all that.

Have fun, this isn't a gig.

[swillafew]

The flutes don't have this problem

[roweenie]

I think I'm going take both, and if I'm the only tuba, I'll play the CC, and if I'm not, Play the Eb. I think that's reasonable and not too selfish of me

[GC]

I'd carry the horn you most enjoy playing first and adjust as needed in later rehearsals. Let the director know you have options only if he says something about your horn choice, and then do what you feel is best.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

I would say, given the fact that it is a start-up group, the band is likely to be small in numbers at the first rehearsals, so a small Eb may well be sufficient. As the group grows in size, consider moving to the larger horns.

[Donn]

The right thing is to bring what you have. I don't know if you can rule out the possibility there will be other tuba players, and that might influence your choice. If so it will probably be a contrabass, but is it fun to play bass tuba with a less capable partner on contrabass? Maybe better to be on the 901 in that case - or bass trombone. Or you might like the way your smaller contrabass sounds in there. If you leave anything home, it will turn out to be the one you want.

[Donn]

Played the CC on everything except the Dixieland tune and the solo piece.

I get that! a CC tuba for Dixieland is like ... uh, poached catfish and polenta instead of grits. Or something. What tubas did you play?

[iiipopes]

From my experience playing in different sized community bands over the last thirty years, if they need a tuba, then the best foundation until a section can be recruited and developed is the moderate sized BBb - yes, we all know what is coming next - King 1241, Miraphone 186, etc., or similar.

Volume is not the issue. Tone and precision of intonation is. Everything else will develop from there.

[iiipopes]

That's why I waited until a very good player could be found with a 186. Yes, I could play my Prague next to him, but I like the sound of the BBb and the Eb as a section

Our posts may have overlapped. Yes, now that you have a good BBb player, the Eb does add color and texture.