Trip to Baltimore Brass

[Mark E. Chachich]

Frank (Heavy_Metal) and I went to Baltimore Brass (a TubeNet sponsor) Saturday and checked out some tubas. We played tubas together using a piece that we are playing in our community band for the test drive. I play CC tubas, so I will stick to commenting on CC tubas. Perhaps Frank will post on the BB flat tubas that he liked since he plays a BB flat.

These are my opinions:

The CC tuba that I tried and liked best was the Rudy Meinl. It had a nice sound that could cut through an ensemble if necessary or could blend nicely. The intonation was excellent. If you like a Rudy's sound you will probably like this one.

I was surprised with the very good response of the HB 2. I remember the Hirsbrunner as not nearly as lively of a sound as this one. This HB 2 would have been my second choice for a CC, it was very good and played in tune.

My runners up would have been the Scherzer 4/4 5V rotary and the Miraphone 188. I did not get to play all of the tubas, of the tubas I tried these are the ones that stood out to me.

I have to comment on the Alexander F. I am not an F player (I am an Alexander CC player) and I liked the sound, response and intonation of this tuba. It sounded and played like an Alexander.

best,
Mark Chachich
Principal Tuba, Bel Air Community Band

[bort]

Thanks for the reviews! Do you know if the Hirsbrunner has metal valves?

[Heavy_Metal]

As Mark noted I played some BBb tubas: a Miraphone 190 (which is not listed on their website yet), a well-used 186, the Meinl-Weston 2011FA "HoJo", the Dillon 12915 and the Willson 3P compensating tuba. I used a Conn Helleberg 120S mouthpiece on all of these. Mark and I played some passages from Samuel Hazo's "Olympiada" which IOHO is an excellent band piece- check it out on YouTuba, and imagine the effect our all-German, three-Alexander, always-in-tune tuba section would have on it.

First up was the 190. I liked the way it responded- very nimble especially for such a large horn. However, it has some very worn rotor stop bumpers that made it play the open notes sharp unless I held the levers down a bit. That should be an easy fix. Otherwise, it felt like I was manning a contrabass cannon in that little practice room.

I liked this 186 better than the ones I've tried before. There is something about a tuba that has obviously been played a lot, that doesn't come through when playing a brand-new one- it probably has a few stories it would tell if it could. We got a good, uniform sound with Mark on the 188 and me on that 186, but not like we sound on the Alexanders. I would have loved to try the 190 with Mark on the 188, but with the 190 so out of tune it would not have worked well.

The HoJo was interesting. Very nimble response and great intonation, but not much raw power though one expects that on a smaller horn. More valve stroke length than I like, much more than the Mahillon that inspired it. Of course I have rather short fingers so the shorter the stroke the better it works for me. This would be an amazing horn if it could be fitted with rotary or short-action piston valves.

The Willson was the first 3-piston compensator I've tried. I'm not used to compensators- the usual British 3+1 design puts the 4th valve where I can't reach it. That said, it felt like I was really working against it. I'd have to spend more time with this tuba to really "get" it.

ISTR the Dillon house brand tubas are JZ products. The 12915 has a nice, roundish sound and good intonation. Its shorter bell stack will diffuse the sound rather then projecting it like, for example, the 190 or one of our Alexanders. This would be a good choice for small-ensemble work.

Thanks to the Baltimore Brass staff for putting up with us playing the same stuff over and over

[Three Valves]

Great place, nice neighborhood.

Other music stores nearby.

[bort]

Bort fun fact -- I grew up less than 3 miles from BBC. As a kid, my mom would drag me to the sewing store just few doors down.

[Mark E. Chachich]

Thanks for the reviews! Do you know if the Hirsbrunner has metal valves?

I do not know, sorry.

This was one of the few Hirshbrunner tubas that I liked. That is not a bad comment on Hirshbrunner tubas in general, they are fine tubas of excellent quality. Some people like them and sound great on them.

Mark

[scottw]

Bort fun fact -- I grew up less than 3 miles from BBC. As a kid, my mom would drag me to the sewing store just few doors down.

The last time I visited BB to have some work done, guess where my quilter wife spent the time?

[Three Valves]

Went this weekend.

There was a Music and Arts event in Ellicott City so we went to BB afterwards.

I just happened to play a Jupiter 482 BBb there and I noticed BB had a second hand Jupiter in stock.

That one turned out to be a full sized but I played it anyway.

I love a full sized tuba, I just wouldn't want to carry one around!!

Also went to Bills Music nearby.

If you go to BB and want to reward/impress the Mrs. go to Catonsville Gourmet for luch or dinner.

https://www.catonsvillegourmet.com/lite-fare/" target="_blank

She will be very appreciative!!

[Michael Bush]

On that 188, what is the fifth valve length? 2-3 or long whole step? I probably should be able to tell by looking, but...

[bort]

On that 188, what is the fifth valve length? 2-3 or long whole step? I probably should be able to tell by looking, but...

2-3. You can tell because there's so much 5th valve tubing (it runs down along the side).

The long whole step fifth slide looks just slightly longer than the 1st valve slide.

[Heavy_Metal]

If you go to BB and want to reward/impress the Mrs. go to Catonsville Gourmet for luch or dinner.

https://www.catonsvillegourmet.com/lite-fare/" target="_blank" target="_blank

She will be very appreciative!!

Also try the Black Kettle (which one of my customers owns) at the corner of Frederick & Mellor:

http://www.blackkettledining.com/" target="_blank

[Rev Rob]

I made a pilgrimage to Baltimore Brass Co. in mid April with a musician buddy who is a bassoonist. Don't hold that against him, he did get his start in the Colts marching band playing tuba. I was checking out BBb tubas. I played a new large piston BBb tuba and it was OK, I don't remember the brand. But then I played a King 4 valve rotary and was really impressed with the sound, intonation was amazing - dialed in on all notes of a Bb scale.

I checked out smaller scale tubas, one Belgian, which weighed a ton, but it played about a whole step sharp. I could not adjust it to play in tune. I then plan an M & W HoJo. It was a real delight but touchy, it would need a real disciplined approach on my part to play, but it was nice.

I decided to purchase the rotary 4 valve King. Lee Stoffer will receive it and work on it and then it will become my main axe. I am looking forward to it.

[Heavy_Metal]

That was quite a schlep! I've been in your area, beautiful country whose nickname "Big Sky" is entirely appropriate. What kind of musical groups do you have there?

[bort]

Rob -- it's been a while since we've seen you here, good to have you back!

That King is a very rare horn, congrats! Please post some "after" pictures of it after Lee is done with it!

[Rev Rob]

Heavy Metal - I was playing in a local polka - Buffalo Bill music band for the past few years. The repertoire never varied and I grew restless. Then I started attending Midsummer Musical Review - adult summer music camp and starting playing quite a variety of music and really enjoyed it greatly. Now I have been playing in the Billings Community Band under the direction of Mark Fenderson, trumpet player and music director at the local college Montana State University at Billings. Through my music instructor who happens to be a french horn player, we formed a brass quintet. My playing a variety of music has ramped up recently.

Bort - it is indeed good to hear from you. For awhile, I got a bit burned out on tuba and tubenet. But after getting involved in other music organizations, my interest has returned and was piqued when I visited Baltimore Brass Co. I saw the King rotary and played it, and it was come to pappa regarding this tuba. I returned home and low and behold I had enough money saved up to pay for it out right, which I did. I was going to have Lee overhaul my King 1241 and then called him with a change of plans. Looking forward to the day when I bring it home and really start to work playing it.

[Mark E. Chachich]

The King that you bought from BBC is a very fine tuba!
Heavy-Metal (Frank) has also played that King tuba and liked it.

best,
Mark

[Rev Rob]

I just knew this tuba would not be sitting around collecting dust at Baltimore Brass Co. I had to strike while the iron was hot and I had money saved up to spend.

[bort]

I just knew this tuba would not be sitting around collecting dust at Baltimore Brass Co. I had to strike while the iron was hot and I had money saved up to spend.

Funny thing is... I think it's actually been there for a little while. I think the "needs a little work" aspect of it may have worked in your favor here.

Regardless, that's really great news, and I can't wait to hear how it turned out. Had this been a CC tuba, it would be in Minnesota with me right now (haha, well, more like in Iowa with Lee ). Hope you had a nice trip to Baltimore (my hometown!) as well. On a nice spring day, it's a beautiful place to be.

[Musical_Eagle]

I'm just curious if anyone has tried the Conn F tuba there and had any thoughts on it. I haven't had time to travel to baltimore yet.

[Rev Rob]

Lost - There was a time when shiny was my top consideration for a tuba. But after playing much more expensive and shiny tubas, I realized sound is paramount. I really like the low profile and quick action of the string linked rotary valves. My biggest complaint against modern rotary valves is that they are very noisy. Almost like having your own personal percussion section with you always. I feel this tuba is a great find and am looking forward to playing it.

Bort - where in Minnesota are you? I grew up in Minnesota. Inquiring minds want to know.