Precise intonation, hearty tone, and stability at high volume are its strengths. Weaknesses are mostly those inherent to being a heavyweight, it's not gonna respond as fast or to as light of touch as a 12 pound F tuba.
Limited mouthpiece selection...but the Wick 1 is pretty much ideal, or else Bloke has some well-trialed recommendations.
Compensating system works - C and B aren't that much harder to play to other notes and don't sound any weaker beyond changing the cylindrical/conical balance which affects all tubas. This effect from going to Bb to B/C is less noticeable than on the megabore open-wrap rotary tuba I borrow...even doing is as a piano slur has equal probabilities of cleanliness when I try. It can be done.
Not perfect, but not bashed in. It has the correct quantity of dents! Worst is the small side of the bottom bow and the small side of the 3rd bow. Closeups included of those areas. Bell has been previously rolled out to say the least...but a job well done, and not too much of it undone.
3rd valve has a super long pull making low Eb playable! However it is hard to remove 3rd slide. The braces aren't pushed in, so not sure how that happens. Tipping the horn to the left empties 2nd and 3rd slides of water, no need to pull slides or even spin it.
Low/pedal D is a pretty good open false tone - and I'm not much of a low range specialist, I usually just make helicopter noises trying to play that range on a rotary with fudge factor fingerings. Adding valves descends to the pedal, naturally.
Equipped with Blokewashers for lasting alignment and quieter valve action!
Just "chem-cleaned" as I call it (ran Simple Green Crystal thru the whole thing for about 15 minutes, leadpipe and tuning slides snaked, rinsed well)
Add new Wick 1 goldplate mouthpiece and used Tuba Exchange cordura gigbag +$200
HD PICS!
! http://imgur.com/a/gPRhU