Stupid but interesting question

[one.kidney]

How much better would a MW Baer/2, Hirsbrunner, yamaYork or Nirschl York copy be than one of the JinBao/Mack brass 410 CC tubas? I know it seems like a dumb question but i guess it just stemmed out of having been playing a JinBao/Mack Brass 410 tuba for around 2 years and going into music performance in college or at a conservatory and just wondering what is in store for me in the long-run.

[bort]

Think about it like a car... You can drive a small Hyundai or Kia and it'll work just fine -- you will get where you are going. But if you drive a big Mercedes, you will absolutely notice a difference.

[windshieldbug]

Does the "yamayork" feature a burled walnut dashboard?

Yes- but all the gauges on the dashboard are in Japanese...

[tubeast]

Do my handcarved snakewood handrest and thumb "paddle" on my Willson RZ6405 count as equivalent to "Mercedes with burl walnut dashboard" ? http://www.edelholzshop.de/Schlangenholz

To the original question: just like with cars, higher Price may be backed up by higher practical value, but rarely to full extent.
A Maybach may cost 25 times the price of a Toyota, and it may very well offer vast advantages in comfort and practical Gadgets, but will it be 25 times as good ?

Should this prevent You from going for the horn of Your dreams ? OF COURSE NOT.
Nobody NEEDS a ´65 Corvette. Especially if it can´t tow a trailer containing your horns.
But there´s no reason the station wagon of Your choice shouldn´t offer some convenience items like a good Stereo, right ?

[Three Valves]

Think about it like a car... You can drive a small Hyundai or Kia and it'll work just fine -- you will get where you are going. But if you drive a big Mercedes, you will absolutely notice a difference.

Especially when accelerating around corners.

[Worth]

How much better would a MW Baer/2, Hirsbrunner, yamaYork or Nirschl York copy be than one of the JinBao/Mack brass 410 CC tubas?

I've got a Mack 410 and a Wisemann 900. Whether in a quintet, wind ensemble, or community band setting, the W900 outperforms and is a pleasure to play. I barely pull out the 410 anymore. Conductors, section mates, quintet members, listeners who actually listen for Tuba all prefer the music I make with the 900. I'm a dedicated amateur so YMMV.

[Donn]

i guess it just stemmed out of having been playing a JinBao/Mack Brass 410 tuba for around 2 years and going into music performance in college or at a conservatory and just wondering what is in store for me in the long-run.

I'm surprised - second day, yet no prognostications on what's in store?

[swillafew]

If a person completes the program of the performance major, the cost of the horn is probably incidental to the total cost. I am referring to dollars and years of energy spent, and the years of energy might be worth more than the dollars.
Instead of the car metaphor, I would think of the wrench. You want income from it but you can't get anywhere until you learn what to do with it.

[Three Valves]

Instead of the car metaphor, I would think of the wrench. You want income from it but you can't get anywhere until you learn what to do with it.

Income from tuba playing??

And TRUMP U was a scam??

[Three Valves]

Whenever I hear "Well..." as an exclamation, I always think of Jack Benny!!

[swillafew]

I made enough income from my tuba to buy the valve oil and a mouthpiece, perhaps a beverage and a tank of gas too.

[Three Valves]

....going into music performance in college or at a conservatory and just wondering what is in store for me in the long-run.

I predict banking or insurance!!

[Biggs]

Wait a minute, this wasn't interesting at all!

[one.kidney]

as far as playing qualities, what is going to be big differences in playing the two?

[Matt Walters]

as far as playing qualities, what is going to be big differences in playing the two?

For a hack player the answer is nothing. Really bad players sound like crap on all horns regardless of price. Better players have an easier time sounding better on better horns. Great players have an easier time sounding great on great horns.