HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
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HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Over the years as we grow older, the weight of the tuba can sometimes be a concern, especially for those dealing with health and back issues. It almost seems that I speak to customers daily regarding the weight of certain models as they research new horns to replace their older or existing heavier equipment.
Question, how much does weight become a factor in your purchase?
Question, what is your current model tuba and its weight?
I am going to guess, but I assume the MW 2165 is the heaviest tuba I have ever owned.
Here is a start to the list and I will add to it as posts are made.
Conn 25J, 31 pounds.
MW Thor Silver 19" bell 27.3 lbs
Willson 3050 RZ -- 25.5 lbs
Alex 163 5v Hand Made raw brass, highly modified 24.4 lbs
Alex 163 4v Hand Made raw brass 22.6 lbs
ZO 6/4 Silver York model Hand Made 23.8 lbs
Gronitz lacquer piston F 18.3 lbs
B&S PT8 6v Gold brass hand raw brass made17.7 lbs
B&S PT8 5v hand made raw brass 16.2 lbs
Mack Brass lacquer 5v F tuba (B&S style) 19.0 lbs
Cerveny 6/4 Giant Helicon 4v F 14.4 lbs
ZO lacquer funky 5v travel Tuba in F 13.3 lbs
MACK Brass lacquer 4v travel F tuba 5.4 lbs
Question, how much does weight become a factor in your purchase?
Question, what is your current model tuba and its weight?
I am going to guess, but I assume the MW 2165 is the heaviest tuba I have ever owned.
Here is a start to the list and I will add to it as posts are made.
Conn 25J, 31 pounds.
MW Thor Silver 19" bell 27.3 lbs
Willson 3050 RZ -- 25.5 lbs
Alex 163 5v Hand Made raw brass, highly modified 24.4 lbs
Alex 163 4v Hand Made raw brass 22.6 lbs
ZO 6/4 Silver York model Hand Made 23.8 lbs
Gronitz lacquer piston F 18.3 lbs
B&S PT8 6v Gold brass hand raw brass made17.7 lbs
B&S PT8 5v hand made raw brass 16.2 lbs
Mack Brass lacquer 5v F tuba (B&S style) 19.0 lbs
Cerveny 6/4 Giant Helicon 4v F 14.4 lbs
ZO lacquer funky 5v travel Tuba in F 13.3 lbs
MACK Brass lacquer 4v travel F tuba 5.4 lbs
Last edited by MackBrass on Fri Sep 28, 2018 10:32 pm, edited 5 times in total.
Tom McGrady
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MACK Brass of Virginia LLC
Email: Sales@mackbrass.com" target="_blank
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
My 5450 in silver plate weighs about 27lbs.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Willson 3050 RZ -- 25.5 lbs
Need to weigh the PT7 when I get it back. Feels lighter than the Willson, but not sure that it is.
Need to weigh the PT7 when I get it back. Feels lighter than the Willson, but not sure that it is.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Conn 25J, 31 pounds.
JP/Sterling 377 compensating Eb; Warburton "The Grail" T.G.4, RM-9 7.8, Yamaha 66D4; for sale > 1914 Conn Monster Eb (my avatar), ca. 1905 Fillmore Bros 1/4-size Eb, Bach 42B trombone
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
It will be interesting to see different weights on same model tubas. The difference could be attributed to the different scale readings and I would imagine that there will be a difference due to manufacturing itself.Tubaru wrote:My 5450 in silver plate weighs about 27lbs.
Tom McGrady
MACK Brass of Virginia LLC
Email: Sales@mackbrass.com" target="_blank
http://www.mackbrass.com" target="_blank" target="_blank
804-926-7707
MACK Brass of Virginia LLC
Email: Sales@mackbrass.com" target="_blank
http://www.mackbrass.com" target="_blank" target="_blank
804-926-7707
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
WOW, is this a 5/4 or 6/4 and how many valves?GC wrote:Conn 25J, 31 pounds.
Tom McGrady
MACK Brass of Virginia LLC
Email: Sales@mackbrass.com" target="_blank
http://www.mackbrass.com" target="_blank" target="_blank
804-926-7707
MACK Brass of Virginia LLC
Email: Sales@mackbrass.com" target="_blank
http://www.mackbrass.com" target="_blank" target="_blank
804-926-7707
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Marzan (large piston CC): 24 lbs
Cerveny 653: 14 lbs
Miraphone 1291 CC: 22 lbs
Neptune (rotary): 25 lbs
Miraphone 188 (gold brass): ~22 lbs?
VMI/MW 30: ~20 lbs
Rudy Meinl 4/4 CC: low 20s
Willson 3050RZ: 25.3 lbs
Also,
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=67293" target="_blank" target="_blank
Cerveny 653: 14 lbs
Miraphone 1291 CC: 22 lbs
Neptune (rotary): 25 lbs
Miraphone 188 (gold brass): ~22 lbs?
VMI/MW 30: ~20 lbs
Rudy Meinl 4/4 CC: low 20s
Willson 3050RZ: 25.3 lbs
Also,
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=67293" target="_blank" target="_blank
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Weril 4 piston valves, 3/4 CC tuba = 14 lbs
Ace
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Conn 28J - 23#
Miraphone 191-4V - 23#
The same reading with both horns was suspect until I weighed the empty case for the 191, which came to 28#. At 51# together, no wonder I gripe about the schlep.
Miraphone 191-4V - 23#
The same reading with both horns was suspect until I weighed the empty case for the 191, which came to 28#. At 51# together, no wonder I gripe about the schlep.
Miraphone 191 4-valve
1925 Conn 28J
Cerveny CEP 531-4M
Fox 880 "Sayen" (oops... that's an oboe)
1925 Conn 28J
Cerveny CEP 531-4M
Fox 880 "Sayen" (oops... that's an oboe)
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Wisemann 900 @ 23.2 lbs
2014 Wisemann 900 with Laskey 30H
~1980 Cerveny 4V CC Piggy
1935 Franz Schediwy BBb
1968 Conn 2J (thinking of selling)
~1980 Cerveny 4V CC Piggy
1935 Franz Schediwy BBb
1968 Conn 2J (thinking of selling)
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Great thread, Tom. This has been a concern of mine over the past few years. I'm in my mid + 60's and I've messed up my back a few times. I really don't want to deal with any tuba over 20 lbs. anymore. And, I play sousaphone a lot. I think it weighs 25 lbs. I have 2 gigs with it today - a 4 hr. gig followed by a 3 hr. gig. I'll feel it tomorrow, but sousaphone weight should be another whole topic. I'll try and weigh my tubas (not mentioned so far on this thread) tomorrow.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Using the unscientific digital bathroom scale subtraction method, the Mack 210L is 25lbs without mouthpiece. It feels heavier than that. But then of course, I’m getting older...
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Conn 2J CC - 16 lbs.
Conn 32J BBb - 24 lbs.
Years down the road, I'm sure the 32J will leave the stable first. The 2J is much easier to lug around.
Conn 32J BBb - 24 lbs.
Years down the road, I'm sure the 32J will leave the stable first. The 2J is much easier to lug around.
Dave
Low Brass musician and Bass Guitarist
Low Brass musician and Bass Guitarist
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Not much.mctuba1 wrote:Question, how much does weight become a factor in your purchase?
Holton 109, 31 lbs.Question, what is your current model tuba and its weight?
How much does it weight?I am going to guess, but I assume the MW 2165 is the heaviest tuba I have ever owned.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
B&F kaiser BBb = 9,5kg (20.9lbs)
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Conn 25Js are 6/4 horns with 4 top-action valves and an upright bell. They're classic American BATs.mctuba1 wrote:WOW, is this a 5/4 or 6/4 and how many valves?GC wrote:Conn 25J, 31 pounds.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Exactly. It’s like a 20J with 4 short-action valves and a ridiculously wide upright bell. It’s about 3 pounds more than a 20J.
JP/Sterling 377 compensating Eb; Warburton "The Grail" T.G.4, RM-9 7.8, Yamaha 66D4; for sale > 1914 Conn Monster Eb (my avatar), ca. 1905 Fillmore Bros 1/4-size Eb, Bach 42B trombone
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
I have to confess, that my 31lb weight for the Holton 109, did not come from a semi-accurate weighing. I don't know what an old bathroom scale is good for, probably lucky to get ±5%.SteveP wrote:Anyone know what a 3 valve Besson New Standard Eb weighs? I've got the tuba but no way to even semi-accurately weigh it, and am really curious.
There must be a name for that operation.Oh, by the way, the ball has been cut off.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
I've been leaning toward the lightweight end for some of the "getting old" reasons that Tom cited. Some of my tubas that I weighed:
Schuster Army 4RV BBb ............. 14.8#
King 1241 Tuba 4FP BBb ............ 19.5#
King 1235B 3FP Eb .................. 15.3#
King 1258 Sousaphone 4FP BBb ... 22.4#
Cerveny CCB-481 4RV CC ......... 17.5#
York Helicon 3FP BBb .............. 23.2#
Cerveny Tornister 3RV BBb ......... 7.4#
Cerveny Kaiser 3RV BBb ........... 19.4#
Cerveny Kaiser 4RV F/Eb .......... 15.4#
Cerveny Helicon 4RV F ............. 13.2#
Cerveny Kaiser Helicon 4RV F ..... 16.5#
Lignatone Tuba 4RV F ............... 12.8#
J. Low Kaiser Tuba 4RV BBb ....... 17.8#
York Monster 3TP Eb ............... 15.7#
York Monster 3FP Eb ............... 15.6#
Pepper Helicon 3FP Eb ............ 12.5#
Buescher Helicon 3FP Eb ......... 13.5#
Gronitz Tuba 4RV BBb ............. 17.0#
Yamaha YCB-661 5RV CC .......... 21.2#
Keiv Helicon 3RV BBb ............. 16.8#
B&S Model 101 4RV CC ............ 17.2#
St. Pete Model 200 3RV BBb ...... 14.4#
Conn 20-J 3TP BBb ................ 27.5#
Tom, do you have photos of your Cerveny 6/4 Kaiser Helicon? I would love to see them if so.
Schuster Army 4RV BBb ............. 14.8#
King 1241 Tuba 4FP BBb ............ 19.5#
King 1235B 3FP Eb .................. 15.3#
King 1258 Sousaphone 4FP BBb ... 22.4#
Cerveny CCB-481 4RV CC ......... 17.5#
York Helicon 3FP BBb .............. 23.2#
Cerveny Tornister 3RV BBb ......... 7.4#
Cerveny Kaiser 3RV BBb ........... 19.4#
Cerveny Kaiser 4RV F/Eb .......... 15.4#
Cerveny Helicon 4RV F ............. 13.2#
Cerveny Kaiser Helicon 4RV F ..... 16.5#
Lignatone Tuba 4RV F ............... 12.8#
J. Low Kaiser Tuba 4RV BBb ....... 17.8#
York Monster 3TP Eb ............... 15.7#
York Monster 3FP Eb ............... 15.6#
Pepper Helicon 3FP Eb ............ 12.5#
Buescher Helicon 3FP Eb ......... 13.5#
Gronitz Tuba 4RV BBb ............. 17.0#
Yamaha YCB-661 5RV CC .......... 21.2#
Keiv Helicon 3RV BBb ............. 16.8#
B&S Model 101 4RV CC ............ 17.2#
St. Pete Model 200 3RV BBb ...... 14.4#
Conn 20-J 3TP BBb ................ 27.5#
Tom, do you have photos of your Cerveny 6/4 Kaiser Helicon? I would love to see them if so.
Last edited by bigtubby on Mon Oct 01, 2018 6:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TUBA WEIGH?
Here are my tubas' weights, based on my bathroom scale:
Yamaha 621 CC - 15.6 lbs.
BMB J 445 F (large bell) - 19.2
Miraphone 186 5U CC (1965 vintage) - 20.1 lbs.
And, just for fun:
Stofer/Jupiter CC sousaphone (thick fiberglass body with brass bell) - 24.5 lbs.
I hope to be adding another CC under 20 lbs. soon
Yamaha 621 CC - 15.6 lbs.
BMB J 445 F (large bell) - 19.2
Miraphone 186 5U CC (1965 vintage) - 20.1 lbs.
And, just for fun:
Stofer/Jupiter CC sousaphone (thick fiberglass body with brass bell) - 24.5 lbs.
I hope to be adding another CC under 20 lbs. soon