The PT6 was actually not a model that had considered as an option; I've always been a fan, but the price was always out of reach, bad timing, or some combination of both. This time I got lucky! Which is great, because I liked so much about the PT7 already, just wanted rotary valves instead.
What's unique about my tuba?
As an earlier PT6, this one has handmade bottom and top bows. I also understand that the valve casings are slightly larger, and the end of the leadpipe is slightly larger as well. I haven't measured anything myself yet.
Initial reactions and thoughts
* This is a GREAT example of a PT6. I've owned, tried, and played a LOT of tubas over the years, but I am blown away by this PT6.
* Response is very quick; such an easy tuba to pick up and play across the entire range.
* Low register is easy and very open for a rotary tuba.
* Tone is clear and focused, but with a good deal of presence. It's flexible, and easy to make it sound the way I want it to sound.
* Very easy to play soft or loud. And when I want it to be loud, it can sound huge and hard to break up the sound.
* Intonation is point and shoot, zero problem notes.
* Fifth valve slide extension gives the choice between flat whole step and 23 combo. I learned how to play CC with the 23 combo, so it's good to have that again! Pedal range is really easy and intuitive for me with this setup. Low D as 345 jumps from the tuba. Pedal C with 12345 is always good for a softer and smoother pedal CC option.
* 2nd valve kicker added by previous owner. Seems useful for the low register; I don't know the tuba well enough yet to know how necessary it is, but it is a nice option. I
What's funny is that when I first saw it, I though "this looks small compared to the PT7." I never really felt like the PT7 was an enormous tuba, but it IS a 6/4 tuba and it IS larger than a PT6. The bell and bottom bow of the PT6 are smaller, and the PT7 is also overall just a wider tuba.
I LOVED the sound of the PT7, it was just too hard on my hands to play the piston valves (they are spread too far apart, and my hand was often in pain just from playing the tuba). Playing the PT6, I noticed right away that the sound is NOT as large or "wide" as the PT7, but still, the two tubas are more similar than they are different. Definitely the same B&S sound and tone, but the size and valve differences get that "voice" out a bit differently. Hope that makes sense. Another way to say it, I sound like myself on both tubas, with a few differences based on the equipment.
Bad things? Nah, not right now. I'll let anything bad surface itself after the honeymoon period is over.
Knock on wood, I think (hope!) my tuba quest is over, and that I've found the large rotary CC tuba that I've been looking for. Go figure, it's a very popular and very common model of tuba, that has existed all along.
Pics to come!
