Tubas in the Military

[trseaman]

Hello all,

Just wondering, is there a specific tuba used through out the armed forces???

Tim

[jtuba]

There generally is no specific brand. Basically, whatever the section leader and section are familiar and comfortable with. The only thing I haven't seen in my time in is a unit that owns any Nirschl tubas. I'm sure the boys from D.C. will chime in soon with what goes on up there.

I guess you could count on the 20K as being the standard sousaphone, but that probably not the info you're looking for.

[ai698]

No brand specified in the Army, but I know the 62nd and the 77th Army Bands use Miraphone 191 BBb's. The regs say "professional quality instruments will be provided". Our band has early '80's Miraphone 186 BBb's. We're looking to replace them with King 2341's. I play a CC, so I have to use my own personal horn because the unit doesn't have a CC. They hoping to get me a CC provided by the band. I hope soon, it could be later. We just lost our euphonium player to retirement, so I'm playing that for awhile in concert band, but tuba in brass quintet.

[Tom Holtz]

The only thing I haven't seen in my time in is a unit that owns any Nirschl tubas.

Gates drives a big Nirschl for the Marine Band. Fine seafarin' vessel.

[trseaman]

Our band has early '80's Miraphone 186 BBb's. We're looking to replace them with King 2341's.

I've played a 2341 for a few years and I've loved it. I had the opportunity to purchase a military 186 for about 2K. It should be here in a couple weeks. I thought for that price I shouldn't let it go... This 186 came from the Air Force. I play in a 50 piece community band with 4 other tubas. We play everything from big band to marches and so forth... I got the 2341 because I wanted to project more with the forward facing bell. In my circumstance could you recommend one over the other???

Tim

"Still haven't received the 186 and I've never played one"

[WoodSheddin]

The only thing I haven't seen in my time in is a unit that owns any Nirschl tubas.

Gates drives a big Nirschl for the Marine Band. Fine seafarin' vessel.

The US Marine Corp Taxi Service Band also owns one.

[Paul S]

The only thing I haven't seen in my time in is a unit that owns any Nirschl tubas.

Gates drives a big Nirschl for the Marine Band. Fine seafarin' vessel.

I seem to recall Jarrod Williams mentioning to me that the Naval Academy Band purchased a Nirschl or so a few years ago.

From e-mails that I receive there does seem to be an increasing number of military players using the Perantucci PT-606 as their personal horn as well as interest in getting them for their units. I am sure Cameron's experience with his has a lot to do with this.

[Gorilla Tuba]

Although it was 13 years ago, and the band no longer exists, the Berlin Brigade Band (298th) had 4 BBb Hirshbrunners. Sousas were Kings.

[jtuba]

All of the Nirshls seem to be with the special bands, and I'm not surprised by that . Why don't you guys send some of them to the rest of the field when all y'all are done with them ? Does anybody know if a regualr Army/Navy/Marine band owns a Nirshl?

[Cameron Gates]

The only thing I haven't seen in my time in is a unit that owns any Nirschl tubas.

Gates drives a big Nirschl for the Marine Band. Fine seafarin' vessel.

I seem to recall Jarrod Williams mentioning to me that the Naval Academy Band purchased a Nirschl or so a few years ago.

From e-mails that I receive there does seem to be an increasing number of military players using the Perantucci PT-606 as their personal horn as well as interest in getting them for their units. I am sure Cameron's experience with his has a lot to do with this.

I do like the big Nirschl for the band. However, if I had it to do all over again (and if it was around then), I would have gotten a PT 606. A fellow member of the Marine Band tuba section (Paul Mergen) just got a new 606 and loves it. Paul is now on my list of most hated people because he has one for band use and I do not.

Miltary tubists, do yourself a favor and look at the 606. Mundo fun on the guvment dime.

[Bandmaster]

I've played a 2341 for a few years and I've loved it. I had the opportunity to purchase a military 186 for about 2K. It should be here in a couple weeks. I thought for that price I shouldn't let it go... This 186 came from the Air Force. I play in a 50 piece community band with 4 other tubas. We play everything from big band to marches and so forth... I got the 2341 because I wanted to project more with the forward facing bell. In my circumstance could you recommend one over the other???

Tim

"Still haven't received the 186 and I've never played one"

Hey Tim, nice to see you over here. So you have an old (new) horn coming too, eh. Mine is supposed to be here tomorrow, so maybe I'll have it at rehearsal tomorrow night. You should like that 186, if it's in good shape it will play really nice. I played one in college and I really liked it. But I have discovered over the last few years that my fingers just work better on piston valves. My Sanders 191 copy is now sold and will disappear Tuesday night. I know what you mean about projecting in Gardenier Spring Auditorium, that stage just sucks up the tuba sound and won't let it go. See you tomorrow.

[Michael Woods]

I know Jarrod Williams owns his own Nirschl york.

He also just got the Naval Academy band to get a couple of the 606's.

[Adam C.]

In the USCG Band our last two big horn purchases have been PT-6's; one rotary, one piston.

[JHardisk]

Here in the AF band of Flight, we have a few horns. My stand partner uses a Getzen G 50, and a Hirsbrunner F tuba. The band owns both of those horns. My band owned horn is a RM 5/4, just like my main axe. I currently don't have a band owned F tuba, but I play my 45S on occasion.

We recently had a yorkbrunner that was bartered in exchange for my axe and some stuff. It sold in a matter of days from WWBW, but I could not make that thing work for me.