B&S Tubas

[ArnoldGottlieb]

I can't speak for all B&S tuba's but my 1999 PT20P has an adjustable thumb ring, and I got it about as close to the factory as possible. Adding to the opinions, I like them and they're not cheap. Peace. ASG

[TexTuba]

I got to play my teacher's B&S F tuba. I believe it was a Symphonie one and it was fairly old. Now I don't know how to play an F but what I did love was the sound of the instrument. That sound immediately made me want to learn F. Hope this helps a little.

Ralph

[Charlie Goodman]

Well, I played a VMI 2103 for a long time and reeeeally loved that horn, and that's pretty similar to the B & S, correct?

The thing I've heard about the Perantuccis is that they sound great but are pretty inconsistent about intonation, i.e. it's hard to find a really good one but the really good ones are worth it.

[LauriH]

I've had a B&S 3181 Eb tuba for one and a half year now. It has 3+1 piston valves and it's compensated. Mine is silver plated but it can be bought with lacquer finishing too. It almost identical with yamaha's YEB-632, but I think the B&S is better constructed. It sound very nice, both in high and low register.

I've played with Yamaha for 3 years and ocasionally the fourth valve's top got stuck up. It was quite hard to get it open, because there wasn't much space around the valve. With the B&S horn I've hadn't had the same problem because the valves position is better.

I haven't had big problem's with the valves. They run quite smooth altought in the start they were bit sticky and had to be washed quite frequantly. I think there was some oil on valve that was slowing it's movement. I've seen valves that run faster than those in 3181, but they are good enough for me. Altough i'm just an amateur player.

-Lauri

[imperialbari]

Probably B&S used to be a lot cheaper because back in the 70/early 80's they were then made in communist East Germany with relatively cheap labor. While today they are made in a unified Germany with West European labor costs making them as highly priced as Miraphone.

I have quite often told about the B&S and other high end GDR makers’ role in the GDR economy:

viewtopic.php?p=80688#80688

Actually some high end instruments were sold below the internal costs just for the purpose of getting US$-convertible currencies like DKr.

The Memphis guy with the illustratedly lightening fast mind and this older Dane agree upon one matter: B&S of the GDR days were preferable to Miraphone.

In my interpretation because the GDR makers kept up to their reputations and standards developed through centuries. As corrupt the state of GDR was, their best craftsmen kept their integrity.

I haven’t been impressed with anything Miraphone. They are fine middle of the road thingies. Please let me dare a farfetched thought: Miraphone for too many decades has adapted itself to the US high-school and college band market. How many Miraphones, aside from the very newest high end models, are played in for-real professional orchestras anywhere in the world?

Klaus

[Rick Denney]

How many Miraphones, aside from the very newest high end models, are played in for-real professional orchestras anywhere in the world?

Maybe not many any more, though it didn't used to be that way. But there are more gigs than orchestras, and lots and lots of Miraphones have seen daily professional use in all sorts of non-orchestral applications. They are quite versatile.

Rick "who doesn't disagree with the statement about GDR-era B&S's" Denney

[cornholio]

imperialbari said:

How many Miraphones, aside from the very newest high end models, are played in for-real professional orchestras anywhere in the world?
_____________________________________________________

Lets look at the very newest high end models:

Who - in a for-real professional orchestra - is playing them, besides (on scattered occasions) a company rep?
How much did that company rep PAY (in actual cash $) for the Miraphone instrument(s) they are using?