Can you stand another Cc vs Eb question?

[ghmerrill]

A small Bb/C or big Eb is a good choice for all-rounder horn, It depends on whether you prefer sweating for high notes or sweating for low notes.

Pretty much -- but also it depends on which horn you just enjoy playing more or which you favor in terms of the sound you get out of it, and intonation. Even though I played a BBb for probably close to 20 years, I started out on an Eb (Yamaha 321) and just LIKE the Eb tubas better for most playing. The Wessex Eb compensator I have now is just wonderful in terms of the sound and intonation, and I like being able to play in the octave above the staff with little effort. Extended work in the contra bass range is trying and fatiguing, and just doesn't provide the "gravitas" that the BBb did. But it's okay for amateur work in the bands I play in now although I don't feel comfortable being the ONLY tuba in a decent-sized ensemble (e.g., 40+ players) -- and I never felt that way with the BBb.

And an appropriate mouthpiece (or two) plus a lot of practice can help with sweating for the high notes or the low notes.

[Tubatooter]

Something that I have not seen mentioned is how the size of the person can relate to the tube length of what key of tuba is more or less playable for them. Smaller people may find that they do considerably better on the Eb than a CC. I would strongly suggest finding a way to play test one or more Eb tubas along with CC and BBb tubas, to see if you notice a difference. As a smaller and older person, I do MUCH better on an Eb than on even a CC, (5/4 Eb as opposed to 3/4 CC, both good instruments, so it's not the bore size.) I played Eb in a community orchestra and was happily welcomed as providing a better bottom than the CC player who left. YMMV, but do play test.

[Yane]

Good points! You mentioned you are moving from euphonium: from euphonium to Eb is less daunting than switching to Bb or C, except for transposition. If you ever played Bb trumpet you have a head start on Eb fingerings.