F tuba as only tuba (can't find an old thread)

[Brendan Bohnhorst]

I'd have to say that it is personal preference. Sure I can play "the ride" on my F tuba, but do I really want to do it in a performance setting? I would use my C tuba unless I was asked to play it on an F by someone signing the check. An F tuba is still a tuba, and you need to be able to play music that says tuba on top.

That said I do use my F for almost everything with my brass quintet.

Just my $0.02,
Brendan

[eupher61]

I worked on the "The Ride" on F for my own amusement, to develop that range, and just in case. I have whatever model B&S was common in '82--besides the Symphonie; this one is 5 rotors--and it had been chosen as an "I might buy this in a month" by a well-known tubist. He turned it down, and I happend to pick it out of a stock of 20 or so, unknowingly. Once the low range stabilized for me, I've rarely looked back. I do have a little Weril BBb for jazz and wherever I don't feel like taking the F, but the F is by all means my prime horn. I've tried another BBb, a great Eb, but they just didn't do it. Granted, I don't play orchestra any more (it's been 10 years, I guess...*sigh) but for ANYthing, I'd feel fine using the F right now, even for the Ride. Maybe...