Amazing BB piston tuba

[bisontuba]

HI-
RGB--Richard "Dick G. Barth--I have played it and it is excellent.
mark

[pigman]

I returned home from my one day run to the Midwest show. I made a point of trying the nirschal horn. I'm a pretty fussy guy . and I have to give the horn 2 thumbs up. The horn I payed was awesome . very well built Big fat non German sound. Its my pick among current BBb s. Great job Walter!!
I played plenty of other horns at the show, thousands more... Keep em

[Frank Ortega]

I just noticed on the Gronitz website that they have a 6/4 BBb piston valve tuba listed as KaiserBasse.
Has anyone tried this horn? Looks awesome. Perhaps it's more in tune than the CC version?

Frank Ortega

[Steve Marcus]

Dick Barth was at the Gemstone booth at Midwest with the new Brazilian-built Nirschl 4/4 BBb (some say that it could be considered a 5/4, but it's marketed as a 4/4).

At any price, this is an excellent tuba. The tone was warm and even throughout the range, intonation without fault, VERY easy slotting, etc.

Price level in the US?

Dick said that this horn will retail in the U.S. for $4000. I just shook my head in near-disbelief. A few years ago, Custom Music was selling new German-built Nirschl 4/4 CC tubas in the $10,000 price range. I bought my own 4/4 German-built Nirschl CC used for significantly more money than the price of the new Brazilian versions.

Now, of course, I couldn't do a detailed, lengthy A-B comparison of the playing characteristcs and structural stability of the new Brazilian Nirschl vs. my own German-built horn.

If they're solidly built so that they hold up over the long haul as well as my Nirschl tuba has, one can only take a deep breath and shake one's head again.

I can only imagine--what if they could build a 6/4 Nirschl CC as good as the ones that now sell for around $17,000 and price it proportionately (well under $10,000)? Suddenly, a high quality new 6/4 horn would be very tempting...

[Alex F]

Has anyone compared the Gemstone/Nirschl BBb against the King 2341 (new style)?

There's a different bore size, of course, but I'm also interested in the ergonomics, weight, and overall height.

Also, who is actually selling these horns?

[Bigmanontuba]

What is one of the new J 700's running a tuba play these days?

[Bob Kolada]

Hi Alex!

I played both at Midwest, but I didn't play them right after the other or even close to that.

The Gemstone seemed to have a better low range and maybe a bit more "core" to the sound. Both were pretty comfortable for me, but the 4th valve on the Gemstone "loops" too far back in for me to be able to seriously play it (kinda like the Yamaha 621's, but not as bad). Unless the intended market is people 5'10" and under I think this is a rather limiting factor. I had never played a 2341 before. The one there was pretty sweet. Even though the low range got a bit odd, I like it more than the 56J (which for me played a bit better in the same proportionate range).
I still prefer the 191/1291 tubas.

[Alex F]

Thanks Bob. I have the King 2341 and love the sound but find it hard to get around on. You're much taller than I am and have much longer arms. My biggest gripe with the King is having to strain to reach the finger buttons.

Is spoke to Lee Stofer today and he is very excited about the new Kanstul line of tubas based on the Yorks. I'm most interested in the BBb version but there will also be top and front action models, an Eb, and a CC version. As Lee mentioned in an aerlier post, he hopes to have some examples at the Army conference. I wish I could be there to see them. This seems similar to what MW did with the HoJo series of tubas.

[Bob Kolada]

I have the King 2341 and love the sound but find it hard to get around on. You're much taller than I am and have much longer arms. My biggest gripe with the King is having to strain to reach the finger buttons.

The Gemstone might fit you better then. Try doing what I do- getting a picture of each on different tabs and going from one to the other to compare them.