BEST TUBA YOU HAVE PLAYED?

[Eflatdoubler]

I just got a B&S pt-22p E-Flat tuba and love it!!

[Timswisstuba]

Hirsbrunner Hb2 In CC with Conn Short action valves.

[bort]

Wasn't the HB2 based on an old Conn tuba? Or am I just imagining things?

[jeopardymaster]

That's easy. My Gnagey. It could be one of the first 10 or Sam released - I bought it in 2006. I had a hiccup or 2 with the high range at first, but after he changed out the receiver, just - wow.

[Jess Haney]

For me my 1st generation Willson 3400. I played a Nirschl 6/4 BBb some years ago and was in love with its organ like sound but thinking back and knowing what I do now I think it is best to have a horn in the arsenal room that can be placed in any situation. Now being my horn is 1st gen it is considerably lighter in metal composition than other 3400s I have played. I also am inclined to think that it was a special order by the original owner in rose brass since some of the places it has silver worn off the brass underneath is copper in color. But back to my original ramble the horn fits nicely into any playing situation I encounter. Whether it brass band, quintet or solo work, the horn shines and blends beautifully, and with the switch or a mouthpiece it can totally change from dark to a lighter, more focused sound. Its tuning is spot on and unlike my 3100 I dont have to use the 1st slide like a trombone slide. I can play the pedal notes as clear and focused as notes ubove the staff and the lower notes are centered, clear, and without the "farty" sound some smaller horns have. I can sound like a large F in the upper register and a 186 with the pedal notes. the only draw back is the key of the horn which makes orchestral work in sharps a bit of a finger dance. I also hold some of the british compensators with high regard due to the simplicity of fingering combinations in the low register. Yes the componsation system does have some quirks to get used to but when you are trying to play a BBb part on an Eb in the low register at high speeds the hands tend to cramp a lot faster with the orchestral system as opposed to the 3+1 Ebs. But just my thoughts.

[Jay Bertolet]

I played a Nirschl 6/4 BBb some years ago and was in love with its organ like sound but thinking back and knowing what I do now I think it is best to have a horn in the arsenal room that can be placed in any situation. Now being my horn is 1st gen it is considerably lighter in metal composition than other 3400s I have played. I also am inclined to think that it was a special order by the original owner in rose brass since some of the places it has silver worn off the brass underneath is copper in color. But back to my original ramble the horn fits nicely into any playing situation I encounter. Whether it brass band, quintet or solo work, the horn shines and blends beautifully, and with the switch or a mouthpiece it can totally change from dark to a lighter, more focused sound. Its tuning is spot on and unlike my 3100 I dont have to use the 1st slide like a trombone slide. I can play the pedal notes as clear and focused as notes ubove the staff and the lower notes are centered, clear, and without the "farty" sound some smaller horns have. I can sound like a large F in the upper register and a 186 with the pedal notes. the only draw back is the key of the horn which makes orchestral work in sharps a bit of a finger dance.

+1

I am currently getting ready to play a concert that features 2 pianos. There are 2 concertos on the program, one by Poulenc and the other by Babin. The Poulenc is a typical French chamber piece of music calling for a very light, mostly secco approach and the Babin looks to be more the opposite since it goes very low and seems somewhat louder and longer in style. Rather than bring 2 instruments, I'm bringing my Willson 3400. All the stuff you said seems true of mine except mine is not light at all. It's a very heavy horn. Intonation is great, only top line A requires any adjustment. I haven't pulled this horn out in a while, been doing mostly big instrument gigs and cimbasso gigs. What a breath of fresh air to be playing this horn extensively again!

By the way, the copper coloring you're seeing on your horn may not be special order anything. I've been taught that they do what's called a copper strike coat on brass instruments before plating them. The flashing coat gives the second coat a better purchase to adhere to the horn than the raw brass. That might explain what you're seeing.

[imperialbari]

I would like to say some of my own, but that wouldn't be true, even if I like them very much.

In september of 1990 I had the chance to play the prototype of a smallish Hirsbrunner F 4FP+1RV tuba. Response, flexibility, ease of wide range, sound, dynamic bandwidth especially to the soft side. All amazing.

Klaus

[Jess Haney]

I played a Nirschl 6/4 BBb some years ago and was in love with its organ like sound but thinking back and knowing what I do now I think it is best to have a horn in the arsenal room that can be placed in any situation. Now being my horn is 1st gen it is considerably lighter in metal composition than other 3400s I have played. I also am inclined to think that it was a special order by the original owner in rose brass since some of the places it has silver worn off the brass underneath is copper in color. But back to my original ramble the horn fits nicely into any playing situation I encounter. Whether it brass band, quintet or solo work, the horn shines and blends beautifully, and with the switch or a mouthpiece it can totally change from dark to a lighter, more focused sound. Its tuning is spot on and unlike my 3100 I dont have to use the 1st slide like a trombone slide. I can play the pedal notes as clear and focused as notes ubove the staff and the lower notes are centered, clear, and without the "farty" sound some smaller horns have. I can sound like a large F in the upper register and a 186 with the pedal notes. the only draw back is the key of the horn which makes orchestral work in sharps a bit of a finger dance.

+1

I am currently getting ready to play a concert that features 2 pianos. There are 2 concertos on the program, one by Poulenc and the other by Babin. The Poulenc is a typical French chamber piece of music calling for a very light, mostly secco approach and the Babin looks to be more the opposite since it goes very low and seems somewhat louder and longer in style. Rather than bring 2 instruments, I'm bringing my Willson 3400. All the stuff you said seems true of mine except mine is not light at all. It's a very heavy horn. Intonation is great, only top line A requires any adjustment. I haven't pulled this horn out in a while, been doing mostly big instrument gigs and cimbasso gigs. What a breath of fresh air to be playing this horn extensively again!

By the way, the copper coloring you're seeing on your horn may not be special order anything. I've been taught that they do what's called a copper strike coat on brass instruments before plating them. The flashing coat gives the second coat a better purchase to adhere to the horn than the raw brass. That might explain what you're seeing.

Good to know about the copper. I was wondering what the deal was since I noticed the color. But yes my horn is a few pounds lighter that other 3400s I have played. The valve set is also lower which makes removing the tuning slide a little tricky. It also doen't have the bottom bow cap and the valves are not ported.

[bort]

It's my Boehm & Meinl CC made as a Marzan prototype in the early '70s.

My old tuba, cool!

[J.c. Sherman]

I forgot to add: The HP2P... I adore these, every time I try one I want to cry in delight!