Mom here - need your opinions on tubas please

[Alex F]

I own a new -style King 2341 (ex Mike Finn) with some modifications made by Lee Stofer. As others have said, this horn is easy to play, has great intonation, and can hold its own in a large band without requiring large amounts of air.

One caveat - this horn has a 20" bell which seems to attract chairs, music stands, mic booms, and idiot drummers who dump their tympani legs on top of the upright bell when its standing on the floor inverted. In close, quarters, it can be scary. I play mine using a BBC tuba rest.

The other you might want to try is one of the new Kanstul BBbs, available in both top-action and front-action models. These have been getting rave reviews. They are more pricey than the King but, for the $$, you get a well made American tuba. Contact Lee Stofer for more information on these.

[averagejoe]

I owned a Yamaha 321 from 8th to 11th grade. It caused more problems than it solved. I was 5' 7" when my mom bought me the horn and 5' 11" when I sold it, and I was NEVER able to breathe properly when holding that horn. By the time I sold it I had been playing an old Miraphone 186 for a year that I had been borrowing from the local community college I played (and still play) with. Having a horn that I could breathe properly while holding yielded the fastest improvement in my playing ability that I had experienced. Also, switching from upright pistons to side action rotary valves was no problem, I just didn't like the upright valves at all. My junior year of high school I kept my Yamaha 321 at school to use with the school band and used the Miraphone 186 for all performances and community college bands. I felt terrible about selling the tuba that my mother got for me, and it hurt her feelings that it didn't work out. Be slow to make a purchase; your son has time on his side and a tuba to practice on at home. If he is the type who wants to upgrade now, then you can be sure that he is going to want to upgrade again later on when college is knocking at his door and he wants a 5 valve CC tuba. At that time you are going to want something that will sell for about what you payed for it, which is why many people here are recommending "tried and true" used tuba models like the 2341. I went ahead and got a Conn 56j CC tuba when I sold the Yamaha 321 (for reference the Conn 56j shares several attributes with the King 2341 that a lot of guys are pushing). Good luck.

[Tom Mason]

I admit that I have not read every response on this thread, so this may be a repeat. Use a tuba stand, and most of the height questions are answered. All of my students, from beginners through high school use tuba stands. I have DEG tuba stands, but there are other good brands.

By using the stand, the layout of your valves and height of horn get adjusted to your son's build. It also makes the horn more manageable.

As for which tuba, I've had the newer King 2341, and now own an older 2341 with upright bell. I have also had the Yamaha 321 and Conn 20j as well as mirafone and clones of mirafones. If you just have to buy, then consider what your son is confortable with, and is affordable but name brand.

[TBow]

For what it's worth ... you may consider Ocular dominance (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocular_dominance" target="_blank ). I am left eye dominant and my horn is a rotary which means I look around the right side of the horn and sometimes, on 2 or 3 page music, I am forced to read the music on the left side of the stand with my right eye and the "transition" during technical passages is sometimes distracting, i.e. it takes me just a tad bit longer to look from the end of one line to the beginning of the next than reading with only my left eye.

I'd love to hear other's thoughts on this topic. Because of this disparity, I've toyed with the idea of getting a top action horn.

[Charlie Goodman]

For what it's worth ... you may consider Ocular dominance (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocular_dominance" target="_blank" target="_blank ). I am left eye dominant and my horn is a rotary which means I look around the right side of the horn and sometimes, on 2 or 3 page music, I am forced to read the music on the left side of the stand with my right eye and the "transition" during technical passages is sometimes distracting, i.e. it takes me just a tad bit longer to look from the end of one line to the beginning of the next than reading with only my left eye.

I'd love to hear other's thoughts on this topic. Because of this disparity, I've toyed with the idea of getting a top action horn.

Interesting. I'm very left eye dominant, and I've never had that issue with my rotary or front-piston horns.

[Rick Denney]

For what it's worth ... you may consider Ocular dominance (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocular_dominance").

I'm strongly right-eye dominant, which I gather is not that uncommon for right-handed people. If it was left eye that dominated, I'd consider a right-facing bell, too. It does make a difference for me.

Rick "not that he can read the music even when he can see it" Denney

[imperialbari]

This issue has worried me for years and after reading this thread, I took all of my tubas to the Goodwill Store and will only be playing my sousaphones from now on.

You didn’t just add a tuning valve to each eye?

K

[tubeast]

As to ergonomics / safety / dents:
I´m 6´4" and can actually be seen when I have a tuba in my lap.
I should have no difficulty holding horns.
I still feel more comfortable using a shoulder strap on my tubas.
They don´t even have to sit tight in playing position.
Just something that helps me secure the horn.
Remember, the hours with the horn in Your son´s lap will be countless, and inadvertently things tend to happen.

Plus, at times I want to use both hands and just let go of the horn, letting it fall into that strap.
Gives me freedom to readjust music stands, scribble comments in sheet music, drain slides, put on and operate tuners...

Please keep us informed how things turn out.

Hans

[ken k]

returning to the original post, I just saw two Conn tubas on ebay from reputable dealers, an old 4J which was refurbished and a new 5J which was a demo horn in the store. The 4J and 5J are basically the same. The 4J is an older model from 1959. I believe the 5J may have a larger bell, not sure.

These horns are not quite as big as the King 2341 but are very easy to play and have good tone and intonation characteristics.

ken k

[imperialbari]

Ken, my dirty mind asks why this 5J in Wichita didn’t leave the store in a regular sale? I definitely wouldn’t pay that much without testing the instrument.

Klaus

[iiipopes]

I am left handed and left eyed. Since I live in a right handed world, I have learned to adjust, using my right hand and strengthening my right eye. Another reason I preferred playing souzy for all these years. At this point, I could not play a left handed tuba proficiently, although I did play french horn one year in college just to see what it was all about. But I do prefer my Besson so I can use my left eye more.

But these are issues for much later on. Let's get back on topic and help Mom get her son a suitable tuba.

[Uncle Buck]

...

[tubistsmom]

Actually, I have been checking in as I've been doing some tuba shopping.

Thanks again all for the INCREDIBLE advice and especially to Mr. Sloan who brought his King by for us to take a look at.

I ended up buying a King 2341 from our local music store. I weighed a lot of options but in the end I felt there were some advantages to buying here.
1) they are a licensed dealer of King
2) they have service agreements with our school system for free regular cleanings and some other repairwork benefits
3) they honor a 5-year warranty on manufacturer defects (to which I noted that most mfr defects would likely be detected in the first few months and that I didn't see much use to the other 4-1/2 years of the warranty - could be wrong of course)
4) they offered to accept our 3/4 tuba as a trade, got what I expected to get if I had sold it outright
5) the pricing was right on where I saw it offered anywhere else

I also had our private lesson teacher test it out in addition to two other tubists. They all agreed it was one of the "good ones." It came with the hard case, a mouthpiece, oil/grease, cleaning cloth. I tried to talk them into throwing in a tuba rest but they didn't go for it.

My son auditioned at the UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Middle School Honor Band Festival last weekend and got 2nd chair. (Video of one of 5 pieces they played: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Iciup1GD0 ) That helped me along in my decision to buy, too. AND, I found out that the high school where my son will be next year uses all King 2341 tubas for concert band. Nice coincidence.

I'm happy with the purchase. I likely wouldn't have gotten so many opinions on it without your advice and I'm very glad I did. Thanks all.

[iiipopes]

Congrats on a great purchase. Your son has a tuba that he will be able to play for the rest of his life.

[The Big Ben]

Good choice! I hope he enjoys his new horn. It's a winner!

[TubaBobH]

Congrats on a great purchase. Your son has a tuba that he will be able to play for the rest of his life.

Couldn't agree more. I bought a King 1241 when I was a 19 year old sophomore in college. And 38 years later I am still having a blast playing that tuba. King tubas are great sounding and very versatile 4/4 American tubas. I am currently playing mine in both a large community concert band and a brass quintet.

[bearphonium]

Happy new tuba, and thanks to the Tubenet connection for the help, especially Sloan for reaching out.