Back in my Air Force days, we had a piston 2155 that was one of the first available in the US. It was a good horn but I wasn't a fan of the sound I got out of it and it did have some intonation challenges. I ultimately stuck with my 188 and the other tuba picker in our band decided he liked the 2155.

Tony...I give a thumbs up to Wade's 186. I wish I was in the market or it would have been mine already.

You need one of those 6/4 shoulder Yorks. That is the ultimate step up.

That being said, we want more pictures of slicked out tubas leaning against the front of Blokeplace.

When my first tuba teacher retired from his similar dinky per service gig in Pennsylvania, players showed up from all over. The eventual winner, who is still the current player, was and still is based out of Georgia. Wonder what he didn't have going on in Georgia to make him want to move. Very fine ...

I'm surprised dinky gigs like this bother holding auditions; it's not like someone's gonna move there if they win the gig; they're just gonna hire local talent who've most likely already been playing there. I'm an AFM member, but does anyone know if holding auditions is some sort of requirement ...

I own one of their 3/4 contras. Nice playing instrument.

I want to see G bass trombones make a comeback.

Both require 1-2 and 2-3 for the E and Eb in the staff yes. I'm not "calling you out" - and nor am I trying to be a "snoot" - but (though I dealt with instruments demanding these valve combinations for quite a few years) I don't choose to own such instruments, these days. Admittedly, with ...

I have 2 examples of a Mirafone 184 CC. One built around 1985 and the other around 1989. The older of the two plays really well in tune if the main tuning slide is pulled out pretty far. Everything lines up as long as you don't mind the tuning slide hanging out far. The 1989 version plays quite well ...

I have debated for years about the appropriate tuba to play these on, 8vb on the contrabass, or use the Sauer edition (transposed) on bass, where it fits perfectly. There are rewards to both options as well as challenges to work past. I am still debating this before printing off a set to explore ...

The 186 is still the money shot for me.

Now add F and Gb valves.

I have heard that Eli Newberger has passed away. I read an article about it on Facebook but am now unable to locate it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156470036529?_skw=CC+TUBA+HBS+290+Hirsbrunner&itmmeta=01JAXJR2XAS330KENXMF4B9QBK&hash=item246e574831:g:-4kAAOSwVmBnFnU2&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKllQY1Bdscyf%2BdQO05bylrj3WObu3rXSxAIFlzsvq2%2Bsl3SbulR7 ...

Finishing fitting the bearings to the rotors on these is drudgery. :smilie6: Sure: They can put some goop on the spindles that might last a week or a month, but - after that - they're going to sound like the four (of the five) of these, because of the vertical play that they leave in them. I guess ...

Giant Steps

I have one that is about 10 years old. It is a really nice instrument.

Although not a musician, my uncle has been suffering from it for about a decade now. He was diagnosed in his mid sixties and now resides in a care facility. The last time I visited him, I got him his favorite coffee. He couldn't lift the cup on his own. He has trouble speaking and needs constant ...