I brought this up with some musos tonight at a concert. They agreed with me in that if I could play a double bass in time and in tune (but not technically brilliant) every amateur orchestra nearby would be on to me. They suggested I start on a fret less bass guitar, do that for a few years then ...

I have thought about learning the double bass, mainly because any community orchestra would literally beg me to play with them if I could play in time and in tune. I played tuba in a community orchestra and in all honesty it’s was really boring, but playing in a brass band is a lot more fun. With t ...

Having owned several compensating and 1 front action Eb tuba I would say I am fairly experienced with them. I ended up converting my Norwegian star to 6 valves, just because with only 5 valves there were too many gaps in the low range. If I had a compensating Eb I would want some sort of trigger for ...

Started playing one of these, got it handed to me. Great intonation, easy to get it to resonate nicely, handmade construction from sheet brass, good in the high register. Makes me think of giving up CC tuba. I would just use it in a concert band and very infrequently to play in an orchestra. I can ...

Hi, Am currently in ‘lockdown’ and might be so for another month. Am looking for tuba solos from film score to play and share my performances on my FB to my friends and also let my kids hear. No I am not trying to be an influencer - just to share with my friends who are also in lockdown. Have done Ja ...

So, it had been a long time since I had a one on one lesson with a pro. Decided I should have one. I was having problems in the low register on just a few notes. Play a Compensated Bb tuba. Feel like I was shifting emboucheres in the low range 4 + 2 down to 4 + 2+ 3 and just not nailing the notes ...

I’m going to have a lesson, first time in a long time, so hopefully the teacher picks up a few things for me to work on. I have resolved to get my kids to learn a brass instrument, they have another 4 weeks of school holidays, so may as well learn something during that time. Had 1 lesson already ( ...

My memory of what you were doing was a little vague and not in line with what you have/will do. I thought you had an upright bell top action that you could convert to front action and CC with the prospect of excellent intonation, let alone two tubas. I would have to feel very secure in my position ...

I got the impression Bloke was going to build a front action CC out of a top action Buescher BBb. Lee Stofer seems to have created something similar and listed it for sale. It looks nice. I will never know what it plays like (I’m in a different hemisphere). But Bloke have you now lost the ‘first to m ...

I had the valves replated in nickel on a tuba. Best valves I have played, no longer own the tuba. I keep thinking about getting the first valve on my current tuba replated in nickel over the monel as it’s the second model of that tuba that I owned that has the first valve hang and yes I oil every t ...

In Australia we were, for a long time, taught Eb tuba at school. This was great as Brass Bands are widespread. Now a much higher percentage are being taught Bb, much to the dismay of many. Eb seems like a much better ‘one tuba.’ Lighter, able to play solos more nimble whilst supporting a band. As am ...

So I have started to really like thin rim mouthpieces. Bloke piece #2 is great. But for those who like thin rim mouthpieces are there particular circumstances where you might switch to a wider rim? I have some thoughts but want to hear from others who like narrower rims but switch to wide ...

In Australia we were, for a long time, taught Eb tuba at school. This was great as Brass Bands are widespread. Now a much higher percentage are being taught Bb, much to the dismay of many. Eb seems like a much better ‘one tuba.’ Lighter, able to play solos more nimble whilst supporting a band. As ama ...

I don’t play Euphonium, but hang around enough of them to know that a patina euphonium is not acceptable. Pimp it out. Keeping it as it is won’t make any difference to you now but when you sell it it’s value will be much higher.

They did make a Bb, look at this ad and yes I confirmed with the seller that it was in fact a BBb and not a CC https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/diamond-creek/woodwind-brass/tuba-kalison-professional-6-4-bbb-5-valve/1229582143?utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=ios_VIP&utm_medium=social&utm_source ...

6 valves for the win! Dependant flat halve tone in the 4th valve circuit and flat whole tone in open circuit. #nopulling #nointonationgaps When I had a 6 valve Bb tuba I used the flat half tone valve more than the flat whole tone. If you just go a 5th valve and not add a 6th a flat half tone is a ...

Wow, great coincidence, I have barely played/practiced this year (maybe 5 times) due to being very busy at work and lockdown, but earlier today played my Miraphone Norwegian Star for 10 minutes ‘just because.’ Made me remember how much I like that tuba. Am starting to think it’s the favourite tuba I ...

So a bit of background: I am a reasonably good amateur whose intonation awareness has improved markedly over the last couple of years. I tend to play Bb or Eb tubas and have played a lot of different models over the last 5-10 years - old, new, German, English, Chinese, Japanese. But the issue I face ...

Finished!

Yep, never enough
I have am adding a 6th valve to an Eb