So, here's my deal

[tclements]

I have this great Adams 6/4 CC tuba, and I absolutely LOVE the sound of this instrument! I also have a Miraphone Bruckner. The Bruckner has a big, warm sound, but I'm just not in love with it the way I am with the Adams.

Here's the deal: The Miraphone has a MUCH better low register than the Adams. The low notes speak more easily, and because of that, I often find myself leaning toward the Bruckner. BUT, every time I do, I find myself missing that wonderful Adams sound!

So I'm torn. I LOVE the sound of the Adams, but I really appreciate the low register of the Bruckner. I wish I could have the best of both!

What would YOU do? Would you stick with the Adams for the sound, or go with the Bruckner for the low notes, even though you're not quite as happy with the sound?

[the elephant]

Tony, I am at that point in my career, too. I was in love with the sound of my Holton 345, and it had very decent intonation, especially for such a large tuba. It also had a very decent low register. I loved that thing. However, my joints are giving me problems: knees, hips, ankles, spine — everything hurt when I had to use that tuba for a week of rehearsals and concerts, toting it all over the place, lifting it out of the car, carrying it up and down steps, fussing with it on stage, and carrying it back to the car. I got to where I could not carry or lift it.

Right around that time, my mother passed on, my sister sold off her stuff, and a used YamaYork came up for sale. I used a lot of my modest inheritance to buy it. Then I sold my beloved Holton after some comparative work in the orchestra.

Just like you, both tubas had some very strong points; both had some minuses.

I struggled with this for about a year.

For me, the Yamaha won out. It is not the sound I wanted to make, but it is very close. And it is simply much easier to play well with others. Everything about it is easier. I am now 61, and with my medical issues, I will probably retire in the not-too-distant future. The easier horn to play won out for me. The best reason — for me — is that the Yamaha is smaller and lighter than the beastly Holton. My knees and hips are in much better shape now because I have lowered their workload a little. The Yamaha plays *very* well in tune. It is not perfect, but it is easily the best musical instrument I have ever owned.

But I still miss that Holton.

It is hard to make decisions like this, but at this point I would just go with whatever it is that makes work easier and more enjoyable for you. The slight difference in timbre is not really such a big deal once the choice is eliminated from your life. You would miss the Adams, but after a few months you will get over it. Low register punch is a pretty important thing for a tuba player to have.

I would advise that you keep the Miraphone.

This is all just my opinion, and that has changed drastically over the years. I would like to ascribe that to "wisdom" acquired through 41 years of paying my bills by playing the tuba.

But it wouuld be more honest to say that I am just wearing down and getting tired, heh, heh, heh…

Best of luck in finding your way, man. This decision can be a pretty tough one.

Regards,

Wade

[bloke]

me...?

I wouldn't choose an Adams, but - were it that I otherwise LIKED an Adams (yet not the low range response), I'd get a mouthpiece that I liked with a SMALLER throat.

What's a tuba without a good low range response?

[catgrowlB]

Adams 6/4 CC with a mouthpiece change