B&S GR51 BBb Tuba

[ParLawGod]

Got to play one of these today. I was out of town and got contacted about a gig (my Miraphone 186 was at home and only my trombone in the car). Was able to get my hands on one of these B&S tubas from a friend...honestly, loved it! Very open sound, great low register on it, and well in tune. Dark sound, but not overly dark. Rotors were fast, and probably my only complaint was that it was HEAVY.

Anyone here play on one of these...what has been your experience? Any clones that are similiar? I'm giving strong consideration to giving it a further trial run and purchasing one.

[djwpe]

I spent probably an hour on one on the day I decided to buy my Hagen. It was between the two, and it could’ve gone either way, but I felt more comfortable with the intonation on the Hagen. I suggest you try both side by side if possible.

Don

[chite]

Great horn and the GR55 is even better I am told. The Eastman EBB562 is a very similar model. Both have their own voice and play well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bort2.0]

No comprende <<gig>> ??

[bloke]

I rate that model as very good.
The Buffet people came up my driveway - several years ago - asking me if I wanted to be a dealer.
(Quite a few years before that, I had tossed the stuff they sent to my brick-and-mortar store in the trash, because Woodwind/Brasswind's retail prices were lower than their dealer prices.)
The thing was that they handed me that tuba to check out (build quality/playing characteristics) and represented it as "popular with schools".
Playing on it - for a few minutes - left a good impression.
That having been said, the dealer cost on one of those (not to mention a hard case and shipping) was a higher price (dealer cost) than what any of the local school systems (to my knowledge) had ever paid to buy any tubas.

[Three Valves]

(Quite a few years before that, I had tossed the stuff they sent to my brick-and-mortar store in the trash, because Woodwind/Brasswind's retail prices were lower than their dealer prices.)

It almost gives me comfort to know that other industries besides insurance screws their reps this badly!!

On the the GR51.

Sounds great. Heavy.

Eastman clone comes close.

Miraphone 496 nicer.

But I honestly don't think you could go wrong with either. Let your budget decide!!

[gnimoyw]

Have a GR51, love it. I've had a Mira 1291 and 191. I was not a fan of the 1291 but really liked the 191. I think it's very similar to the 191 and is a great BBb horn. I've never play the Hagen though, definitely would like to if the opportunity presents at some point.

[bort2.0]

I came *really* close to buying one of these about 4 years ago. I came even closer to buying a GR-55. But at the last minute, I chickened out and stayed with CC. That is what it is... but I think these tubas are GREAT.

Two side notes:
* Doc, when you had 3 BBb tubas and did that comparison video, I liked the GR-51 clone sound the best. I'm sure the Hagen sounds better in person as you said... but the GR-51 clone sounded great!
* I agree with Kenneth Crawford's comment on this video from WWBW.

[bloke]

[Chris Olka]

I’ve always liked the GR51. The newer Eastman EBB562 models I’ve played lately are on par with them and for half the price. I liked this Eastman so much that I’m developing a handmade version with 5 valves. Here’s a link to the video I did on the prototype:
https://youtu.be/fF6GzQx4jWQ
Hope that helps shed more light on the model.

[Doc]

* Doc, when you had 3 BBb tubas and did that comparison video, I liked the GR-51 clone sound the best. I'm sure the Hagen sounds better in person as you said... but the GR-51 clone sounded great!

The 562 is a GREAT tuba. The Hagen has a deeper/different sound. Much to love about both.

* I agree with Kenneth Crawford's comment on this video from WWBW.

I’ve always liked the GR51. The newer Eastman EBB562 models I’ve played lately are on par with them and for half the price. I liked this Eastman so much that I’m developing a handmade version with 5 valves. Here’s a link to the video I did on the prototype:
https://youtu.be/fF6GzQx4jWQ
Hope that helps shed more light on the model.

The 562 is a great tuba, but ^^^THIS^^^ could be SCARY-GOOD. I WILL be trying one when they come out.

I wonder what a hand-hammered goldbrass bell would do?

BTW, I've watched that video dozens of times. Killer playing, killer tuba. The only exception might be the Hagen 497 video - I still come back to it regularly.

[ParLawGod]

Thanks, everyone! I'll definitely need to try a GR55 and compare the two. I'm also very intrigued by the Eastman models...I looked up a lot of information on those equivalents and have read great things.

Steps 2 & 3: Sell a few horns in the meantime, and convince my wife that I need a tuba upgrade! Ha!

No comprende <<gig>> ??

A rarity for sure! This one was a quintet (with masks and social distancing). I've had fewer than a dozen gigs since March...hopefully that number will start ticking upward after the new year! Eager to get back into the swing of things...

[iiipopes]

Many moons ago, the low brass professor at our regional university asked Jeff Rideout to stop by for an afternoon on his way back from Texas to Michigan after a conference. Playing in university sponsored community band, I got an invitation. Among all the other tubas and mouthpieces I tried, I got to play a then-new GR51. At that time, I had just gotten my 186, and it was before I changed the bell out; it was still in detachable bell livery. It was soooo tempting to trade, as the GR51 is a very fine instrument, with good response, broad, consistent tone from register to register, consistent scale, all as a 4/4 tuba. Alas, since all I was then and still am now is a community player, I simply could not justify the expense at the time. But if I were younger, and playing more gigs BBb, the GR51 would definitely be on my short list.

Footnote: it was some time after that when B&S then came out with the 5/4 GR55. I have not played a GR55.