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Since we're playing "name a tuba that..."

Name a tuba that:
Is in BBb
Isn't obscenely heavy. (just normal tuba heavy)
Very good intonation
No bigger than an 17 or 18" bell
Is no taller than 35 to 36 inches
Full rich 4/4 tone or bigger

I already have a Packer 379b that fits all of these categories, I'm just interested in what else is out there

I played a 3/4 Weril BBb with four valves that was pretty nice recently. Belonged to a retired member of the US Coast Guard band and is now owned by a local amateur.

Once you fix the too-long 1st and 3rd valve slides, Conn 4J?

I edited my post. I should add I want something with a full rich tone. No 3/4 instruments

I found this....

Looks like fun

https://www.melton-meinl-weston.com/en/ ... as/2011ra/

My 1965 Mirafone 186 that survived an Arizona school system, with choice of removable bell (the upright one is definitely smaller than 17”), ticks those boxes. I think it’s short enough, or almost. I can meet you in West if you’d like to try it, though I expect you’ll find something more modern.

I think a 186 is a little taller than what I'm looking for. I don't think I've ever seen one less than 39 or 40 inches

Besson 15" bell compensating Eb with the fourth valve taped down

edit: nevermind, they're kind of obscenely heavy

Didn't play one, but maybe the Josef Lidl Moldau?

King 2341.

Sorry. Just realized bell is 20”. What about Yamaha YBB-621?
Maybe Meinl Weston model 18 “Handy”?
Cerveny Arion?

https://www.baltimorebrasscompany.com/p ... -tuba.aspx

It says 3/4 in the title, but I'm fairly certain the 18 is chunkier than the 2011RA. They also say "compact 4/4" in the description.

DonO. wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:03 pm King 2341.

Sorry. Just realized bell is 20”. What about Yamaha YBB-621?
Maybe Meinl Weston model 18 “Handy”?
Cerveny Arion?

The cerveny is the original version of what I have now. I've been looking for a Pre 1990 version of one of those for a couple of decades, and have neve Seen one. That's the dream

4/4 yorkophone with rare 18" monster Eb bell I guess that could also be described as a 52J but

Original/not Melton Howard Johnson Mahillon

One of those mid-sized Conn BBb's (medium height, 18" bell, curly leadpipe, bloke sold one a while back)

MW-18
B&S PT-2
St. Petersburg BBb
Hirsbrunner 4/4 BBb (whatever the model number is)
Miraphone 494 (new model, I don't know much about it... could be a 4/4- but still do-able?)

Kevbach33 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:14 pm https://www.baltimorebrasscompany.com/p ... -tuba.aspx

It says 3/4 in the title, but I'm fairly certain the 18 is chunkier than the 2011RA. They also say "compact 4/4" in the description.

That one is one I would love to try

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:51 pm MW-18
B&S PT-2
St. Petersburg BBb
Hirsbrunner 4/4 BBb (whatever the model number is)
Miraphone 494 (new model, I don't know much about it... could be a 4/4- but still do-able?)

The hagen 494.... I didn't even think about that... Wow, that might be the answer to the question

King tubas don't fit the category, but I don't see why their bell pancakes need to be as large as they are. ... in other words, I think that would be just fine with the 52J bell rather than that super-wide bell...
Okay, they might not be as easy to tip over, but they end up with a big flat area from children (ages c. 11 - 21) slamming them on the floor.


OK...I cheated, because I discussed an imaginary tuba. Further, I can't help but wonder how much longer that manufacturer is going to be in business.

@LeMark , I really like that Arion copy as well, but I wonder if it wouldn't offer forth an even richer type of resonance were it outfitted with perhaps a 16 and a half inch bell (and not just another 3/4 inch radius of pancake).

Really good quality tuba. From this list I might think the hagen might be the most desirable upgrade to it.

Yeah I'm turning myself into a BBb player, selling at least one of my CC tubas if not both

If I stick with the york as my Eb and not get the Norwegian star, then that money could be put into getting a really really Nice BBb

It's kind of like the Packer 274 euphonium. I played it for years and never really thought the adams Euph were more than a 10% improvement on it, and not worth the upgrade. Then the ultimate adams, the short action E3 with the silver bell fell in my lap, and I made the move


Every time I've played a hagen I thought it was the best BBb I've ever played

LeMark wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:09 pm
The hagen 494.... I didn't even think about that... Wow, that might be the answer to the question

When I bought my Hagen 496, I wanted to like the 495 (4/4) but it was a stinker. I hope the 494 is better, but I haven’t played one.

Don

The 282 Miraphone that is sitting here - and the owner lives sort of far away, so they still haven't picked it up - fits into the category, I think. It's sort of a 7/8ths size instrument and the rotors look to be the same size as used on a 186 or 188. The intonation is remarkably good, but the type of resonance is just a little bit on the terse side, so I don't know if that disqualifies it or not...(??)

I see a lot of positive comments about the 496. I'm glad Miraphone has another apparent commercial success.

I tried looking up the 282, couldn't even find it on the miraphone website anymore

Looks like the hagen is a little beefier. Hopefully I'll get to try one in DC.

I think I could go a long time with the Packer, but I just want to see how it holds up compared to more expensive models.

Size is a factor because I'm loading this tuba in and out of the car all day and taking it into small practice rooms to teach. Tall stack tubas aren't compatible with that use, but I still want a full tone

... nice sonority: because you are demonstrating for students.