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The 534 BBb is bought and paid for. It's MINE.

but... the Eastman dealer in my area let me know the same day that I paid for the 534 that they just got a 562 in stock, and I could come by and play it in case I had any hesitation about the 534. I didn't, but I still wanted to try one.

Holy mother of God. the 562 has a larger bore but a slightly smaller bell, and it's a taller instrument than the 534, but not nearly as tall as the Miraphone 186, which is its main competition. A little more of a focused tone, not quite as broad, but intonation is marvelous, and the response was lightning quick, as were the valves. I have to admit the low range was more free blowing than my 534, feeling more like a BBb version of my Beloved Piggy.

I had to remind myself that in addition to how it played, I chose the 534 because I wanted a compact BBb for small practice rooms, and I already owned a nice gig bag that it would fit into.

If it wasn't for those two factors, it would have been a very difficult afternoon, as they said I free to exchange them if I wanted to. I can see why @rodgeman raved about his 562 so much.

Where were BBb tubas like this when I was in college? These kind of tubas would have 2nd guessed my motivation for switching to CC.

https://www.eastmanwinds.com/ebb562

https://www.eastmanwinds.com/ebb534

What was available when you were in college?

They were handing out BBb 186s when I signed up for tuba/euphonium ensemble class for fun, which seemed pretty nice to me, but I was a non music major putting most of my attention on bassoon, so I wasn’t picky.

This is going to seem rather controversial, but both of these horns play better than a 186.

The 534 feels like the prototype 2341 I played in the late 90's in Eastlake, which at the time was the best BBb tuba I had ever played, and the 562 reminds me of the miraphone hagen 496, but slightly smaller. It's what the 495 hagen wishes it was

Pictures??

In all seriousness, I’ve never liked the 186, 191, or new style 2341. I’m glad Eastman is catering to the BBb side of tuba as well. When I was in HS, we had crappy Yamaha 641 and 321 tubas, some of the worst out there.

Getting a school tuba that plays like these Eastmans will be a game changer for those kids wanting to play, and play well, not limited by the instrument.

The sweet spot for BBb is, to me, the old-old American makes, such as those top-piston Yorks, big Holtons, and detachable bell Kings.

Nowadays, BBb is cool, so manufacturers are actually putting R&D into them. The newer Miraphone models are killer. So are the Eastman tubas. But Eastman wins in cost.

Sorry, forgot to take pics

Chris Olka has an excellent video covering the 562 of anyone is interested.



So does our very own doc

That's true and it sells for less than 10k, which is rare these days for a German made tuba.

The 562, appears, to be an adaptation of the B&S GR-51. Which is (IMHO) the best contrabass tuba B&S makes (followed closely by the PT-6 rotary and maybe the Mr. P... but I've never gotten to play agood example of the Mr. P). Years ago I owned a rotary MW 2155... AWESOME sound... absolutely CRAPPY intonation. The GR-51 is the in tune cousin of that horn. The Eastman 562 and 825 are Eastman's evolution of those horns. I played a 562 once and loved it. I toyed around with switching back to BBb for that horn. If you are a BBb player and don't particularly care to switch to CC... there really is no need. With horns out there like the Eastman 562, 825, B&S GR-51, Miraphone 496 and the Eastman 534 (for that 4/4 compact American style horn that punches above it's weight class) there are BBb tuba choices that play extremely well.

LeMark wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 5:04 am This is going to seem rather controversial, but both of these horns play better than a 186.

The 534 feels like the prototype 2341 I played in the late 90's in Eastlake, which at the time was the best BBb tuba I had ever played, and the 562 reminds me of the miraphone hagen 496, but slightly smaller. It's what the 495 hagen wishes it was

I agree. I sold both my 186's to buy my 562, and echo your thoughts on response and intonation.

Well there was a reason I mentioned those Eastman models and the B&S GR51 over a Yamaha 641 that I enthusiasticly despise in a rant a while back.

But I do think the 534 and 562 (& the GR51) give players/people amazing options of their desired sound, response, etc when sticking with BBb tubas. Well the Miraphones too of course.

@LeMark Glad you liked it!

Didn't realize these were shorter than a 186. How tall ARE they?

The gr51 is listed as being 38.5 inches, so I would assume the 562 is right about that.

The miraphone is closer to 40"

The prices are close enough to where if I was in the market for that size rotary tuba and that design of rotary tuba in B flat, I would just pay the little bit more and buy the German made one.

I didn't exactly play full retail. But if you were, you're right, the gr51 sells for a very reasonable price

I don't exactly buy stuff new, but that isn't the point. The best prices I see advertised online for the German one versus the really similar Chinese one are only about $1,500 apart.

I haven't played the Chinese version, but I have played the German version. To me it's pretty much a B flat version of a rotary 5450. They're just fine.

The tuono? Probably my favorite CC tuba of all time. That's high praise

Dents Be Gone! wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 9:20 am The B&S “original” (which is actually based on a B&F) is a really nice tuba. Super intonation, quick response, and big, resonant sound.

“A tuba deserving wider recognition.”

Which tuba is this?

The B&S GR-51

LeMark wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2024 4:59 amThe B&S GR-51

Thanks, Mark.

Thems are some good ones!