Best brands for CC tubas

[AfroTuba]

I'm looking for a good 5 valve 4/4 CC tuba that I could use professionally in the future. The only brands I've heard a lot of good from (within my price range) are Miraphone and Meinl Weston. What other brands are worth looking into?

Price Range = less than 7,000

[davewerden]

Best brands for CC tubas

You might include the B&S Perantucci and the Hirsbrunner in your comparisons.

[AfroTuba]

Best brands for CC tubas

Hirsbrunners are pretty spendy though aren't they?

[davewerden]

Best brands for CC tubas

Sorry, but Hirsbrunners are pretty expensive. I missed your price range (guess I was reading too fast).

I will say this, though. I recently heard a very good high school player (just graduated) try the Hirsbrunner against several other tubas. He is starting this Fall at UW studying with Jerry Young and is a serious player. The Hirs. was clearly better than the rest - enough to make his father and him adjust the budget they had planned, which had been about what your is. One of my old friends from the U of Iowa was listening along and his opinion was the same. Thinking ahead to the future, and thinking of how long you will own the right horn, the cost amortizes out pretty well.

But that's easy for me to say - it's not my money!

[AfroTuba]

Best brands for CC tubas

Do you know of any websites that show the prices of Hirsbrunner tubas? I'd heard the name before but sort of pushed it aside because I knew it was above what I wanted to spend, and the only sites I've been able to find have been just catalogues with the different specs for each model.

[CC]

Best brands for CC tubas

Have you considered buying used? There are many great instruments (especially Hirsbrunners and B&S) that are currently for sale on other forums. Your price range is more feasible for that than buying new, which can get insane in the current market.

[davewerden]

Best brands for CC tubas

Originally posted by: CC

Have you considered buying used?

This is a good option in many cases. There can be a lot of life in a quality instrument, and often it is not nearly "used up" by one owner. Gary Buttery played in the Coast Guard Band and the tuba quartet with me. For solos or the quartet he usually played an Alexander tuba made around 1930. I have recently taught students at the U of MN who have excellent "second-hand" instruments that are 30-40 years old.

[davewerden]

Best brands for CC tubas

Originally posted by: AfroTuba

Do you know of any websites that show the prices of Hirsbrunner tubas?

You would need to check with Custom Music, the sole importer in the USA (I assume that's where you are). Sometimes it is not practical to publish prices online. The value of the dollar compared to the currency of other countries is a huge variable. As one or the other goes up or down, it can have a dramatic impact on the retail price.

Price fluctuations of new horns may also affect the price of used horns, but probably less dramatically and less quickly.

[AfroTuba]

Best brands for CC tubas

Another question I have relates to the size of the horn I should get. Right now I'm studying at St.Cloud State with Mark Springer and he suggested that I should stick to a 4/4 tuba. He said a 5 or 6/4 would probably be too big for the playing I'll be doing in the next couple years. I've just finished my second year at SCSU and will be there for 3 more years (after switching majors to music). So I was wondering if I should overlook 5/4 tubas for now.

[AfroTuba]

Best brands for CC tubas

I have considered buying used, but I have had difficulty finding websites, and finding used models of the horns I'm looking for.

[davewerden]

Best brands for CC tubas

Originally posted by: AfroTuba

I have considered buying used, but I have had difficulty finding websites, and finding used models of the horns I'm looking for.

Typical retail websites are not usually a good way to find used horns. I would check around on other forums (and post your "wanted to buy" notice), such as:

TubeNet

OR:

TubaNews

Also join the TubaEuph discussion list on Yahoo Groups and post your need there:

TubaEuph on Yahoo Groups

Readership on forums and lists goes down a little in the Summer, but you may still find some likely sellers.

[davewerden]

Best brands for CC tubas

Originally posted by: AfroTuba
...Mark Springer and he suggested that I should stick to a 4/4 tuba. He said a 5 or 6/4 would probably be too big for the playing I'll be doing in the next couple years. ...

There are a lot of factors in the decision. One of them is your own ability/style, and your teacher who sits in the same room while you play is a better judge of that than readers of a forum.

[ScottM]

Best brands for CC tubas

If you ar looking for a used horn check out Bass Clef Brass. They have some horns there that might fit your needs and price

[davewerden]

Best brands for CC tubas

Originally posted by: ScottM

If you ar looking for a used horn check out Bass Clef Brass. They have some horns there that might fit your needs and price

You can find them here:

Bass Clef Brass

They have 9 CC tubas as I write this.

[paultall]

Best brands for CC tubas

check out http://www.oberloh.com/ in Seattle. usually several good deals, and some excellent photos.

An interesting side not: They have done several radical valvectomies, taking beautiful older horns and tearing out old piston valves, replacing them with new rotary valves. Sort of unbelievable but a great idea to put life (and intonation) into an old horn. Check out the photos.