Originally Posted by
opus37
A C or and BBb would likely be larger and heavier.
Yes, but not necessarily, depending on models (my Champion weighs about as much as my 4/4 Cerveny BBb did). Also, a compensating Eb is fairly heavy because of the extra tubing and larger valves. The only thing I regret about my Wessex Eb is that I wish I'd gotten the smaller (15") bell instead of the larger (19"). And the smaller (especially 3-valve) BBb tubas are not heavy.
A Mirafone Starlight (non-compensating 5 valves and 16.5 lbs) might be great, but a bit pricey at ~$12,000. A couple of years ago I saw a great older Mirafone 4-valve rotary Eb (used) for sale by Northern Low Brass at a really good price. I thought briefly about buying it. It was gone in about two days.
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)