The Tuba for Youba

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The Tuba for Youba!
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Different tubas

• Tubas can come in different
• Sizes (e.g., 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4)
• Keys (e.g., BBb, CC, Eb, F)
• Finishes (e.g., silver, lacquer, etc.)
• Valve setups (Rotor or Piston, 3, 4, 5, 41, 6,
  etc. Valves)

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Pistons Versus Rotor Valves

• In reality, the difference is probably negligible
  and the decision should be made on personal
  preference
• But, if you want to know the stereotypes

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Piston versus Rotor Valves

• Piston is typically
• Good for technical playing
• Harder to play in the legato style
• A little more expensive (as they typically tend
  to come on higher quality horns)

• Rotor is typically
• Better for legato playing
• Harder to play very technical passages on
• Found in larger number of valves (more than 5)

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Number of Valves

• Increased number of valves
• Allow for more notes in the low register
• Improve intonation throughout the horn, but
  ESPECIALLY in the low register
• Look really cool

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Number of Valves

• For example on a CC horn, you could not play
  this note without a 5th valve
• Then again how often are you going to need to
  play a pedal C?

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Number of Valves

• On higher pitched horns, higher and higher notes
  become difficult to tune with only 4 valves (the
  C in the previous slide becomes an F that is
  difficult to tune on an F tuba)
• Thus, it is almost a requirement to have at least
  5 valves on an Eb or F tuba, and many have as
  many as 7 valves to allow for proper intonation
  throughout the usable register of the horn

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Silver versus Gold

• Again, many old wives tales about this. Its
  really personal preference.
• Some say that silver has a more direct and
  brighter tone while gold/brass has a darker,
  rounder sound

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A word about sizes

• There is NO standardization, but
• 3/4 student sized horn
• 4/4 average tuba
• 5/4 bigger than the 4/4
• 6/4 mega, monster horn (well discuss this
  later)

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A word about sizes

• Typically, the larger the size, the more
  projection (read volume)
• However, bigger horns require more air
• Sustaining long, loud, low pitches on a 6/4 size
  horn can require LITERS of air every second
• Remember this when choosing a horn for The
  Ride maybe you should leave the 6/4 in the case

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Which is for you?

• Consider the differences
• Consider the price
• Consider the applications

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BBb Tubas
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BBb Tubas

• Retail cost 2,500-5,000
• Sizes 3/4-6/4
• Uses
• Middle/high school band
• Community ensembles
• British-style brass bands
• Some college playing
• Dixieland/Polka/Jazz

• Horns to look at
• Yamaha 641 BBb
• King 2341
• Willson 6400

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BBb Tubas

• Often considered beginner and intermediate level
  horns
• Non-professional level non-professional quality
  horns
• Not really accepted in the orchestral world

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CC Tubas
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CC Tubas

• Retail cost 4,000-15,000
• Sizes 3/4-6/4
• Uses
• Orchestral playing
• Quintet
• College Band
• Solos

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CC Tubas

• Standard horns for college and professional
  players (supplemented with others)
• Since at professional level, professional quality
• Thus, price increase

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CC Tubas 4/4 Size

• Horns to look at
• Perantucci PT 20 (my horn)
• Hirsbrunner HB 21
• Mirafone 186
• Meinl Weston 2145
• Yamaha 641CC

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CC 5/4 Size

• Horns to look at
• Perantucci PT-6
• Meinl Weston 2000
• Mirafone 1291 (the new wonder kid in the tuba
  world.. technically a 5/4 size but it performs
  much like a 4/4)

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CC 6/4 Size

• Horns to look at
• Holton 6/4
• Hirsbrunner HB 50
• York Frankentubas

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But why.?

• 6/4 Size Horns (aptly nicknamed BATs) work in
  VERY few settings
• If youre playing a Mahler symphony with a 200
  piece orchestra and a 300 member chorus, then
  you MIGHT need the projection of a 6/4
• Inapplicable in 98 of all playing situations

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You DONT need this horn
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Eb Tubas
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Eb Tubas

• Retail cost 2,500-7,500
• Sizes 3/4-6/4
• Uses
• The ultimate brass band horn
• Quintet
• Solo
• Sometimes seen in polka and Dixieland

• Horns to look at
• Besson 983
• Willson 3400

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F Tubas
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F Tubas

• Retail cost 2,500-7,500
• Sizes 3/4-6/4
• Uses
• Solos
• Orchestral (Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Ravel, etc.)
• Quintet

• Horns to look at
• Meinl Weston 45SLP/45SLZ
• Willson 3200
• Hirsbrunner HB12
• Perantucci PT10
• Yamaha YBB621

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Which Tuba is For Youba??

• So consider the following
• Key
• Size
• Number of Valves
• Finish
• And, most importantly, price range

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Which Tuba is for Youba??

• And in the end, wind up buying whichever horn
  works best for you and fits the largest number of
  the above categories!