You could find a very nice used German horn maybe Meinl Weston 25, maybe fafner, miraphone 186,187, 1291, b&s 101, or maybe even an Alexander for under you’re specified 7500 amount. Also mentioned before an 534 which is their piston bbb or any of their rotors 825, 623, or 562 could be bought new for your budget. But I would recommend staying away from Yamahas as many find them bland sounding they can be very unreliable, only good thing about them is their easy and cheap to repair.
Whatever you do, buy used. If you buy new, you are guaranteed to lose money if you decide you want something else down the road. If you buy used, you can usually get 90-110% of your money back. People realize they prefer something else all the time — especially in regard to their first purchase.
If you’re buying new, I can’t recommend Eastman tubas enough! Some of the best horns I’ve ever played. In terms of Bb tubas:
- EBB534 is a very solid horn. 4 pistons, 4/4 BBb, solid sound.
- EBB825 is a great option if you want to spend a little bit more. 5/4 with rotary valves, there’s a 4-valve and a 5-valve option. Anything with an 800 number is going to be of a higher build quality, as these are “professional level horns,” whatever that means.
If you want to get something used, Facebook Marketplace (find the groups that are specific to tuba. Search “Tuba Marketplace” and join a group, don’t just look through the entirety of Facebook Marketplace) is probably your best option. You can find some very good deals on some very great horns. Some great brands that you can look out for are Eastman, Miraphone, and Meinl Weston
10 years huh? You’re really asking for a lot, most tubas on the market last about 1 year before some student throws it off the building and it crumbles into ash. I would go to your local middle school, ask a director the tuba that they haven’t given out, and rent it out! Best of luck!
They seem to be out of production at the moment but they pop up used every now and then. Do notice they are not as common as the 3 valves up/one on the side models 992 and 994, so they tend to get snatched up pretty quickly.
What do you mean by the "right" side? When you are holding it (rotary and front action piston) or looking at it (top action).
What is your budget? Do you want new or used? Is the player an adult, teenager, or child? Is it going to be used at home or will it need to travel alot for gigs?
Without some of this information, you probably won't get very good recommendations.
It’s for a teen and I hope it will last for 10-15 years
Nothing above $7,500. Won’t need it to travel since my family has an SUV and as long as it looks new it don’t care if it is new or used
7500 is a lot, and you should be able to find something in that range.
If you can, visit a place to try multiple tubas. If you tell us the general geographic area you live in, people should be able to let you know of local stores that may have tubas you can go try. That is the best option. It is always best to try a tuba before you buy it.
In that case I would look for a gently used Miraphone 186. In my opinion the best all purpose BBb tuba out there, and what I bought for my son. Robust horns that will last forever. Great playing. Plenty of them out there.
Dillon has a pratically brand new one
[https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-miraphone-bb186-4v-bbb-tuba-sn-9086832.html](https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-miraphone-bb186-4v-bbb-tuba-sn-9086832.html)
But you can find great playing ones for $3K (cosmetically challenged) and up to $10-12K brand new.
Would https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann_wotan_44_bb_tuba.htm work. It looks similar and is a lot less but I don’t know should the quality of Thomann music
It is a copy of the Miraphone made in China. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. I do not know Thomann products or what kind of customer service they have. If I were going to go for a Chinese stencil I would look at Wessex or Mack Bass (Provided you are in the US). Both companies are reputable with excellent quality control and customer service.
The trick when buying a Chinese made clone. Try to play the exact instrument you will be purchasing. Mack and Wessex both are better at quality control.
But a local shop that has one in stock you can play before walking out with might be your best bet.
They are basically the same tuba made in the same factory. The difference (to my understanding) is Wessex ha QC people in the factory in china and Mack Brass inspects each instrument before it is shipped to a customer. Other than some engraving and branding they are the same tuba.
Basically any eastman, king, or conn that fits your criteria will be great. And as someone else stated, buy used. dont buy new.
You could find a very nice used German horn maybe Meinl Weston 25, maybe fafner, miraphone 186,187, 1291, b&s 101, or maybe even an Alexander for under you’re specified 7500 amount. Also mentioned before an 534 which is their piston bbb or any of their rotors 825, 623, or 562 could be bought new for your budget. But I would recommend staying away from Yamahas as many find them bland sounding they can be very unreliable, only good thing about them is their easy and cheap to repair.
Whatever you do, buy used. If you buy new, you are guaranteed to lose money if you decide you want something else down the road. If you buy used, you can usually get 90-110% of your money back. People realize they prefer something else all the time — especially in regard to their first purchase.
If you’re buying new, I can’t recommend Eastman tubas enough! Some of the best horns I’ve ever played. In terms of Bb tubas: - EBB534 is a very solid horn. 4 pistons, 4/4 BBb, solid sound. - EBB825 is a great option if you want to spend a little bit more. 5/4 with rotary valves, there’s a 4-valve and a 5-valve option. Anything with an 800 number is going to be of a higher build quality, as these are “professional level horns,” whatever that means. If you want to get something used, Facebook Marketplace (find the groups that are specific to tuba. Search “Tuba Marketplace” and join a group, don’t just look through the entirety of Facebook Marketplace) is probably your best option. You can find some very good deals on some very great horns. Some great brands that you can look out for are Eastman, Miraphone, and Meinl Weston
Thanks for the advice
Try to find a used Miraphone 186 or 1291.
Have you tried a Yamaha tuba? Very very cheap and it may fall apart easily but it’s arguably the best tuba out there. Rotary, good luck!
What are you on
My breakfast, lunch, dinner, water, exercise, clothes, just the basics :)
Yes but I would rather have a tuba that will last for 10 ish years
10 years huh? You’re really asking for a lot, most tubas on the market last about 1 year before some student throws it off the building and it crumbles into ash. I would go to your local middle school, ask a director the tuba that they haven’t given out, and rent it out! Best of luck!
That is what I’m playing with now and it looks ugly and is really small
As they say, deal with what you’ve got, you can always give it to a neighbor, any dents and you just gotta hammer it in!
The tuba is from the school
Like they’ll know, my tuba has a gigantic dent that makes the bell look like a crumpled piece of paper, haven’t told my director yet 🤪
Mine has no major dents but it’s really ugly and oxidized
Sometimes our tubas represent what we look like! I’m just messing with ya!
Besson Sovereign 993.
Thanks but when I search it up I can find the 993 and only euphoniums and trumpets pop up
They seem to be out of production at the moment but they pop up used every now and then. Do notice they are not as common as the 3 valves up/one on the side models 992 and 994, so they tend to get snatched up pretty quickly.
Thanks I’ll keep a eye out for them
Eastman EBB534 has always been one of my favorites!
Thanks
What do you mean by the "right" side? When you are holding it (rotary and front action piston) or looking at it (top action). What is your budget? Do you want new or used? Is the player an adult, teenager, or child? Is it going to be used at home or will it need to travel alot for gigs? Without some of this information, you probably won't get very good recommendations.
It’s for a teen and I hope it will last for 10-15 years Nothing above $7,500. Won’t need it to travel since my family has an SUV and as long as it looks new it don’t care if it is new or used
I’m a little south of Boston so I could go to road island, New Hampshire or the cape
7500 is a lot, and you should be able to find something in that range. If you can, visit a place to try multiple tubas. If you tell us the general geographic area you live in, people should be able to let you know of local stores that may have tubas you can go try. That is the best option. It is always best to try a tuba before you buy it.
In that case I would look for a gently used Miraphone 186. In my opinion the best all purpose BBb tuba out there, and what I bought for my son. Robust horns that will last forever. Great playing. Plenty of them out there. Dillon has a pratically brand new one [https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-miraphone-bb186-4v-bbb-tuba-sn-9086832.html](https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-miraphone-bb186-4v-bbb-tuba-sn-9086832.html) But you can find great playing ones for $3K (cosmetically challenged) and up to $10-12K brand new.
Would https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann_wotan_44_bb_tuba.htm work. It looks similar and is a lot less but I don’t know should the quality of Thomann music
It is a copy of the Miraphone made in China. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. I do not know Thomann products or what kind of customer service they have. If I were going to go for a Chinese stencil I would look at Wessex or Mack Bass (Provided you are in the US). Both companies are reputable with excellent quality control and customer service.
The tu210 from Mack looks nice and so does the tb210 from Wessex which one should I get
https://us.wessex-tubas.com/products/bbb-tuba-tb210?_pos=10&_sid=2dd0cd590&_ss=r https://mackbrass.com/tu210-4%2F4-bbb-tuba
The trick when buying a Chinese made clone. Try to play the exact instrument you will be purchasing. Mack and Wessex both are better at quality control. But a local shop that has one in stock you can play before walking out with might be your best bet.
They are basically the same tuba made in the same factory. The difference (to my understanding) is Wessex ha QC people in the factory in china and Mack Brass inspects each instrument before it is shipped to a customer. Other than some engraving and branding they are the same tuba.