Posted by David Hamrick on April 24, 1999 at 06:49:50:
In Reply to: Yamaha Tubas: Love 'em or Hate 'em ? posted by JRTapes on April 23, 1999 at 09:57:35:
I played the 321 in high school and developed a passionate dislike for it. It is an uncomfortable instrument to play (for me), seems to require a lot of effort to play relative to the volume & quality produced, and yes, I have had valve trouble with three different examples of this model. On the other hand, all of these gripes are probably products of the purpose for which these horns were used. They're built like tanks, good for the "high threat environment" of school. Lack of maintenance may account for the valves--at least one of these had a slow valve because of a bent stem, I discovered.
In college I played the four-rotor BBb and loved it!