Posted by Joe S. on April 29, 1999 at 21:59:53:
In Reply to: Tuba purchase help posted by Luke on April 29, 1999 at 15:46:33:
Maybe you could luck into an old detachable bell King or Reynolds BBb with pistons that are not worn out. Those horns get a decent full sound, and are sometimes available. You will have to luck out, however, or settle for one that is quite beat up to satisfy your price goal. Both of those have a nice-sounding '4/4'-sized body and a smallish (under 7/10") valve section bore. I have also seen a few big Yamaha 201 tubas (dented up and three valves) in this price range. Personally, I like the full-sized Kings better than the full sized 201 Yamaha for a budget tuba. If you would settle for a sousa, any Conn brass that is in good shape offers a pleasing sound, and both the body AND the valve section bore on Conn sousas (regular AND jumbo) are full-sized. With a sousa, it would be MUCH easier to find something within your $1000 range. Good hunting! (Just don't hunt too much on my "hunting lands"! [lol])