Posted by Don Shirer on December 22, 2002 at 00:09:46:
I'm now retired and after hearing a recent Tuba Christmas, have gotten fired up about playing a tuba again after a forty year hiatus. I used both Eb and BBb
instruments in high school and college and found the Eb tuning easier to transpose since I first learned trumpet as a kid. In looking around for used Eb instruments
I notice that the 3-valve models seem to be less expensive for equal number of dents. Would it make sense to buy an inexpensive 3-valver until I am sure my embrochure will hold up after all these years, or should I go directly to a 4-valve model to hit the lower notes often written for BBb tubas?
Any other advice you could give a fellow who has been out of the fold for quite a while would be appreciated.