Posted by Eb only, but . . . . on July 05, 2001 at 19:59:42:
In Reply to: tubas posted by Curious on July 05, 2001 at 16:00:10:
I use a Besson 983 for all of my playing, which is 40% quartet, 40% quintet, and 20% larger groups. I'm not completely satisfied with the 983, as it sounds a little too broad (less core, less focused) in the upper register to pretend to be a 2nd 'bone in the quartet, and it's a little too stuffy to be comfortable playing extended low register passages, as often show up in pit orchestra parts. IF I were to try to make do with a single tuba, I'd choose the Willson 5V non-compensating Eb tuba as the best choice for this job. It would be less convincing a 2nd 'bone or euph for a brass quartet, but as a good overall horn, it would do nicely.
The Yamaha YFB-822 or the 3/4 Rudy Meinl CC would be my next choices.
Steve Inman
Kokomo, IN