Posted by Andy Bryan on November 17, 1999 at 15:26:19:
In Reply to: What tuba pitch?!? posted by Jesse-Horacio on November 16, 1999 at 21:39:05:
To me, the pitch of an instrument is less important than focusing on finding one that is of high quality. You want to have an instrument that won't hold back your development. Fortunately, there are many choices out there these days, so you shouldn't have too difficult of a time finding a suitable instrument, whether it's a CC or a BBb.
You will want to get one pitched in either CC or BBb, and not an F or Eb for your only horn. As stated in a previous post, these are primarily specialty instruments (solos, chamber works, etc).
I think that there are more currently CC tubas in use because historically, the highest quality instruments have been pitched in that key. There were fewer instruments available, of professional quality, in BBb. This is seemingly no longer the case. The main thing that you want to do is develop a concept of what you want to sound like. Then, find the instrument that best allows you to accomplish that.
Good luck.