Posted by dp on November 27, 2002 at 14:02:16:
In Reply to: in your dreams posted by Marcus Bowers on November 27, 2002 at 12:44:34:
What type of band? How many total members in the ensemble? A lot of trombones?
Any euphonium players? Cornets or trumpets? Cornets AND trumpets? Consistent players
or a rotating roster? Are the tuba players doing the gig as weekend warriors only (meaning did they play maybe in high school marching band, but are not focussed on playing apart from your monthly duty) or are they the kind who typically want to (or already) own their own horns? Are they BB-flat players or CC? Any of them play f (or e-flat)?
With all of these questions un-answered it is difficult to suggest what will work best for your Guard band, though I personally think it'd be silly to purchase 4 huge Kaiser tubas (for example) just because you can, especially if you have 12 clarinets, 2 trombones, seven sax-o-phones, and one old blare-o-tone player. Heck EVEN IF your band has 80-100 members or more, huge tubas like the MW Fafner may be great horns and very reasonably-priced but they are NOT "tuba-section hoo-rah" instruments, and would be TOO much as a section for any group.
Now all that said, if it is hard to tie down consistent answers to all the ensemble-detail questions, call several merchants, talk up your group's needs with them (for no more than 5-10 minutes each) and unless youre mind is dramatically altered from the conversations, have your procurement officer request quotes from ALL of the merchants you talk to on 4 matching Miraphone 186's.