Posted by Brad on November 16, 2003 at 13:52:26:
In Reply to: Best tuba for under $2500? posted by Brad on November 15, 2003 at 15:25:56:
Obviously a brand new instrument is out of the question.
So, what is the best full size convertible that there is as far as quality?
It seems that the Yamahas and Kanstuls might be the best ones. Are there any other really good horns?
I'm sure we can find at least one "like-new" tuba at a store around town. The main things are that it wasn't previously beaten to death and rebuilt, because once an instrument has to be rebuilt, it doesn't play the same, and that the instrument is currently dent free and has at least the bell plating in tact with good valves.
I don't know how many Kanstul convertibles we'll find in the stores around here though, no high school around plays those. The high schools that play "contras" use the Yamaha 4/4 size convertible.
I've had a chance to hear one high school that marches Yamaha convertibles, and they sound really good (then again, anything sounds better then a 1979 King 2370 fiberglass Sousaphone).