Posted by Rick Denney on November 20, 2003 at 14:39:45:
In Reply to: Schmidt vs St. Petersburg Tubas posted by Dale Hair on November 20, 2003 at 13:27:37:
The Schmidt is a stencil label that is applied to excellent VMI 2103 tubas. These tubas are well built and your repair guy will find all parts generally available.
While some of the Russian tubas play pretty nicely, they are not consistently made and are often extremely difficult to have properly repaired. They are also rather soft and don't tolerate rough treatment. And at the price they are being offered in the U.S., you have many better choices, in my opinion (including the VMI/Schmidt). When you could buy them with new valve linkages for $1200 from Germany, they were a good deal for adults who would take the needed care. But for students, and at close to three grand, they don't make any sense.
The VMI/Schmidts will be much more durable and repairable in a school program, and they are excellent horns to play, and are consistent enough to be able to be bought sight unseen from a qualified dealer.
Rick "who thinks there's more to a school tuba than playability and price" Denney