Posted by Frederick J. Young on October 31, 2002 at 11:33:19:
In Reply to: Brass band tubas posted by Drew on October 30, 2002 at 13:29:15:
If its a really good brass band, you shall find that a noncompensating BBb tuba will not have good enough intonation to fit in the Brass band. This is especially true when the parts get into the last octave of the piano and are fast. No amount of slide pulling will help during fast passages.
Try to get an compensating BBb tuba. There a lot of old Boosey & Hawkes, Bessons, Hirshbrunner and Gronitz tubas around. You might be able to get a true double Gronitz which would be even better than the compensating tubas. If your band music doesn't get below E five spaces below the bass clef staff, get a three valve compensating BBb. Three valve compensating instruments a the very best in tune of all brasses with the exception of the trombone played by a master!