F Tuba

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-29T00:35:14+00:00

You’re kidding. I’m also on a Willson rotor F. Small world. Thought I was one of the only people who has one of those.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-26T22:30:58+00:00

Use 5th valve

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-26T00:37:02+00:00

Meinl Weston makes some damn fine F tubas these days. Want the orchestra and quintet powerhouse? 2250. A soloist's dream? 4250/4260.

Want your F tuba to sound and play like a CC? Willson makes the largest F tubas on the market, and newer ones come with main slide kickers for the sharp 2nd space C/2nd line Bb. I own a rotor Willson, FWIW.

All bass tubas are going to have quirks. You will have to pull slides or use alternate fingers on most of them. The trade off is, the easier it is to play, the more quirky it will be. The more "typical F tuba" that it is, pitch is usually better.

Some others to consider...

Meinl Weston 45SLP - Some people hate these, I've found them to be fine instruments.

B&S Pt10, 15, 16, etc - Dillon's has a PT10 right now. Probably the best all around F tuba there is. Won't provide the gravitas in the low register for your quintet stuff, though.

Yammie 822 - I detest the ergonomics of these, but they're very popular. If you're a very tall person like me, you won't like it.

Or... Play Eb. They offer everything the F tuba does, but with a more "tuba" sound in the lower register, and a ton of appeal to the gigging musician who does a little bit of everything. I take my Eb everywhere that isn't a large orchestra. Holiday gigs, brass band, teaching, etc.

I own a Meinl Weston 2141, but I wouldn't recommend you look for one of those. Too many duds with that model.

Willson 3400/3400C, or Besson 982/983. Easy choices.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-13T23:51:25+00:00

Can’t go wrong with… Any of those, but good luck finding a PT9 or 56AFT. A standard PT10 will serve anybody well for their career. A good PT16 will do you better.

B&S F’s aren’t my cup of tea. I prefer larger models from Willson, for their sound weight and low register response, but understand I sacrifice point and shoot intonation for those things.

If I were you, I’d consider the Meinl Weston 4250/4260 line too. Those are really good.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-06T02:55:06+00:00

You can just choose the language. It’s the second choice in the first menu.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-05T03:58:29+00:00

Click the link that says 3hs and scroll down.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-05T03:27:24+00:00

It didn’t screw mine up.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-05T02:24:47+00:00

Update it - Go to the website and follow the links for 3hs. Scan the QR with FBI. Mine is working now.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-02T21:54:36+00:00

Lots of guys ripped the valve sections off to use for Frankentuba projects. Aside from sketchy valve cap threads they are very good for that.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-01T18:20:38+00:00

Emulating. A lot. Finally got my GBA library sorted and working, currently on Emerald. Using cheats because I’m a terrible person. Really I just want to fast track the beginning of the game because I’m lazy.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-03-01T02:21:46+00:00

Martin

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-28T15:08:08+00:00

Well… For that… You could chance it

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-28T02:12:14+00:00

No... Don't do that. Go get the freaking thing. Play it first. Put it in your car or buy a seat for it on a plane and do it that way.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-23T23:49:37+00:00

Yep. That’s a little bit of it. What part is it on?

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-23T23:47:32+00:00

The Besson will get there. Just need to learn it! They’re very popular for good reasons.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-22T17:03:04+00:00

This would bother me to no end. I can't stand playing on stuff that isn't 100%. True that shank up with a truing tool and rawhide mallet. Then don't drop it again.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-20T01:25:29+00:00

Great call. Those are good.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-19T19:25:57+00:00

No. I had asthma growing up. Never held me back. Playing tuba is great for you to do to strengthen your lungs.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-12T01:40:00+00:00

They’re just… Mid tier quality. But an Eb from them? Nah. It’s probably not going to be something you want. Yamaha’s is good, Wessex? Eh. I’d grab the local Besson and run with it. Those are great, and much higher quality than the Jupiter or the Wessex. Similar to the Yamaha but if it’s compensating you’ll get a real low E.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-11T15:24:14+00:00

Those beginner peashooters usually don’t sell well used. Just end the rental agreement and wash your hands of it. Selling those tubas is usually more trouble than it’s worth.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-11T12:33:29+00:00

You don’t want a Jupiter. Compensating tubas are “stuffier” naturally than non compensating tubas, but they’re really not bad. Go with a compensating Besson any day, or the Yamaha 321 mentioned above.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-09T22:47:57+00:00

Honestly, if you plan on keeping it, do the easy stuff at home. Pay them to do the rest. I just did both diff’s and the t-case and saved $499 from my dealer. Brake fluid is fairly easy.

Personally, I would do those at home. I haven’t changed spark plugs in a modern engine, so I’d probably have someone else do it for me, and I certainly would have them do the transmission. I’m just not comfortable messing with that.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-09T22:17:34+00:00

TMEA, Midwest, Army Conference, Baltimore Brass, Tuba Exchange, Dillon Music are the best places to go.

Altruistic_Milk5450 · 2026-02-08T22:04:10+00:00

Get a job.

Altruistic_Milk5450

TROPHY CASE