Posted by Joe S. on March 07, 2000 at 21:17:58:
In Reply to: Suggestions for CC... posted by Benjamin on March 07, 2000 at 19:35:30:
If you can let go of the "pistons" wish, a Miraphone 186 (at the risk of sounding like a broken record) is probably the safest and most-for-the-money of all tubas, and far more playable than many instruments that cost twice as much money.
The "186" is probably as universally-considered to be the safest choice of medium-big CC tuba as the "Bach Stradivarius" is to trumpeters. (not the majority choice, as there is none, but the one recommended more often than any other).
As a postscript, I have found recently-manufactured ones to have a rounder tone quality than Miraphones have had for decades, yet still with very reliable intonation.