Re: F Tuba


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Posted by Steve Inman on March 17, 2001 at 15:33:41:

In Reply to: F Tuba posted by Band Director on March 16, 2001 at 22:31:49:

B.D.,

Many serious tubists and most pro players on this BBS seem to own multiple tubas.
A frequent approach is to own a full-sized (or larger) contrabass tuba, and
a bass tuba of various size depending on personal preference.

The big contrabass tuba ends up being used in the larger ensembles and the bass
tuba being used in quintets or for soloing, where a more compact sound is often
desired. The goal here seems to be a pleasing solo "voice" for the audience or
a balanced sound with a small ensemble.

Within the world of F tubas, I've read about three "categories" of horns:
1. BIG F tubas that are described as sounding like a 4/4 CC tuba. These would
include the Willson 3200 F, the Yamaha 822F, for example. There may be others.
2. Small F tubas that are described as sounding more euph-like than any of the
others. This would include the Yamaha YFB-621 and the Meinl Weston 182. Both
of these are usually described as 3/4 size F tubas.
3. The "traditional German F tuba". Note there may be some overlap with 1 and 2,
above with these. But the German tuba manufacturers tend to build tubas in 4/4 and
5/4 sizes with a characteristic sound, described by Martin Matthies of the Meinl
Weston company as a "noble" sound. Others describe this sound as dark and
centered, lacking in high harmonics. You'll have to play and/or listen to
different F tubas to figure out what this difference is.

Roger Bobo and John Griffiths are two notable YFB-621 tubists. If you buy their
CDs you can hear great players on the 3/4 size Yamaha. Those on this BBS can
provide names of noted "German F" players, I'm sure.

Best Regards,

Steve Inman
Kokomo, IN




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