Posted by Lew on October 29, 2001 at 07:24:27:
In Reply to: Re: Need help finding tuba posted by Gary on October 29, 2001 at 02:16:51:
Checking the shops listed on this site is generally good advice. I would also check out Taylor Music (www.1800usaband.ocm), and Wichita Music (www.wichitaband.com).
Some other brands worth looking at, especially used, would be King, Conn, Besson/Boosey& Hawkes, and older Olds & Holton.
Buying tubas on eb*y can be a real hit and miss proposition. Some things sell for much more than they would appear to be worth, while others end up selling for what look to be real bargains. The problem is that you don't know what you have until you get it, and that's usually too late. You can often get good bargains on older 3 valve instruments that may not be cosmetically the best, but play well. I wouldn't suggest it unless you had a lot of experience in buying tubas.
If you played a BBb in the past you should probably just stick with a BBb. If budget is very tight, Eb instruments are generally less expensive and learning to play them isn't very hard if you know BBb already.