Posted by anon. on December 15, 2000 at 01:32:20:
In Reply to: Holton 346R (new) vs. Yamaha 321 posted by Wanting opinions on December 14, 2000 at 21:30:38:
If the money is "private" (ie: band parents instead of a "purchase order"), I would have to recommend watching ebay for a nice "clean" 4-valve King with an upright detachable bell.
These take abuse and are quite "player-friendly" as "school" tubas.
Twenty-five years ago, I actually was awarded first in my all-state band on a worn-out/leaky 3-valve version of this same instrument. I had no lessons, and the second-chair player was not only a student of Jim Self, but also owned a Marzan CC !! *
*emphasis intended towards speaking well for the King tuba and away from emphasis on me.
Other players in the section had Mirafones, Meinl Westons, etc.