Posted by Charlie Krause on February 28, 2004 at 21:15:35:
Did anyone play the new piston and rotor BBb tubas at the Jupiter booth at TMEA?
i played both and both played pretty well. The rotor had design problems with the valve placement and removing the back rotor caps. The rotor was based on the smaller 378 with small bore and bell size and I think that was a major design mistake. The front action piston 4 valve was made with the larger bore and played well.
I did not have my tuner so I did not see how both were. The linkage on the rotor was real nice, very solid. The pistons were stainless so that may the valve problems. The piston played with a very big sound for a small tuba. I would say it may even play louder than the Weril 680.
They did not bring the CC with them. They thought it would be better to send it to a dealer instead and they had all the students and instructors right there at TMEA. That was a big dumb move.
If you played them, what were your thoughts?