Posted by curious on May 09, 2003 at 18:05:05:
I currently own a 4/4 C tuba that I am pretty happy with. It serves me well in the collegiate ensembles, which is about a 50 piece wind ensemble and sometimes a full-size orchestra.
One thing I am unhappy with is my ability to play some solo literature because of range issues and whatnot. I could go out and buy an Eb or an F, but that would be impossible financially.
What I want to know is if there are Eb tubas out there that are capable of holding their weight in large ensembles such as wind symphonies and full-size orchestras while still offering a pleasant solo experience. For those of you reading this that are asking "what about F tubas," I am of the understanding that their sound is a little more compact than Eb, but if you believe otherwise, please let me know.
Oh yeah, one more monkey wrench. I would like it to be in the $3500-4000 range. Let me know what you can come up with.
Thank you very much!