BBb or CC

[humBell]

Is Tabor here ?

I been wondering that off and on over the day...

Maybe i should do something about it.

[LeMark]

I just put a really obvious post on his board, the Frankentuba off topic board. Hopefully he'll get the hint

[The Big Ben]

Is Tabor here ?

Maybe he doesn't know. Anybody who is a friend and has his e-mail should invite him to the party.

[humBell]

I have it on good authority he is here, just bein' cautious with a name change.

And really i couldn't imagine the mutual friend who checked in with me hadn't also checked in with him.

[ParLawGod]

Euphonium and trombone are my primary instruments, so BBb tuba has always been the best fit for me in terms of utilizing my practice time most efficiently. Been working on my Eb tuba skills the last couple years as well (very similar to alto trombone, so it's not too bad). Someday I'll find the time to learn some CC!

[LeMark]

I have it on good authority he is here, just bein' cautious with a name change.

And really i couldn't imagine the mutual friend who checked in with me hadn't also checked in with him.

Can confirm

[Mark]

BBb or CC

First you have to decide whether you want silver of lacquer.

Then you decide on whether you want rotary or piston.

Then you decide if you want four or five valves.

Then you decide on BBb or CC.

[Three Valves]

BBb or no flat!!

[Doc]

BBb or no flat!!

...That IS the question!

[tubanews]

Like many, I played Bb in middle and high school. Switched to C in college. Eventually much later played *some* Bb in a mil band, but mostly I stuck to C.

If I were a purist, I would never walk into a band with a C tuba. The Bb just sounds better to my ears in that context.

But I would likely only make that exception in a very serious band. DC mil bands or brass bands that are serious about recording.
Mostly because I never really wanted the Bflat to be my primary ax again (and I never had a really great bflat tuba). That being said, my unconscious brain can still without trying too hard pick one up and read.
I just have to close one eye.

The C tuba to me has a lighter sound and balances better with strings. Although there are orchestral pieces where the Bb can sound amazing. I likely wouldnt do it out of laziness.
But if I was doing a major label recording of Prokofiev 5 or something along those lines, I would definitely consider it. After consultation with the trombone section.

Oddly, my favorite sounding tuba is the Eb tuba.

[Casca Grossa]

Whatever you like the most

[humBell]

BBb or CC

First you have to decide whether you want silver of lacquer.

Then you decide on whether you want rotary or piston.

Then you decide if you want four or five valves.

Then you decide on BBb or CC.

Gosh i been doing it wrong!

Although at second glance, this sounds like a subtle way of saying to never get a tuba...

[jtm]

Woodwind players would laugh at us complaining about awkward fingerings when there are only four valves and four fingers to worry about. Playing runs across the register break on a bass clarinet is a lot more finger work.

[tubanews]

Woodwind players would laugh at us complaining about awkward fingerings when there are only four valves and four fingers to worry about. Playing runs across the register break on a bass clarinet is a lot more finger work.

Punch editing this for clarity, as non-transposing instruments when we shift keyed instruments we have to learn the fingerings or mentally transpose. Woodwinds dont have to do this (AFAIK).

"Hey thats like, just my opinion man"

[York-aholic]

Then you decide if you want four or five valves.

then

Say What???

[tubadude]

I've been wrestling with this one for the past 10 to 15 years. I started off at 8 years old on accordion, learning to read bass and treble clef simultaneously in concert pitch (C). Picked up trumpet in high school no problem reading, parts written in Bb treble. Switched over to sousaphone, big oops parts written in C but the axe is in BBb. Switched over to CC for my many years doing the amusement park circuit. Now approaching 60, I've found I'm using both a BBb helicon and a CC tuba dependent on which group I'm playing with, hopefully there's no sight reading if I'm on the BBb.

[Mark E. Chachich]

My opinion:

I do not think that BB flat or CC is really important as long as it is a good tuba and it works for you.

A few examples:
I studied with Connie Weldon at the University of Miami and she played a BB flat, she was an excellent musician and a good person.
James Jenkins (another Connie Weldon Student) plays a BB flat and has a symphony job. James is an excellent musician and a good person.
I studied with David Bragunier (former tuba National Symphony Orchestra) at Peabody and he played a CC. Like the two listed above, he was an excellent musician and a good person.

Which one is better? In my opinion, the one that works for you.

best,
Mark

[JeffT96]

In the military I played both but on a CC my low range suffers and on a BBb my high range suffers. I think my ideal is a large BBb and a German style F. Gotta save $ to make that happen.

[Mark]

Although at second glance, this sounds like a subtle way of saying to never get a tuba...

Not at all. It means you should get one of each variety.

[tbonesullivan]

Neither. Eb.

But if I ever buy a contrabass again it'll be a BBb.

I am increasingly thinking of just going Eb. After a few weeks of owning an older Eb tuba, I sound way better on that than on the BBb I have. It's definitely airflow related, as I have the same problem with any CC or BBb I play. They just respond so much differently.