linked reel

[bloke]

I have I have never found a German-made tuba that was built completely to my satisfaction - as far as it's details, but I found several that I could alter slightly (probably less than $1,000 worth of parts and labor...or less than $2000, if a shop with super-high rates) to completely satisfy me.

As far as Japanese tubas are concerned, I can only think of one model that I might have played, but would no longer consider playing (for reasons that are not the fault of that model)...

... and I do tend to agree with the statement in this narrative below that Germans (and probably Germanic peoples in surrounding countries) seem to really be into rules, as opposed to "what if we's...". I remember being told about a suggestion offered to the head of one really fine German manufacturer - that may well have resulted in a remarkable Improvement, and being told that "we don't do it that way here". ( I don't view this as hereditary, but societal. My DNA is nearly 100% west-central European, but I'm about the most "not impressed by rules and things only presumed to be true" person that you might encounter.)

As to the Japanese, decades ago they were pigeonholed as copiers, but have moved on to be innovators, but isn't that how all thinking occurs? It begins with copying and is followed up with Innovation - if a person or group of people continue to think, yes? The one instrument they make in the tuba family that I might have played in the past is their instrument which resembles a CSO York tuba, but instead of just making yet another look-alike or even a blueprint, they continued to send new versions to a certain tuba player in Chicago (who knew all of the flaws/shortcomings of the original, and kept sending back prototypes with criticisms), resulting in something that far exceeds the original.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/766023095 ... 7S9Ucbxw6v

[BRS]

.

[bloke]

I understand that you're referring to quality - as a person who repairs instruments (and I'm completely aware that you are also a player, and likely a fine one indeed), but I was more referring to playability, from the perspective of a tuba-playing highwayman.

The fact that Yamaha lead solders its marching instrument pistons together doesn't particularly bother me (even though
- as a taxpayer - I'm paying well over double for those things compared to things made better by other manufacturers), because (as a player) I'm not particularly interested in either the quality or the playability of marching instruments. As in the Rawhide theme song (as far as those instruments are concerned), I just "rope 'em throw and brand 'em"... while looking back at the pile to see how many are left.