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In my opinion, you would be much better off purchasing a Chinese 3+1 Compensating EEb tuba(even one of the JinBao types) than an old American style/type EEb tuba (unless it has been reworked.

A couple of thoughts-

-Now is not the time to try to justify an instrument you really don't need. Is all your bass eq in proper order? Car runs well? Savings?
-A large old American Eb is not going to give you the voice you want, I'd stay away from a large Besson style comp horn as well. A Yamaha 321 might be worth looking into. I think that between your small Bb and your euph you're likely covered on the small/bass tuba front. Try a smaller mouthpiece on your Conn and a bigger one in the euph. For whatever reason it took me a while, but large, tweener-style mouthpieces (contrabass trombone and large bass trombone) on euphonium really popped for me. I like the Josef Klier KBP mouthpieces as crossover mp's.
-Which Kanstul do you have, the Martin style horn?
-Aren't you in Florida? I remember Jay Bertolet playing a bunch of Eb tubas (small Cerveny, large Willson, MW cimbasso even!). I wouldn't worry about Eb being unacceptable.

Bob Kolada wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:25 am-Now is not the time to try to justify an instrument you really don't need. Is all your bass eq in proper order? Car runs well? Savings?

You are absolutely right. If I did this, it would be after the gigs return. Optimistically, I'm feeling like the gigs will be more plentiful than ever because everyone's wanting to party after this last year, but we still have to see. I would not make this purchase unless I have work again. Everything else is good, but yeah, savings is what's keeping me from going under right now.

Bob Kolada wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:25 am-A large old American Eb is not going to give you the voice you want, I'd stay away from a large Besson style comp horn as well. A Yamaha 321 might be worth looking into. I think that between your small Bb and your euph you're likely covered on the small/bass tuba front. Try a smaller mouthpiece on your Conn and a bigger one in the euph. For whatever reason it took me a while, but large, tweener-style mouthpieces (contrabass trombone and large bass trombone) on euphonium really popped for me. I like the Josef Klier KBP mouthpieces as crossover mp's.

This is the advice I was looking for. Yeah, I'm delightfully surprised as to how well the Conn sounds in those upper registers, but a high F is where the tone quality falls apart...Can't really play the end of Symphonie Fantastique with that horn. That's the kind of horn I'm seeking out.

Although, I'm really stoked how it sounds on Hungarian March and Die Meistersinger...though the latter takes a ton of work.

I'd love to do the euph thing, but the horn was stolen years back. I was still very new to Orlando and had few gigs when it happened, so I decided the insurance check was better put towards the rent that I was starting to fall behind on. It was the smarter choice, but I still regret it. I was good on euph...very good. But even that didn't allow me to make my money back on that purchase. Gigs on euph are few and far between, and I'm awful at hustling for gigs. Being a sideman has always been less stressful for me.

Bob Kolada wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:25 am-Which Kanstul do you have, the Martin style horn?

Yep. Enjoying the horn, but I think it's also time to switch from the PT-48 mouthpiece for it. I need bigger lows.

Bob Kolada wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:25 am-Aren't you in Florida? I remember Jay Bertolet playing a bunch of Eb tubas (small Cerveny, large Willson, MW cimbasso even!). I wouldn't worry about Eb being unacceptable.

I forgot about Jay! I live in Orlando, about a 3-4 hour drive from him. This makes me think I should talk to him about this, too. I should be seeking out some regular lessons with someone at this point. My chops having exploded like this feels like having a cherry bomb and I'm so excited to set it off, but don't know what to blow up first.

bloke wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:34 am Yes. It is one of the rare front-action compensating E-flat tubas, and also is the best of them.

Bloke, have you played the Eastman 853 in it's most current form? I'd be very curious what you thought of it in comparison to the Besson. I've played both the Besson, and the Wessex, which is not quite a copy. I was more impressed with the original, but the Eastman isn't a clone, so much as a different take on the same basic concept. Not to interfere with your salesmanship, of course.

‘ not the most recent, but I should have an opportunity to do so soon.

bloke wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:39 am ‘ funny how players are so easily pigeonholed as as “jazz“ or “legit“, rather than “OK“, “good“, “great“, or “amazing“.

Me: Can I have a hug?

Other person: You want me to embrace the suck?

BopEuph wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 12:22 pm
Would you say I'm better off saving up for something rather than getting something like the monster?

Yes