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Big tubas are fun, but I find most joy lately on my trusty york eb...play etudes and solo stuff. Since used eb's are cheap and plentiful and new ones are now being made regularly how many of you BBb tuba players have taken the eb plunge? Note: I do the treble clef trick when I play Bass clef on eb because I started on trumpet in methods classes.

I just got a Wessex compensating Eb and I love it!

I get called for jazz combo work more often (even with the virus scare) than I get called to play in symphony orchestras or brass quintets.
I have posted this too often, but...
I use an E-flat instrument to play in jazz combos.

I pick it up at home, sometimes, but not to read any written-down-on-paper music (other than the piccolo solo to S&SF).

I've played Eb off an on for the last 7 years, before that I owned an Eb sousa that I played at TC some years, but that hardly counts.

I wish I had started on Eb 30 years ago, sometimes I just dont feel secure enough reading wise to take it out on big jobs. I could have used it on Symphony Fantastique, but I had played it so much on CC (especially the ending) that I wimped out and played it on my CC after all

I started in 6th grade on Eb and played that all through HS. I got to college and they handed me a BBb Alexander and said my first wind ensemble rehearsal was Thursday. Talk about cramming! I played BBb only after that up until I joined a Civil War-era band several years ago, when I started back on Eb for that and BBb on everything else. Sometimes it takes 10-15 minutes playing one or the other for me to eliminate brain farts, switching fingerings at odd times. I have begun thinking of simplifying my life and going back to Eb only, mostly because of the better weight issues [and brain farts!] with a lighter Eb 4 valve. Maybe if I find someone wanting to trade a nice Eb for my 186?

My answer was no, but when I played professionally I used a York Monster E flat as my bass tuba.

Mark

I've been spending quite a bit of time with my Willson 3400 and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long. It's a blast to play and I'm re-learning old rep that I previously played on F. I'm still stumbling over fingering patterns but that will fix itself as I become more familiar with the horn. I can't yet vouch for my abilities to return to the other key tubas. It will take dedicated practice to compartmentalize my brain.

It will take dedicated practice to compartmentalize my brain.

AMEN!

Around 2004 I began playing in a Civil War band on an Eb contrabass Saxhorn, then started playing Eb parts in brass band. That, plus my declining ability to haul a 25J up multiple flights of stairs led me to change to Eb full time. There are times I'd like to have a small BBb for concert band work but I make do just fine with my JP377. I have a very short torso, and the ergonomics of a 3+1 compensator are much better for me.

EEb is the default on this side of the pond, mainly for historical reasons but they are also a good all rounder. I've rarely if ever felt the need to "go large" in either band or orchestral stuff done to date. A lot of the thing about tuba selection is cultural/ nationally focused....

Ooops - double tapped post...

I've been playing Eb for 30 years. It started when I got an old Martin Eb at auction for $20. I play in small (50 or less) bands, quintets and solo work. The Eb has been big enough for all those situations. I had as many as 11 tubas at one time. Now I'm down to 4. All are Eb.

opus37 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:27 am I've been playing Eb for 30 years. It started when I got an old Martin Eb at auction for $20...

yep.
My first E-flat was a "Pioneer" (resembled York...not sure whether it was a stencil or an import) sousaphone with slightly leaky valves...a late-1970's flea market grab for $25. The bore size was larger than the typical York stuff (a good bit larger than 12/32")...roughly 11/16".

It later became a remanufactured-valves helicon (with a 19" genuine York bell, and a new finish) and was eventually sent off to Fort Collins, Colorado to a new owner.

My MW 2040/5 is my main tuba for many years now. I also have a pt20 and last year I bought a pt6 for the really big stuff. Every time I play CC tuba I ask myself whether this could also be played on the e flat and more and more I tend to say yes to this question, even in orchestra, even for the russian repertoire. Sometimes I even start to ask myself why I bought that pt6 - but I think I'll keep it, it just sounds great, too...

MW 2141 as allround basstuba. And brass band. I love it, great intonation, great sound.

Last spring, I purchased a 183 from a fellow forumite to work it up as an alternative when I didn't want to bring out my Bessophone. Then the virus shutdowns hit, and with it, the two area community bands cancelled everything. So, unfortunately, I don't play any tuba "regularly" right now, and it is a great exercise in self discipline to practice at all.

I started on E flat in grade school, and continue to play E flat, 45+ years later. I find it a great compliment bass tuba to the BBb contrabass.

The first tuba I ever played was a Boosey&Hawkes Sovereign Eb. Serious playing I started on a (music school) B&S CC but switched to a Besson Eb after a year. Never got warm with the CC again and never wanted a BBb, the Eb is my favourite allrounder, now with the Eastman 853. Nimble enough for most solo works and enough oomp low down.
I tried a lot of F but liked very few of them. Until last year, when I found one I could not resist and now I have to learn the next tuning and of course the next valve coniguration...
If learning a new instruments keeps the mind young I now start kidding...

I play Bb in concert bands and orchestras . . . everything else is Eb, including 2 brass bands, 2 quintets, and the tuba 1 part in a tuba/euphonium quartet. Eb (or F, if I had one) is definitely the way to go for a quintet.

These days the bands and orchestras are shut down, so the only time I ever pick up the Bb is at home. Small groups are more active than ever so I'm playing Eb whenever I go out the door.

Hup

I recently purchased a Wessex Gnagey as a do it all and I am very happy with it. I mostly play brass quintets on tuba (bass trombone in orchestra) but this new Wessex could pass in most band and orchestra situations.

It replaced a Yamaha YEB321 (5 valve) and a Boosey and Hawkes Imperial that were both a little small as an all-arounder. They were both equally good in different ways, but the new Wessex achieves everything they did with more open bottom end.