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A great tuba and a nice ending.

I have had the pleasure of owning a Walter Nirschl 4/4 CC tuba since 2016. This is easily the best tuba I have ever owned and played. So resonant, flexible, and great intonation. My search for "what is good for me" is wrapping up. I am a "life" 186er. Meaning I bought my 186 5U CC in college and spent the better part of my career with it. About 12 years ago I decided I would seriously pick up and continue my development on the tuba. I bought a Hirsbrunner HB21. A fine playing instrument for sure. After a while, I realized keeping up with the intonation along with several other horns was too much. I got the 186 back out and decided it really did everything I needed. Sadly goodbye HB21. In 2016 the Nirschl came along and I grabbed it. No regrets here. A few years later I saw a deal on the CB50. Now, here's another really nice horn. Since I'm mostly an "armchair" (mostly at home) playing solos ala Cello Suites, The CB50 seemed to be a really good fit for me.

A few weeks ago the original owner of the Nirschl (I was the 3rd) reached out with "hey, you bought a horn from ---- and I'm the original owner and would love to have it back if you ever decide to let go of it. Actually, I can't believe I let it go, but at my age, I just don't need all these great horns.
I sold it for what I had in it and I really like my G50.

So, happy ending, and I did my part to stop hoarding instruments that NEED TO BE PLAYED!
I need to sell more stuff so this sort of helps me get over the "can't bear to part with a good tuba" A GREAT TUBA.
If you ever have a chance - grab an older Nischl. Truly and fantastic blow!

Tim - fewer tubas today than yesterday!

Beautiful tuba! Congrats on the sale, and I'm glad it worked out so well for everyone involved!

I absolutely have a "if you ever sell it, I want it back" tuba. But 1) I don't expect that to ever happen and 2) I sure can't ever bring myself to get in touch with that person to remind them that I'll buy it back.

Anyway, that's a nice story, and I'm glad it worked out.

Tim, I too am a 186 Lifer. Also, I almost purchased a Nirschl 4/4 about 14 or 15 years ago, and I agree: it was an excellent tuba in all regards. I also have an affinity for the CB/G-50.

We have similar tastes, sir.

So, uh… congratulations on your recent loss, then? HAHAHA!!!

There's a lot of great tubas out there. Not every great tuba is great for every great tuba player. But they're all fun to play. I'm happy to hear you've played so many great horns and have figured out which is "the one" for you.

It was interesting to read this, because I played a GREAT Gnagey for 4 years. But I had the chance to get a 184 that scratched a very old itch. And as good as the Gnagey is, the 184 is "my voice." Seems like we may have similar preferences.

Suffice to say, there will be a great Gnagey for sale soon.

I've worked on a few of those, including a so-called "hand-made" (sheet metal) one.
Admittedly, that particular one was the best amongst those I've encountered, and - though it was flat-natured (which I addressed - simultaneously, while replacing a rotted mouthpipe with one that made more of a beeline to the receiver - as "tuning slide shortening" options had been completely exhausted, via others' previous efforts) - offered REMARKABLY good intonation.

The Besson versions seem to play a bit "stiffer", but (probably??) actually sound very much the same - to a listener/patron/etc.

I like them, and judge them to be one of THE MOST handsome (as far as appearance aesthetics are concerned - sort of 186/188-looking, except with a bit more "gravity") models of tubas out there.

To me, they're also a bit "pretty" sounding...ie. tend to offer "one type of sound", as with euphoniums.

Congratulations, you've a fine instrument there !!!