TubaForum.net

How are these nowadays, particularly the Eb? I played one at Midwest years ago and was very impressed. Good intonation, great sound, excellent playability. I felt like I was playing a piston valve horn that had a rotary valve sound, it was very smooth. I also liked that the bell wasn't right at my forehead nor was it a stovepipe.

When I played one I thought it had a very bright thin sound. Not tuba like enough, even for an Eb

When looking for a new horn in 2019 I nearly bought one. Easy to play well on it, comfortable to hold and solid finish. But then the Eastman offered more oomp...

I have a St. Petersburg Eb five rotor, 23 fifth. I consider Eb tubas in three categories parlour, outdoor, and in-between. My St.Pete falls in the in-between category. It functions like my Mirafone 184 CC . Since I've been living in Eb for about 14 years my Eb stable includes:
<Outdoors : 28K 1943 and a 25J [Eb 4v front 1926]
<In-between: 26k, New Wonder Giant Eb 3v top, Buescher Helicon Eb, St. Petersburg Eb
<Parlour: 31" Pan American Eb top valve, and a French Eb [tiny but fat sounding, alternate fingering festival! ha ha ha].

I agreed that St. Pete is a fun horn to play with good ergonomics, decent pitch, easy to play all ranges. St. Pete doesn't throw enough bass for large environments.

Funny how privilege tones on Eb s start with open A natural for oversized bugles and proportional bugles false tone starts with open Ab.,. Thanks Bob Kolada
Joe H

Other than better build quality, better linkage, and a fifth valve, that instrument (online picture) looks a lot like a very old no-name Russian tuba - to which I did a budget linkage conversion several years ago.

About all that impressed me about it was that "it was a tuba that played ok".