The Yellow Board

Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?

Posted by Lakeside BD on 1/5/2021, 11:08 am

Hello YB Community!

My school is looking at updating some of our full-size tubas . We are looking for 4-Valve, Front-Action, Full-Size tubas. What brands/models do you think are outstanding?

We already have some Miraphones that our top band uses, so we are looking at something a little cheaper (but not junk) to be used by our lower bands.

We also have a few of the Yamaha YBB321 top-action tubas. They are fine, but a little big for our smallest 7th graders.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?

Posted by Harriet on 1/7/2021, 8:27 pm, in reply to "Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?"

I love my miraphone 282 3/4 tubas. Worth every penny.
Almost 20 years on some of them, and still going strong.

Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?

Posted by The Commish on 1/5/2021, 4:13 pm, in reply to "Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?"

We have the King 2341. I think they're great!

Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?

Posted by Tubist on 1/5/2021, 2:58 pm, in reply to "Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?"

IF a full size tuba is too big for your 7th graders, consider buying 3/4 size tubas. A full size tuba is a full size tuba. That's why in fact many programs even buy 3 valve tubas still - for the smaller 7th graders. I would recommend a 3/4 if you can swing it, though.
There are some GREAT 3/4 options and full size options out there.

The Jupiter JTU1010 is a 3/4 4 valve tuba and it's pretty solid. Jupiter horns are better than many people think.

Conn makes the 5JW series, and they're pretty solid and not too huge. King also has the 2341W as a front-valve tuba. Both of these are full size tubas.

Most anything else will either be close to $10k each (Mirafone) or may/will be junk (Allora, Eastman).

Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?

Posted by You may... on 1/6/2021, 12:03 am, in reply to "Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?"

want to check the Eastman's again. There are some really good players using those now. I know several years ago they were not good but something has changed in the last couple of years with them.

Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?

Posted by Tubist on 1/6/2021, 8:31 am, in reply to "Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?"

I'm sure they've gotten better - but given the amount of trouble I had with the valves on Gen 1 Eastmans, and the complete lack of support from the company on getting it fixed (but somehow they "listened to our feedback" and "made it better" for the next generation of instruments they constructed) I'm not about to hand them money.

Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?

Posted by You may...again... on 1/6/2021, 10:21 am, in reply to "Re: Best 4-Valve Front-Action Full-Size Tubas?"

God forbid we re-evaluate and change a recommendation.

You know years ago Gemeinhardt flutes used to be one of the standards for beginner/young players. Now people don't want to touch them because the quality has dropped. Also, in early years Yamaha (1970's) were pretty awful and they changed. Now Yamaha is the standard on many instruments for young players and band programs.

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