The Yellow Board

concert tuba

Posted by AAA on 11/1/2022, 8:38 am

Can I get a recommendation on what kind of concert tuba to purchase on a tight budget? This will be for a high school program that's rebuilding and I am desperately working to upgrade our inventory. I don't want to buy the cheapest thing out there, but I'm also not going to splurge on Miraphones. Best bang for the buck from Yamaha, Conn, King, etc. Any advice?

Re: concert tuba

Posted by banddirhdg on 11/2/2022, 4:06 pm, in reply to "concert tuba"

If you're looking for "bang for the buck" I suggest that you check out the Jupiter 4-valve tuba.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Hugo on 11/2/2022, 7:02 am, in reply to "concert tuba"

Something to consider....Tubas are generally a more expensive purchase no matter the brand. We bought a set of miraphones almost 20 years ago, and they are still in awesome shape.

Not sure that the brand matters, but be sure to buy something that you won't regret 5-6 years down the road.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Bando on 11/1/2022, 10:56 am, in reply to "concert tuba"

The King 2341 is an excellent choice. Built like a tank so it will last a long time.

If you've never ordered tubas before - some advice: the price quoted usually does NOT include a case unless you specify "with case".

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Moix on 11/1/2022, 10:03 am, in reply to "concert tuba"

Best bang for the buck is the Orion OBB-420RL 5/4 Tuba. Give Jeff Henry a call at The Bandwagon.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by James on 11/1/2022, 11:48 am, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

Only if you're in the metroplex though! All repairs seem to have to go through them as no store within 200 miles of me will touch them. I went with Eastman.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Gaga on 11/1/2022, 10:34 pm, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

If you do live out of the area and have a problem, Band Wagon will send someone out to get them and take them into the shop.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by James on 11/2/2022, 7:28 am, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

5 hours each way to pick up a horn that I need repaired is not good business. I don't see that happening unless there are several instruments that go down and the trip is worth it. I'm sure they're fine instruments, but I can't risk not getting instruments back in a timely manner when I have a repair shop just up the road.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Orion-Jeff on 11/20/2022, 11:51 am, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

If a shop is refusing to repair the instruments, that says more about the integrity of the shop than the repairability of our instruments. Most stores don’t carry every line of instruments made by Yamaha, conn, Bach, selmer, buffet, Jupiter and even Eastman, but they have no problem repairing their horns.

Parts are available to any repair shop that needs them. In fact, we have one of the largest music store chains in the country that sells and repairs our instruments. The problem you are seeing with Texas repair shops is that they cannot be licensed as an Orion dealer because we only license on dealer per state. They don’t want to lose sales to our Texas authorized dealer The Bandwagon Music Store & Repair. (Full disclosure, we own both).

They know the horns we make are good, they know they are a much better value than what they can offer, they know our warranty is the best in the business, they know that parts are available. All they have left is to threaten directors, who are trying to stretch their limited dollars for their programs and kids, that they will refuse to repair these horns if you buy them. That my friends is an integrity issue.

By the way Bandwagon has independent contractors that cover a good bit of the state including the Houston area, central Texas,north Texas and out west in the Abilene area. I am betting that if you tell your shop/store that if they want your rental business and repair business they need to fix what you send in, they’ll change their tune real quick. After all, who is the customer here and who pays who.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Why do you think? on 11/1/2022, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

Why do you think that is? (Seriously, not sarcastically). I’ve heard good things about Orion brass… I haven’t heard much negative.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by James on 11/2/2022, 7:26 am, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

Can't get parts.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Orion-Jeff on 11/20/2022, 11:57 am, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

Incorrect, parts are available to any shop. As also a repair shop, I can tell you that we have had parts on order from other “major” manufacturers for over a year in some cases.

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Me on 11/2/2022, 12:02 pm, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

Given the complete disruption to international shipping in the past 18 months, is anyone surprised when they hear "can't get parts" as a problem with anything anymore?

Re: concert tuba

Posted by Yamaha Guy on 11/2/2022, 6:31 pm, in reply to "Re: concert tuba"

I understand about supply issues, instruments and parts. My favorite model for years was the Yamaha 321. A large upright piston 4 valve tuba. Very durable and sounds great! I used them in my last two Honor bands. I hope they are still available.

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