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When it comes time for parents to buy their child their first tuba, things can quickly get
complicated. What size does my child need? Why are tubas so expensive? Does the
finish really matter? Is renting better than buying? Whether your child is upgrading
from a rental to an owned instrument or has never even touched a tuba before,
searching for (and finding!) the right tuba takes time and plenty of research. If the
above questions sound familiar, we’ve put our heads together to bring you this guide-
because, after all, making an informed decision is critical to any investment, and your
child’s new tuba is no exception.
Bb and C Tubas: What’s the
Difference?
Although there are a variety of different tuba types available on the market, Bb and C
are the most common choices for younger players; therefore, they’re the ones we’ll
focus on for the sake of this buying guide. Since Bb tubas
(https://www.musicarts.com/Bb-Tubas-Tubas.mac) have a broader sound with extra
weight, they help bring balance to a band’s sound and are the preferred choice for most
school marching bands. C tubas (https://www.musicarts.com/C-Tubas-Tubas.mac),
on the other hand, have a clearer and more compact sound, making them the perfect
choice for orchestras. The Bb tuba is tuned in the key of B-flat, while the C tuba is built
a whole step up from the Bb tuba. Depending on the piece of music and ensemble your
child will play with, they might have to transpose the music so it matches the key of
their specific tuba.
(https://www.musicarts.com/Miraphone-
186-4U-Series-4-Valve-4-4-BBb-
Tuba-463926-i1413827.mac) The
Miraphone 186 Pro Series 4/4
BBb Tuba is the world famous
true powerhouse in the tuba
world. This Miraphone 186 tuba
features a .772 inch bore and 17.7
inch bell designed for excellent
projection and intonation. The
Miraphone 186 4/4 Pro Series
Tuba is available in a professional
version with nickel-silver slides
and trim in lacquer with 4 valves
(186 4U) or 5 valves (186-5U).
Case NOT included. Learn More
(https://www.musicarts.com/Miraphone-
186-4U-Series-4-Valve-4-4-BBb-
Tuba-463926-i1413827.mac)
When it comes to valve type, tubas come with a choice of rotary or piston valves.
Similar to the valves of a trumpet, piston valves move up and down while rotary valves
direct air into various paths by rotating. Piston valves come standard on most student
tubas, while most intermediate and professional models are manufactured with rotary
valves.
(https://www.musicarts.com/Allora-
AATU-105P-Series-4-Piston-
Valve-3-4-BBb-Tuba-585002-
i1513486.mac) The Allora AATU-
105P 4-Valve 3/4 BBb Tuba is
priced right and has a great
sound. Designed for a quick
response, it works well for both
middle and high school
ensembles from full band to
small group work. The AATU-
105P features four front piston
valves with a .630-inch bore and
nickel leadpipe design for easy,
vibrant tone production. Learn
More
(https://www.musicarts.com/Allora-
AATU-105P-Series-4-Piston-
Valve-3-4-BBb-Tuba-585002-
i1513486.mac)
Silver-plate is another finish option, but it’s better suited for more advanced players
who know how to properly maintain their instrument. It requires a lot of polishing to
maintain its shiny appearance. Although it offers a warmer sound that many players
prefer, it’s upkeep isn’t suitable for everyone.
(https://www.musicarts.com/Yamaha-
YBB-105WC-Series-3-Valve-3-4-
BBb-Tuba-461352-i1171163.mac)
The smaller size of the 105 makes
it an ideal instrument for
beginners, and its many fine
qualities make it an instrument
you can stay with as you
advance. Hand-lapped pistons
and slides, precision brace design
and placement, extended
mouthpipe taper, and a specially
designed bell flare combine to
make it authoritative in sound,
easy in response, faultless in
intonation, and highly durable.
Learn More
(https://www.musicarts.com/Yamaha-
YBB-105WC-Series-3-Valve-3-4-
BBb-Tuba-461352-i1171163.mac)
Need some inspiration? Check out our Artist Interview with Carol Jantsch. (/artist-
interview-carol-jantsch/)
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