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Im a hobby tuba player. Only had a Cerveny Bb tuba which at the time was 6k and served me well for the past 20 years. Now im ready to upgrade. Would like to know what the best Bb tuba options would be for a price cap of around 12K?

What type/style of BBb tuba are you looking for?
From what I've seen, maybe look into the Yamaha YBB-623 for a nice York-style tuba, and the B&S GR-51/55 for nice German-style tubas. They both seem to be more difficult to find in stock than other tubas it seems.
There are plenty of options for $12k. Mary Ann has a nice pristine Alexander BBb for about $7.5k in the 'For sale' section

Honest question, not meant to be snarky: what are you looking for in the new tuba that the Cerveny doesn’t give you?

What about this:
maybe
"some or another amazing model that probably costs somewhere just under or over $20,000 brand new, but which you found for sale used/excellent condition in the price range you suggest"?

Thank you guys for your input. So I’m looking for a rotary valve Bb tuba. Not that my Cerveny isn’t great, but I want to make one last tuba purchase floor my music career. I would like something that is a definite upgrade giving me a bigger range, sound with dark warm tone.

My main concern is that I don’t want to buy an instrument that’s only “marginally” better for the price. Otherwise, maybe it’s not worth the upgrade. This is supposed to be a gift to myself, but I don’t want to waste money on a shiny Tuba for nothing.

If looking at a new tuba, the 4 valve versions of the b&S gr51, and the Miraphone 495 4/4 Hagen might be close. Well might have to stretch your budget a little...


USED on the other hand,

B&S gr51 - 4 valve version for $10,197.00... although, I wonder if it's a 'new' one and not a used one.
https://www.baltimorebrasscompany.com/p ... -tuba.aspx

Miraphone 'Slant' Rotory 289 - 4 valve version for $9,995.00
https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-miraph ... =115602378

Mary Ann's Alexander looks pristine. I haven't seen it in person but it's looks fantastic in the photos.

LOL...I remember when $2000 bought a new (handmade, back then) 5-valve 186 C (or B-flat), but I'm old.
I'm wondering whether the importer/distributor was even paying $1000 ea. for them.

There was also - at that time - a big department store two blocks from my house (weird name: "ZAYRE") that may have been the first dept. store to have gas pumps out in their parking lot. 92 octane ("REGULAR" - lowest octane) was 20 cents ($.19⁹) a gallon.

I have a very fine large BBb tuba, a Conn 26/27J tuba available for under 12K. It has piston valves, four front short-action pistons, an upright bell, recording bell and all three cases. You have to play it to fully appreciate how good it is. The serial number indicates that it is from 1935, a very good year for American tubas.

Used tubas can be a big list, depending on preferences.

BUT another tuba that can be bought new that I liked is the Lidl LBB 884 'Moldau de Luxe.'

A pretty tuba to look at tuba too.

Willis Music / Buddy Roger's has a 5 valve version for sale currently.

Lidl LBB 884-5GR Tuba Bb 4/4 - $10,845.00
https://store.willismusic.com/product/ldlbb8845gr/

From Lidl 's own website if the pictures from Willis Music are too dark.
https://www.josef-lidl.cz/product-page/ ... bb-684-4gr

Thank you PlayTheTuba!! I looked at that Lidl model you linked. It is a pretty horn. How does it compare to Miraphone? This is the first I’m hearing of the brand! It’s also surprisingly reasonably priced.

Also wanted to know if you had an opinion on the Miraphone 191?

Hamertones wrote: Sun Nov 09, 2025 9:40 am Anyone had an opinion on the Miraphone 191?

I can only offer input from what I have heard others say. These people say that it's a great tuba, but not for a short player. If you are vertically challenged, a 1291 might be the better choice.

I was curious about the 1291 and 191. I would even consider the Hagen 497 (much more expensive) but it’s sold out everywhere.

I have the Hagen and have never looked back.

Opinions on Adams tubas?

I loved the 191 when it first came out, but over time I found the intonation issues on it were too much to deal with.

never liked the piston version. Valves have a really long stroke because of the 835 bore, and they are heavy. plus is still has intonation issues.

so it doesn't sound like I'm bashing miraphone, the 496 Hagen is pure perfection, and it's in your price range. I have a feeling the Hagen line was developed when they finally admitted the 191 and 1291 tubas just weren't up to their standards

Personally, I fell in love with the eastman 534, enough to make me sell every CC tuba I own. Old king 2341 from 1999 to mid 2005 are very good too. The new ones have to many QC issues.

LeMark wrote: Sun Nov 09, 2025 11:28 am I loved the 191 when it first came out, but over time I found the intoantion issues on it were too much to deal with.

never liked the piston version. Valves have a really long stroke because of the 835 bore, and they are heavy. plus is still has intontion issues.

so it doesn't sound like I'm bashing miraphone, the 496 Hagen is pure perfection, and it's in your price range. I have a feeling the Hagen line was developed when they finally admitted the 191 and 1291 tubas just weren't up to their standards

Personally, I fell in love with the eastman 534, enough to make me sell every CC tuba I own. Old king 2341 from 1999 to mid 2005 are very good too. The new ones have to many QC issues.

Mark just educated me (and I believe he's correct).
I always assumed that the 1291 BB-flat's PISTON valveset bore is (scaled down to) only 19.6mm but - sure enough - it's 21.2mm.

Currently at work so I'll answer a bit more later.

The history for Lidl tubas can be found here. @Lee Stofer wrote a great amount of information on this thread.
https://www.tubaforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=7078

That Lidl BBb, on paper, should be similar to your Czerveny. Although, depending on vintage, that Lidl should be assembled better. And I think the bell is a slightly different shape, according to that thread.

Assuming the Czerveny you have is the 4/4 one.

The 195 Fafner is my pick. But it’s not $12K brand new.

Another good bet is the B&S Gr51/55. Those are both very good.

Hamertones wrote: Sun Nov 09, 2025 10:52 am Opinions on Adams tubas?

High quality instruments, Adams bought Hirsbrunner (designs, tooling) and the current models are based on the old Hirsbrunner models. But very expensive, new definitely not for 12k

I am fortunate enough to go to the Army Conference that is held in Northern Virginia, seeing as it's not too far to try out tubas.

Of comparing 4/4 sized rotary tubas, I think I'd list like so

(Miraphone 191 - If you count as a 4/4 and not a true 5/4. But not a perfect 's to 's comparison.)

B&S gr51

Lidl 884 - I liked the sound and the tuba felt smooth to play... Well, when tonguing. Should've done more slurring. Maybe next time. The low F and the 4 valve pedal tones felt nice to me, where as the CC version felt like it had some resistance. However, the Miraphone 5/4 tubas and the B&S's felt more alive. Plus, I feel like the Miraphones and B&S's tend to have more upper over tones.

Miraphone 495 - This horn could be better than the Lidl, but it's been awhile since I've tried one. Ie lack of recency bias


5/4 rotary tubas though

Miraphone 496 - Felt like it responds a little faster than the others

B&S gr55

Miraphone 289 - My second favorite tuba that I have played, after the 4/4 Kanstul 33T top action piston BBb. I only place this tuba here in an effort to be objective.

6/4 rotary tuba

Miraphone "Siegfried" 98 - A magnificent, magnanimous, stupendous, exemplary, magical horn. Plays nimbler than it looks.

This list did include more tubas. But, if you can find these on the used market and like them enough, sweet.