TubaForum.net

Hello friends,

Is it just me, or is the B&S 3100 a newly manufactured six-valve Symphonie? 17-21mm bore. Any reviews would be greatly appreciated!

Yes, I think these have been in production since the '90s. Formerly billed as the PT-9. They don't have a kranz and their leadpipes don't start out as small as a Symphonie.

I think the Eastman F tubas are copies of these horns.

When I went up to Custom to try out tubas in the late 2000s or early 2010s, they had one of these and I really liked it.

I just got a 3100. 4+2, first valve trigger and a 2nd valve trigger. It's a great tuba.

I had some time in the elephant room at Midwest with one of these about 5 years back. It was the my favorite f tuba I played all day there, and it wasn't particularly close. I remember playing a couple of miraphones, the Wessex, JP, and Eastman rotary B and S copies, and the Wilson compact piston one, and after playing the 3100, everything else there felt stiff and unresponsive and/or noticably out of tune in comparison.

I'd love to have some time with one to do a detailed side by side comparison with the Symphonie I acquired 2 years ago.

I'm wondering if it has the Symphonie "sparkle." That high range in a good Symphonie..there is nothing like it!

If anyone gets to the San Jose, CA area, you are welcome to stop by and give mine a honk.

tclements wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 9:31 am If anyone gets to the San Jose, CA area, you are welcome to stop by and give mine a honk.

"California Dreamin' on such a winter's day.."