Read what people are saying about their
St. Petersburg Tubas....
"Here's the photo of the Hardin County High School Band tuba section with
our six new St.Petersburg 202N tubas. We are very proud of them and very
satisfied with the performance of our new St. Petersburg tubas."
-Rob Irons
Band Director, Hardin County High School
"The St. Petersburg is a great 4/4 size BBb tuba. It has an easy
response and is solid in all registers. It is certainly as good as, and
probably better than tubas at double the price."
- Ross Tolbert
Principal Tuba, Minnesota Symphony Orchestra; retired.
"The St. Petersburg is a nice, compact 4/4 tuba with a large valve
bore, four quiet rotary valves, and the sound of a 5/4 tuba.... With
the proper mouthpiece, it produces an excellent sound and almost
perfect intonation... Anyone considering buying a BBb tuba should
consider the St. Petersburg model 202N.. It is a definite 'Best Buy'
and the playing qualities are a pleasure"
- Bill Rose
Principal Tuba, Houston Symphony; retired
Tuba and Euphonium Professor, University of Houston; retired.
"(Y)ou called the quality of the St. Pete wrong... it is not very good,
IT IS GREAT!!!! I used to think my Meinl- Weston was a great
instrument... it was not even close."
- Dick Jacoby: jacobyd84@aol.com
Tampa Bay (FL) freelancer;
Emeritus Professor of Music/ Tuba Instructor, Kent State University;
retired.
Another letter from Dick Jacoby to Jonathan Mayden at Vandercook
College of Music.....
"Hi Jonathan,.. I don't know how you got my name, but I am glad to
offer a few comments.
1st of all, it is great that you are getting your own instrument. Also,
assuming you are studying with a professional tubist, I would encourage
you to mainly consider his/ her advice.
Having said that, the instrument you purchase should be comensurate
with your performing goal - solo, quintet, bands, orchestra, or ???? If
orchestral playing is your goal, you need a CC instrument and a 'BACKUP
CAREER'.. I have played several brands/ models of instruments over the
years including the Yamaha and Meinl-Weston you mentioned. I can say
that for my playing, I find the new St. Petersburg to be my favorite
instrument by far.
I now play the St. Pete 202N (nickel) BBb. The tone/ response, big
lively centered sound, and great intonation (if you have the ear)
surpasses all the other instruments I have played. In addition, it is
very light weight and has also the 4/4 size, and 5/4 valve bore. I use
the Rose (Houston Symphony Orchestra tubist) model mouthpiece which was
designed for this instrument. The only playing I do now is Dixieland,
polkas, a few brass quintet gigs and am the tubist with the Guy
Lombardo Orchestra on the Florida jobs. All the guys I play with love
the sound. I tell them it is me, but alot of it is that great
instrument. Valves work good - how high you play depends on you, the
instrument, and the mouthpiece you use. Lots of my former students and
most pro tuba players and teachers I know, get their instruments from
the Tuba Exchange in Durham, NC. The owner is very knowledgable,
honest, and reliable. That is where I bought my St. Pete and other
instruments. Good luck... PRACTICE."
- Dick Jacoby: jacobyd84@aol.com
Tampa Bay (FL) freelancer;
Emeritus Professor of Music/ Tuba Instructor, Kent State University;
retired.
"I just wanted to write and thank you for the fine St. Petersburg tuba
we bought from you recently. It sounds great - a clearly focused core
tone with the mellowness that good tuba tone needs. The valve action is
excellent - really snappy!"
- Bob Horning
Director; Campbell- Savona New York Band
"I like my St. Petersburg so much I gave it the name 'Anastasia', the
Russian Princess... In my travels with the 5 bands I play with; I
haven't met a person who hasn't liked it. They are dazzled by it's
appearance which gets the audience applauding as soon as I take it out
of the case... I could have never dreamed of a nicer instrument. I
thank you for making it all possible."
- Max Murray
" I just wanted to thank (y)ou for the prompt shipment of the two St.
Pete tubas. We have been using them now for a little over a week and I
am delighted with the purchase! The best part about them (so far) is
that my 8th- graders are really able to hit the lower register notes
(low F/G below low C) with a great deal of power and accuracy, and the
intonation is excellent! I think that the whole band is taking pride in
what a great overall sound they create for us! Thanks!!"
- BJ Marks
Northside Middle School; Columbus, IN
"WOW! WOW! WOW!
"What a great tuba at any price! The valves are smooth and quick and
shorter throw than most. The tonal center is excellent, and intonation
seems to be very good. The upper register plays like a small bore horn,
it has a lighter tone than expected from such a large bore, and the
case is a way cool! I've played on Bessons, Yamahas, M-Westons, Rudy
Meinls, Miraphones, Conns, and Kings but none play as easy as the St.
Petersburg! I'm going to highly recommend this horn to all. Thanks very
much for your services."
- Perry Calabrese
Director of Bands; La Center Middle School
"We received our tuba on Monday morning. I was pleased to see how
carefully the instrument was packaged. We opened the package and were
instantly pleased with the quality of the workmanship and appearance of
the horn. We are also pleased with the beautiful tone of the horn. It
truly has changed the sound of our concert band. Thank you for your
prompt attention to our order."
- Hank Wintczak
Mitchell H.S., Mitchell, Indiana
"I just wanted to let you know I received my new St. Pete tuba today.
It arrived in perfect condition.... I've played through several marches
like 'Bombasto', 'Circus Bee', 'Washington Post', and 'Chicago Tribune'
just to name a few. I have never been able to crank out sound like I
was today. And I'm not just talking volume. My articulation and tone
sounded as good as on my Hirsbrunner, if not better! And that's just my
first time really playing it! I feel like a kid at Christmas. I am very
anxious for tomorrow because I will have a chance to sit in with a
concert band for an hour. And then this weekend I will be attending the
Tuba and Euphonium Conference in D.C. I will definitely bring my horn.
All of the information I got from you, the website, and even Ross
Tolbert has been true to the letter. I just had to let you know how
absolutely pleased I am with the St. Petersburg. In fact I'll tell you
what, feel free to use me as a reference if you like. Thanks again!"
- SGT Jason Dence: abn02f@msn.com
25th Inf. Div. Band
"Tu-ba or not Tu-ba?"
"Thank you so much for your prompt delivery of the the St. Petersburg
tuba that our school ordered just this past Monday It plays great and
I will give it the once-over twice at a director's reading session at a
local music store on Saturday, Aug 17. Thanks again! I am very excited
about this horn."
- Jon Montgomery
Band Director; Du Quoin Middle School
"The St. Petersburg that you recommended over the Miraphone is
everything that you claimed it to be. I am very happy with this product
and have already recommended it to several other directors in the
state..."
- Mike Medley
Ft. Bend Baptist Church
"I really enjoy doing business with the Tuba Exchange. I faxed an order
for a St. Petersburg tuba on Monday and received the horn on Tuesday. I
was shocked. Thank for your great customer service and excellent
quality of instruments."
- Wes Canaday
Elkhart HS Band, Elkhart TX
"Just a note to say, 'WOW!!!'... My tuba players love these
instruments. From the moment we opened the cases, we were amazed by the
craftsmanship and the beautiful sounds they make. Never thought I would
say that about a tuba... haha. This is the best investment I have made
since I have been teaching. We will definitely continue to do business
with the Tuba Exchange. Thanks again..."
"I was an instructor in tuba with the Navy School
of Music (now the Armed Forces School of Music) in the
50s. Along with teaching tuba, I was assigned the task
to test, evaluate, and recommend tubas to be purchased
for use in the military bands. Therefore, I believe
that I know a good tuba when I get one in my hands.
The St. Petersburg 202N BBb is truly a very fine instrument.
It is made exceptionally well and plays marvelously
in all registers. This tuba has wonderful response and
excellent intonation (certainly one must possess a good
ear to have good intonation with any tuba at any price).
The Rose mouthpiece (that comes with the instrument)
works very well in all registers with the 202N. This
tuba is well worth the price and is a good buy. The
folks at Tuba Exchange are very knowledgeable and helpful
in selecting an appropriate instrument for any level
of competence (from beginner to professional). I certainly
am well pleased with my St. Petersburg model 202N. Furthermore,
I am delighted with my experience in dealing with Tuba
Exchange, and do not hesitate to recommend (to any tuba
player or school, etc.) this very fine instrument and
this good company."
-John Humphries
Former instructor in Tuba at the Navy School of Music,
USNA Band
Principal tuba with the Annapolis Symphony.
"I've owned my St. Petersburg model 201N for nearly 8 years now and I still
enjoy playing it as much today as I did when I first opened it new from the
carton. It's been good to me, and to my son Tristan who is now playing tuba
in the Army Band.
My playing includes a community college band made up of college students
and professional musicians who want (need) a place to play like myself.
I also play with the Southwest Washington Symphony made up of mostly
professional adults and some students. A good group, not world class,
but a fine opportunity to play and perform with my St. Pete. I always
get compliments on the sound of the horn.
My son, Tristan, now in the Army band, has attended the Naval School of
Music in Norfolk VA. where he was issued a brand new Miraphone 186. So
he calls home one evening and says how much he misses the St. Pete.
Makes me feel good.
When Tristan was in high school, he used the Pete to make All State
Honor Band his jr. year and as a senior, 1st chair All Northwest MENC
Band beating out kids with 10k $ horns and the like. Talk about a proud
papa, during the concert I could hear that old Pete of mine above the
other horns.
I teach at La Center Middle School, and I'd also like to mention I have some
monster 7th and 8th grade tuba players thanks to the St. Pete. When I was
recruiting for kids to play tuba, I did the presentation on the Pete telling
the story that it came from Russia and TE is the only importer so that alone
makes it sound special. Now they ask if I'd bring it in during concert time
so they can use it. One of the boys will be ordering his own Pete next fall.
"
Perry Calabrese
La Center Middle School Bands
La Center, Washington
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