If you’ve ever had a full-size tuba in your hands, you will know: These instruments are not only big, but also very heavy. Children and adults of a more slender stature often find them too heavy, in fact. The Thomann Bb tuba “Little Bear” is an exception: At just over 7kg, it combines a pleasantly light weight with a sonorous tone, thus doing full justice to its name. Incidentally, this doesn’t mean that you have to compromise in terms of features, as it comes with four valves and an adult bore.
The Thomann Bb tuba “Little Bear” is a compact tuba in the common Bb tuning. This means that it can take over the bass function in all ensembles. The body is made of brass, the leadpipe of gold brass. It features four rotary valves, which are activated without play or rattle via the coil spring mechanism using ball joints. The bore measures 18mm up to the third valve and 19mm from the fourth valve. The outer slides are made from nickel silver, while the inner slides are made of brass. The bell, with its diameter of 38 centimetres, is still on the compact side. The scope of delivery also includes a mouthpiece and a roller case.
As is clear from its dimensions and weight, the Thomann Bb tuba “Little Bear” is especially ideal for young people that are still growing up and for smaller musicians – in short, for everyone who isn’t able to lift a heavy instrument (or just doesn’t want to). What’s really practical for different sizes of hands is the adjustable thumb rest. Nevertheless, the Little Bear offers a normal blowing resistance thanks to its relatively large bore. The compact bell produces a more slender tone and less volume than, for example, a 5/4 instrument. That is why it is great news not only for neighbours with sensitive ears but also for those who play in smaller ensembles.
Alongside other famous brands, Thomann wind instruments, exclusively built by renowned manufacturers, are now a large part of the range of products they sell. With unbeatable price-performance ratios, Thomann wind instruments are the obvious first choice for students and beginners - and more. The technical features and uncompromising sound quality they offer are usually reserved for much more expensive instruments, belonging to the professional market segment.
Thanks to its low price, the Little Bear is ideal for ambitious beginners looking for an instrument that combines a light weight with a rich, sonorous sound. With these features, you can play this tuba for a lifetime and as your requirements become more demanding, you can keep this good-sounding and handy instrument as a backup. There are occasions when the power of a 45cm bell isn’t needed, especially in smaller ensembles – in these instances, the Thomann Bb tuba “Little bear” will ensure that you don’t drown out your colleagues.