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Anyone tried these yet? I played on one at the army workshop and was blown away by how easy it felt to play throughout the range and how nice the tone sounded.

It's funny to read an exact copy of a post I made on Reddit. Uncanny really. Same title, same text, everything. Guess I'm famous now?

The Eastman 834 is very, very nice.

I’m not sure why it’s being marketed as a 5/4 tuba though, it’s physically barely larger than the 832. It does have a lot more power available than the 832 though and quite a different feel. It’s heavier and has very stable solid feel to it. The low register is outrageously good.

Intonation is mostly very good. It does have one odd quirk being that it starts getting a bit flat below the low C. No pull on low A. Ab and G need 3rd / 4th slide pushed all the way in. Low F# is 2-4 with a pull. It’s very easy to get used to it though an a non problem once you’re used to it. D in the staff needs to be pushed up a bit.

I’d describe it as a powerful ‘orchestral’ 4/4 C tuba. I’d liken it to a much improved version of the MW Thor. Much more refined and dense sound with an even more accessible and massive low register.

Absolutely recommend trying one out!

i played one today. here's my thoughts

I had not read this thread, but I had the same first impression as JC2. this is not a 5/4 horn. it'sa good solid 4/4. Maybe the 750 bore made them call it a 5/4 vs the 689 bore of the 832

I thought it was a bit bright, probably from the lighter weight. This tuba feels very light and I'm not sure why. Maybe thinner Metal?

great intonation except as noted above, right below the stafff. A, Ab, and G were all flat. I would use 1-3 for the G, but there isn't much you can do about the Ab, didn't try any weird 5th valve combos, maybe I should have

I think the 832 has a smoother sound, and shorter action valves. It was a nice playing horn, but I'm still a fan of the 632 and 832

Their numbers are all too close together. I can't keep them straight in my head. Going to need an annotated chart with pictures...

Did a bot start this thread?

Quite possibly. I posted this exact text and title to Reddit, and this account copied and pasted it within a couple days if I remember correctly.

Good to hear someone else had a similar experience to me!

I’ve got both an 832 and 834. I’d agree that the 832 is a bit more velvety in its sound. It plays a little smoother and sweeter than the more direct sound of the 834. I do find the extra resistance in the 832 makes it slightly more technical in how you approach it. The 834 feels easier as it’ll take a more aggressive use of air without pushing back.

Both are good instruments. Intonation is definitely not perfect on either of them. The 834 needs its third slide cutting down a bit, unless you’re ok with lipping up the low Ab. I like the 834 a bit more than the 832 with all things considered. Stronger core and clarity. Better projection.

I use a Laskey 32H on both FWIW.

Bottom bow on the Eastman 834 CC actually looks small 4/4, or 7/8 in size -- similar size-wise to the old Conn 10j (a 7/8 size tuba) bottom bow. The rest of the Eastman 834 looks 4/4 to me. If they call that a "5/4" tuba, then the Yamaha 623 and B&S 795 are certainly "5/4" tubas -- which they are not because they are instead 4/4 tubas.
It's all silly/inaccurate sizing and marketing that kinda irritates me

the bottom bow reminded me of an olds 99. I literally gripped it and said those words out loud

Yeah, the Olds O-99......another 7/8 body tuba.

The sizing and marketing of these tubas are sometimes really bizarre

Put 11,000 bucks on your credit card and you can pre-order one.
Remember, these aren't just Chinese; they are Chinese "plus".

Xiao uncle

bloke wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2026 10:08 pm Put 11,000 bucks on your credit card and you can pre-order one.
Remember, these aren't just Chinese; they are Chinese "plus".

If someone is working with a store that is trying to get full price, they should shop elsewhere. Dealers have room to negotiate on those.

catgrowlB wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2026 8:21 pm Bottom bow on the Eastman 834 CC actually looks small 4/4, or 7/8 in size -- similar size-wise to the old Conn 10j (a 7/8 size tuba) bottom bow. The rest of the Eastman 834 looks 4/4 to me. If they call that a "5/4" tuba, then the Yamaha 623 and B&S 795 are certainly "5/4" tubas -- which they are not because they are instead 4/4 tubas.
It's all silly/inaccurate sizing and marketing that kinda irritates me

Definitely smaller than a PT6 or a Thor, but clearly larger than their 4/4 and smaller than their 6/4. It's a 5/4 like a Miraphone 129X is a 5/4.

thedancingsousa wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2026 7:30 pm It's funny to read an exact copy of a post I made on Reddit. Uncanny really. Same title, same text, everything. Guess I'm famous now?

Yep. Scumbags abound…

pricing:

I rarely go to Memphis but when I find myself there I'll drive three or four extra miles - maybe even five or six extra miles - to visit one particular pawn shop in a really cheesy part of town.

Rather than the typical worthless and ragged out crap, they've actually and consistently got some pretty nice things in there. If there's a really nice instrument or piece of equipment that normally sells for about $2,000 new, they'll have a price tag hanging on it of around $2,000. When you get down to business with them, they'll take $550, and include the sales tax, which is nearly 10%. (Stuff doesn't stay in there very long that's good, because they price it to sell, make a reasonable profit off of the amount they loaned, and go on to the next item.)
TO THE TOPIC:
I'm not sure that posting full retail price on an item that probably costs dealers half that amount is particularly useful these days.
I believe I might put something like, "Reach out to us (xxx-xxx-xxxx) to discuss our competitive pricing."
----------------------
EPIC OFF-TOPIC sidebar: (I WOULD RECOMMEND NOT WASTING YOUR TIME READING THIS.)
Yes Tennessee state and local sales tax is quite high, but it's only a couple of percent higher than most other states - many which also have confiscatory state income tax rates, whereby Tennessee has absolutely no state income tax. People aren't required to buy anything in particular in their state (at least, I would hope not), but it's very difficult to live without having some sort of income. I prefer to have the option of not buying things in my state (an option afforded anyone) as opposed to being discouraged from earning income in my state.
My particular county probably has just about the lowest property tax assessments and tax rates in the United States, and I live in an unincorporated area of the county (whereby no municipality is involved in my taxation). If I really wish to pay a lower sales tax rate, I can shop in Mississippi or Arkansas - which are both approximately an hour away, but Tennessee's sales tax rate on groceries is as low as those states, as those rates are reduced in Tennessee. Truth be told, a significant percentage of the things that I purchase in Tennessee are used items which are purchased from individuals.
We rarely buy much of anything significant new, other than food.
Recently - when one of our three 26-year-old air conditioning units needed a new A-coil, I went and bought it in Arkansas, and a friend and I installed it.
We also aren't into automobiles other than for dependable transportation. Our oldest vehicle is a Toyota which will qualify for an antique plate in January. Everything works including air, yet all we ever put on it is tires and oil. That said, an instrument collector friend is always bringing stuff to me to repair for him, so over the next year I'm working off a vehicle of his which is one of those known to be "runs forever" makes and models. I believe in spending almost nothing on really dependable transportation (cars are horrible investments, and really aren't investments, but rather are nothing but expenses) and we believe in always having at least one extra - if not two. I might not even insure nor tag one of them, but might just drive the uninsured and untagged one up and down our road down to the highway to collect the mail a couple of times a week to keep that one running and charged. If going on a road trip - and it's really important to show up somewhere with a "nice" car, I'll rent one. I lean towards manual transmission cars, just in case I need to park somewhere in a population center for more than a minute or two.

I was taking a lesson with Don Harry years back and was concerned about my size of horns.

Don Harry came told me to stop worrying about the size of tubas and to focus on if it is a good tuba.

Is it a good tuba? I haven’t played the YCB 623 but people I trust say it is a good horn. The B&S 606P is a good horn. How does it compare to these?

One thing that impressed me was even though the valves were a little longer, the valves were very light and fast. I liked them better than B&S and miraphobe pistons

Yes it's a very good Tuba, but at this price point you can save quite a bit of money buying a slightly used European horn over a new Chinese one. You have to decide that this one is superior to those

LeMark wrote: Sat Oct 10, 2026 11:20 am One thing that impressed me was even though the valves were a little longer, the valves were very light and fast. I liked them better than B&S and miraphobe pistons

Yes it's a very good Tuba, but at this price point you can save quite a bit of money buying a slightly used European horn over a new Chinese one. You have to decide that this one is superior to those

A student last year, after deciding on a college, bought a really good older PT6 for around $9000. Though I’ve always preferred pistons for CCs (rotors for BBbs), it was a good example and somewhat reasonably priced and will retain its value. I should point out the YCB 623 is only $12,000, I believe Japanese made and Yamahas have been known for their high level of consistency. The price of the 834 made me question more than the size and bow.

russiantuba wrote: Sat Oct 10, 2026 10:46 am Is it a good tuba? I haven’t played the YCB 623 but people I trust say it is a good horn. The B&S 606P is a good horn. How does it compare to these?

It's a good tuba. I have really liked the ones I have played and briefly considered one when they were announced, but I bought my 186 from @the elephant.

Very clear sound, but not bright really. The one I had come through my shop played well.

I have not had them side by side, but I think it's a little wider than a PT-606P, but definitely bigger and more open wrapped than I recall my Ursus (MW3225) being. Similar in size to the YCB-623 or a Miraphone 129x. @LeMark holding any "normal" sized tuba throws the scale off, he's very tall.

I think that they essentially made a flatter wrapped Merlin- sized tuba with the graduated bore valve set that they thought about putting on the EBC836 at one point.
Their goal is for Eastman to have a different voice from the Willson tubas, but I know that some of the Willson research and development has gone into some of the tubas, I mean take a look at the EBF867 and EBF865.