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Why does Eastman have so many F tuba models? What are the differences in how they sound and play? Has anyone out there played all of them? Here are the models on their website:

EBF-861 (4P+1R)
EBF-862 (4P+1R)
EBF-863 (4P+1R)

EBF-864 (5R)
EBF-865 (5R)
EBF-866 (4R+2R)
EBF-867A (5R+1R? The picture is confusing)
EBF-867E (4R+2R? No picture)

The first ones available were the 864 and 866. These were based on the B&S Symphonie F with a graduated bore and smaller starting bore than tubas like the PT-10 or PT-15. 864 is 5v, 866 is 6v.

Then the piston F tubas came. The 861 has a smaller bore (.708") and a different wrap, being smaller overall, whereas the 862 and 863 have a larger bore (.750") and a larger body. The 862 has a 17.5" bell and the 863 has a 16.5" bell.

The 865, 867A (American) and 867E (European) are new designs, kind of based on the B&S 56AFT (Alessandro Fossi model) but with a smaller bore.

Looks like the 867A has 5 valves in the right hand and one in the left plus tuning slide trigger. 867E is 4+2, I guess more of the Euro style. I bet it has a trigger too, so it'll look like kinda like the 56AFT (looks like a 7-valve tuba at a glance):

The 867 is basically all-around better than the 866, and the 865 is all-around better than the 864. The earlier models (864 and 866) have a smaller bore and are intended to sound brighter, but in my opinion they suffer a lot from the stuffy rotor F tuba syndrome and aren't very good. The 65/67 fix basically everything I didn't like about the earlier ones though. I'm not certain why they still offer both versions.

Between the 864/865 and the 866/867 the only difference is the 6th valve, but I found adding the 6th valve helped a lot with the response Very German sound from all of these but the 867 is my favorite for that style of horn.

The 861/2 are different sizes of an American bell with pistons. Originally it was going to be just the 862 but at some point in development they split into two separate models. I think the 861 is a little smaller and brighter for solo work versus orchestra stuff. The 863 is basically a piston version of the 865, also very German sounding. Plays much better as well.

If you're looking for help with a choice, I'd say the 867 is the best for a more Germanic solo sound (like the B&S symphonies) and the 862 is the best for a warmer American kind of sound (like a Meinl Weston 2250)

Eastman seems to have mastered the art of flooding the market and attaching big names to their instruments to generate hype.

There's a lot of FOMO involved. People see prominent players endorsing them, convince themselves they're getting the next best thing, and jump on the bandwagon. Then a year later, the honeymoon period is over and the horn is up for sale.

Chris Olka makes some videos, joins the crew...gets some free tubas and off they go!

As a lover of B&S F tubas, I'd (and WILL someday again) go with the smaller bore.

I've played the Symphonie and owned a PT-10 and PT-15. I like my current -15 more than the 10 by a LARGE margin, but she just isn't a Symphonie.

Learn how to play the three awkward notes, and relish the other 3-4 octaves of glory!

Just My $0.02

AvrTuba wrote: Thu Oct 22, 2026 4:58 pm Eastman seems to have mastered the art of flooding the market and attaching big names to their instruments to generate hype.

There's a lot of FOMO involved. People see prominent players endorsing them, convince themselves they're getting the next best thing, and jump on the bandwagon. Then a year later, the honeymoon period is over and the horn is up for sale.

Chris Olka makes some videos, joins the crew...gets some free tubas and off they go!

Have I wronged you in some way?

Their new F tubas are outstanding. The piston models are similar to the HB-10, MRP, and MW 2250.

I’ve not spent any time with the newer rotary models, but all of their piston F’s play better in tune than either of my big Willson F’s.

My first F tuba was an Eastman 864. I believe it was one of the first prototypes. It played exactly how you’d expect a B&S style rotor F to play. But it did have outstanding intonation.

Those that are similar to B&S rotary tubas are not going to play as well as (or at least not "just like") the best of the genuine models, because the Eastman mouthpipe tube doesn't begin as small as the genuine model's does.

Realize - or be currently informed - that the original Symphonie model mouthpiece receiver was approximately bass trombone shank size, and was enlarged in the later 70s, with the mouthpipe dimensions remaining the same.

The late 70s model I played had a standard shank receiver, but I bet the bass trombone receiver would be SWEET, I like it on my 186!