This tuba wouldn't produce the cuivre tones needed for authentic Balkan brass but it has a pleasant sound and is of durable quality. The only way to damage it would be to deliberately abuse it. When I received the tuba it had one rotor linkage so badly out of adjustment that it wasn't even playable, but I was able to set it up properly with a few minutes work. The return springs on the rotors are too stiff IMO and might cause right hand fatigue during long performances.
A standard Hume & Berg tuba straight mut would just bobble around in the bell without wedging securely but I obtained a set of three mini turnbuckles from the hardware store and was able to form them to grab over the ridge on lip of the bell without any modification to the tuba itself.
I am in one way pleased with the fun color, but on a more serious note would have hoped that white (like normal marching band fiberglass tubas) would have been on offer.