I just prefer to play one that's larger than the original ones (much as most trombones and tubas are today are larger than those designed over a century ago), I prefer that mine be in B-flat - particularly since I sort of walked away from the C tuba thing that I did for 48 years, and - though I'm quite at home with at least one six valve system - I prefer the 3+1 compensating fully chromatic system for my French tuba, rather than learning yet another six valve fully chromatic system.
Additionally - since this instrument is considerably larger than original design French tubas, I also prefer a larger mouthpiece.
Doug Elliott's contrabass trombone mouthpiece is just about perfect, doesn't offer any wonky pitch including up in the multiple ledger lines region, offers a nice fat tuba type of sound, and is the same overall length as most all other trombone mouthpieces.
This isn't just another euphonium. Even with the corks not trimmed at all, the Dennis Wick metal mute nearly bottoms out in this instrument's bell, and this instrument is built so tall that I can set it in my lap and play it, even though I'm long-waisted.
Putting the two jobs together, I'm pretty well paid for Easter and Christmas - probably less than a some of you, but handsomely.
I use this instrument on 85% of the stuff I play on both of those jobs, and "regular" tuba on about 15%.
Here's my French tuba in B flat with the 3+1 Blaikley compensating system on board and a mouthpiece in between tuba and bass trombone size:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Meinl-West ... 0215916.gc
I am NOT anti French tuba.
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- bloke
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Re: I am NOT anti French tuba.

bloke wrote: Sun Apr 20, 2025 1:27 pm Here's my French tuba in B flat with the 3+1 Blaikley compensating system on board and a mouthpiece in between tuba and bass trombone size:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Meinl-West ... 0215916.gc

A real pic OF YOUR instrument or it doesn't exist!!...
And no your Bass "Euphonium" in Eb with... 3 different bell options? Doesn't, doesn't count.
Happy
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- catgrowlB (Sun Apr 20, 2025 4:10 pm)
- bloke
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Re: I am NOT anti French tuba.
sure !




Inserted into typical euphonium bells, this Wick mute hovers several inches higher.

Most of the charts today (and every Easter and Christmas at this place) were/are in this range...though a few (particularly those in E-flat major) featured E-flats above the staff. (One that he pulls out every few years creeps up to A-flat.)
The Holton compact BB-flat tuba has a good solid and not-sharp E-flat in that range, but - when the entire part barely dips below the staff, why use a BB-flat tuba?






Inserted into typical euphonium bells, this Wick mute hovers several inches higher.

Most of the charts today (and every Easter and Christmas at this place) were/are in this range...though a few (particularly those in E-flat major) featured E-flats above the staff. (One that he pulls out every few years creeps up to A-flat.)
The Holton compact BB-flat tuba has a good solid and not-sharp E-flat in that range, but - when the entire part barely dips below the staff, why use a BB-flat tuba?

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Re: I am NOT anti French tuba.
Any video? 

Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
- bloke
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Re: I am NOT anti French tuba.
The question is who's trolling whom?
You can download it from Vimeo if you are willing to look around their site and find the download link.
https://www.holycommunion.org/

You can download it from Vimeo if you are willing to look around their site and find the download link.
https://www.holycommunion.org/
Re: I am NOT anti French tuba.
Seriuosly? No heavy bottom cap on the fourth valve? While you’re out playing gigs, the real euphonium players are sitting at home laughing at you.

- arpthark
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Re: I am NOT anti French tuba.
I don’t see any grime gutters, belly guards, main tuning slide triggers, or white gloves, either.MikeS wrote: Mon Apr 21, 2025 4:55 pm Seriuosly? No heavy bottom cap on the fourth valve? While you’re out playing gigs, the real euphonium players are sitting at home laughing at you.![]()