6/4 York style BBb-Tuba soundcheck

[Kontrabasstuba]

Here is a little soundcheck of my York/Adams BBb tuba.
I played the Etude No.55 by Boris Grigoriev.

[Oedipoes]

Nice!
Is it Adams' intention to put it into production, or is it a one-off?
Can you share some specs?

Thanks!

[bloke]

...so it's a upper-and-inner-bows-extended HB-50...??

[Kontrabasstuba]

Nice!
Is it Adams' intention to put it into production, or is it a one-off?
Can you share some specs?

Thanks!

No, it's an "Frankentuba" the body is an York BBb Tuba from around 1910. Valveblock, leadpipe and Bell is Adams.

[Kontrabasstuba]

...so it's a upper-and-inner-bows-extended HB-50...??

As I know it was a BBb Tuba. Can't remember exactly, but i think it's from 1910. The rest are Adams parts

[LargeTuba]

Was this the one created by Chuck Nickles?

[Kontrabasstuba]

Was this the one created by Chuck Nickles?

Yes, correct!

[Rick Denney]

With an abundance of respect to the performer, is it just me, or do I hear a range of intonation issues in this recording?

I'm normally accused (rightly so) of having a tin ear. Maybe my tinnitus is acting up. When I had to record myself in isolation for a digital mashup during the pandemic, I heard the same kind of stuff in my own playing. On one occasion, I even re-recorded it on a different instrument to help address it. But then I know I suck.

Rick "octave jumps were most telling" Denney

[bort2.0]

With an abundance of respect to the performer, is it just me, or do I hear a range of intonation issues in this recording?

I'm normally accused (rightly so) of having a tin ear. Maybe my tinnitus is acting up. When I had to record myself in isolation for a digital mashup during the pandemic, I heard the same kind of stuff in my own playing. On one occasion, I even re-recorded it on a different instrument to help address it. But then I know I suck.

Rick "octave jumps were most telling" Denney

With the same respect, it doesn't sound like the easiest tuba to control.

Then again, when you post 3 dozen videos with 3 dozen tubas and they all sound good... That's some real skill there

How many tubas do you own, anyway? Give us a tour of the garage sometime?

[Rick Denney]

I recall hearing Dave Bragunier (RIP) perform a Strauss Horn Concerto on a turn-of-the-last-century Kruspe F tuba. This was at an Army workshop. His intonation was excellent, but it was also obvious he was having to work at it to make it so. It filled me with admiration for Mr. Bragunier, but not for that particular instrument.

But I am guilty of misreading the OP--not seeing until now the word "my". I did not realize this was a personal instrument, and thought it was a prototype or frankentuba assembled as an experiment (consistent with the following responses). OP: Please do not take offense at my comments. There is no way I would post the videos I have of myself playing my conceptually similar Holton, which would reveal a wide range of weaknesses your video does not display. And I've had years of practice with that Holton.

Rick "mostly just wanted to check his own hearing" Denney

[hubert]

I liked the 6/4 CC, you recently presented here, a lot better, Daniel. This prototype (?) sounds a bit (what is the right word in English?) "rough" to me. Perhaps still some work to do?
All the best,
Hubert

[Kontrabasstuba]

I liked the 6/4 CC, you recently presented here, a lot better, Daniel. This prototype (?) sounds a bit (what is the right word in English?) "rough" to me. Perhaps still some work to do?
All the best,
Hubert

Hubert, it's not a prototype. It's an Frankentuba. With parts from an Original York Tuba and parts from Adams. Valve block, leadpipe etc...

[LargeTuba]

I think I remember talking to Chuck Nickles about it. Hirsbrunner bell and valve section and York 91 bugle.

I suppose Adams/Hirsbrunner is basically the same.

[bloke]

I find the video demonstration to be interesting, and I also view it as - well - courageous to go ahead and do a video demonstration of an instrument that may well feature some fairly striking intonation issues, because the tendency is always to (wrongly) judge the player who is doing a demo of an instrument, rather than realizing that the player is demonstrating an interesting (old or newer) instrument for our collective entertainment. I like the fact that the instrument is being played at fortissimo, the player is allowing the “mighty mighty” instrument’s characteristics “all hang out“, and we get to see/hear what it is, and what it does.

[bort2.0]

I think that would be a fun tuba competition to have -- three GREAT players picking up some really BAD tubas at random for the first time, and seeing who can make it sound the best.

Note: I'm not saying this is a bad tuba. I'm saying I have a ton of respect for Daniel's skill to pick up just about anything and make HIS sound on it. He is an absolute professional musician.

[KingTuba1241X]

I think that would be a fun tuba competition to have -- three GREAT players picking up some really BAD tubas at random for the first time, and seeing who can make it sound the best.

Note: I'm not saying this is a bad tuba. I'm saying I have a ton of respect for Daniel's skill to pick up just about anything and make HIS sound on it. He is an absolute professional musician.

I want to buy him a plane ticket to Baltimore and have him do one of his demo videos on the 6/4 Rudy.

[Doc]

I want to buy him a plane ticket to Baltimore and have him do one of his demo videos on the 6/4 Rudy.

[Rick Denney]

Yes, that would be awesome. Having played that Rudy on several occasions, and knowing that it has been used in high-end circumstances when such an instrument was appropriate, I think the result would be rather amazing. That instrument, when you have it in your lap, your brain goes "no freaking way!" But when you play it, sound comes out, despite all expectations.

Rick "not a tuba for brass quintet, however" Denney

[Doc]

Yes, that would be awesome. Having played that Rudy on several occasions, and knowing that it has been used in high-end circumstances when such an instrument was appropriate, I think the result would be rather amazing. That instrument, when you have it in your lap, your brain goes "no freaking way!" But when you play it, sound comes out, despite all expectations.

Rick "not a tuba for brass quintet, however" Denney

Having played it in our friend's living room with high ceiling (he wanted ME to carry it down the stairs - ), it was apparent that it was the only appropriate room for a sound of that size. It was a treat to play it, and it was unlike any other tuba experience (and kinda hard to adequately describe). Unfortunately, I was not able hear it when it was played in the high-end circumstances, but I understand it was a fine experience.

Doc (who is tuba-nerdy enough to likely kick in a few bucks to help Daniel get here)

[York-aholic]

I think that would be a fun tuba competition to have -- three GREAT players picking up some really BAD tubas at random for the first time, and seeing who can make it sound the best.

Note: I'm not saying this is a bad tuba. I'm saying I have a ton of respect for Daniel's skill to pick up just about anything and make HIS sound on it. He is an absolute professional musician.

I'd pay to see that. And I also would chip in for Daniel's plane flight to see/hear him of the 6/4 (8/4?) Rudy.

Let's get both of those ideas going.