1938 King 1291 BBb Rotary Tuba (Asking $6000 OBO)

[ussglassman]

I have been the owner of this legendary 6/4 King 1291 tuba for about a year. This is the model that is similar to the one Bill Bell played, and based on my research is one of maybe 20 that were ever produced. This tuba has unique string-linkgage rotary valves.

It is one of the finest instruments I have ever played, and is in great playing condition. It does have some dents and finish issues, as is typical with an 85 year old instrument, but it is ready to be your daily-driver tuba.

It comes with it's original 24" recording bell, plus a 20" upright from the same production line.

I will also include a King 26 mouthpiece (which would have been the same type included with the instrument when it was new) a King hard case for the body, and 2 new gig bags for each of the bells.

Unfortunately my pictures aren't compatible with this site, so I'd be happy to send them directly.

Please contact me at kody@chcmb.org

Buyer to pay shipping costs from Citrus Heights CA

[ussglassman]

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[arpthark]

Love the side-by-side with you and WJB. The tubas look almost identical. Very cool! Good luck with selling. Your ad is missing a price, FYI.

[bloke]

The slight tilt of the rotors has always mystified me, and it's opposite of the misalignment on the piston instruments. It doesn't seem like it's enough to offer any ergonomic/comfort advantage, and just enough to be to appear haphazard...
... but it's obviously intentional.

This is no criticism. It's just an admission of being mystified by it.

[bort2.0]

The slight tilt of the rotors has always mystified me, and it's opposite of the misalignment on the piston instruments. It doesn't seem like it's enough to offer any ergonomic/comfort advantage, and just enough to be to appear haphazard...
... but it's obviously intentional.

This is no criticism. It's just an admission of being mystified by it.

I always thought that if the horn is held so the lines up valves are perpendicular with the floor, then the whole tuba is at the intended angle.

Maybe not... I don't think I've ever held one of these. The MW Bill Bell model several times, but I just don't remember ergonomics being a thing.

Gotta say, nothing looks more awkward than a person playing a tuba sitting on their lap, where the bell is perpendicular to the floor.

[edfirth]

That is a Bb that Mr B is holding in the picture. The horn he used in the NY Phil was the smaller C. It is on the cover of his recording of solos. The earlier Bb flats had straight inline rotors. Mine is one of those and I've seen two others. The first time I used it on a job consisting of three one hour shows which I played every tune on, my wrist and hand were on fire and I thought I had nerve damage. My friend/repairguy put a big coin on the end of the first valve spatula which changed the angle of my wrist and in a couple days the pain went away and stayed away. The slanting valve set does the same thing. Don't alot of Meinl Weston rotary horns have that slanted valveset? Ed

[ussglassman]

I am "asking" $6000 just to recover what I have into it. If anyone is interested, I'm flexible on price