New tuba: YCB-623

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
User avatar
matt g
Posts: 2580
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:37 am
Location: Southeastern New England
Has thanked: 263 times
Been thanked: 554 times

New tuba: YCB-623

Post by matt g »



Found this interesting. I’m guessing similar to the Nirschl 4/4?
These users thanked the author matt g for the post:
cjk (Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:29 pm)


Dillon/Walters CC (sold)
Meinl-Weston 2165 (sold)
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by bort2.0 »

Check it out at NAMM*

*Will not be available at ITEC :laugh:
These users thanked the author bort2.0 for the post:
Three Valves (Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:03 am)
cthuba
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 3:26 pm
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 26 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by cthuba »

Is this another Besson 995/ Nirschl Clone?
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by bort2.0 »

cthuba wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 3:45 pm Is this another Besson 995/ Nirschl Clone?
I also question if the new B&S 795 CC is a Besson/Nirschl clone. It's been 10+ years since I've played a Besson/Nirschl, but I played the 795 yesterday and it reminded me of it.

Whether yes or no, this is a nice looking tuba, and I wonder if this will replace the 822? Or at least, give a 4/4 option with more colorful tuba sound, instead of the 822's "not everyone's favorite" sound.
User avatar
UncleBeer
Posts: 524
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:37 am
Has thanked: 64 times
Been thanked: 283 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by UncleBeer »

bort2.0 wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 3:30 pm Check it out at NAMM*

*Will not be available at ITEC :laugh:
Turn down Tindall for ITEC, that's what ya get. (I'm assuming a whole lot, but...)
User avatar
matt g
Posts: 2580
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:37 am
Location: Southeastern New England
Has thanked: 263 times
Been thanked: 554 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by matt g »

bort2.0 wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 3:49 pm
cthuba wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 3:45 pm Is this another Besson 995/ Nirschl Clone?
I also question if the new B&S 795 CC is a Besson/Nirschl clone. It's been 10+ years since I've played a Besson/Nirschl, but I played the 795 yesterday and it reminded me of it.
Yes, the 795 is a third gen copy of the Nirschl 4/4.
Whether yes or no, this is a nice looking tuba, and I wonder if this will replace the 822? Or at least, give a 4/4 option with more colorful tuba sound, instead of the 822's "not everyone's favorite" sound.
What’s of interest is the numbering. The YCB-822 is a “custom” level Yamaha whereas this is a “professional” level Yamaha (6xx). They might keep the 822 around, but it would seem redundant, more so if this has a more characteristic sound.

Also implies this should cost less than the 822, but I guess that’s something that we will find out soon.
These users thanked the author matt g for the post:
bort2.0 (Thu Apr 13, 2023 4:12 pm)
Dillon/Walters CC (sold)
Meinl-Weston 2165 (sold)
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by bort2.0 »

One other thought... I find the number 623 interesting... Aren't the other 62x tubas all 3/4 horns?
User avatar
matt g
Posts: 2580
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:37 am
Location: Southeastern New England
Has thanked: 263 times
Been thanked: 554 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by matt g »

bort2.0 wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 4:12 pm One other thought... I find the number 623 interesting... Aren't the other 62x tubas all 3/4 horns?
Edited my response above. But the leading 6 designates the “level” of the horn. The YBB-641 is everyone’s favorite 4/4 rotary valve tuba, don’t forget!

ETA: and the YBB-321 is 4/4. I don’t think the other numbers mean all that much.
These users thanked the author matt g for the post:
bort2.0 (Thu Apr 13, 2023 5:00 pm)
Dillon/Walters CC (sold)
Meinl-Weston 2165 (sold)
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by bort2.0 »

Good points, thanks!

My guess is that, as much as anything else, price could depend on in part or in whole... country of origin
Breavdah
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat May 07, 2022 10:29 am
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by Breavdah »

Japan be like "Copying European designs with increased precision, yet utterly unsatisfying player feel and bizarre intonation? That's our job!"
YorkNumber3.0
Posts: 321
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2020 5:50 pm
Has thanked: 36 times
Been thanked: 98 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by YorkNumber3.0 »

.
Last edited by YorkNumber3.0 on Mon Aug 28, 2023 7:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
tubaing
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2020 4:15 pm
Location: Dunkirk, MD
Has thanked: 31 times
Been thanked: 46 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by tubaing »

Looks like there's a BBb version too.
User avatar
russiantuba
Posts: 354
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:04 am
Location: Circleville, Ohio
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 96 times
Contact:

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by russiantuba »

I have been told by another Yamaha artist that it is based on Jim Self's 1930s model York 4/4 CC tuba. I have played on an early 1920s York factory original 4/4 CC tuba (the same model Jacobs was willing to trade one of the CSO Yorks to Bob LeBlanc to use as his main horn). This horn is an amazing horn. If Yamaha kept the same concept design, it should be a great horn. I would say it will probably be close or an improved version of the PT 606 (GR 41?) based on this information.
These users thanked the author russiantuba for the post (total 2):
cjk (Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:30 pm) • York-aholic (Thu Apr 13, 2023 11:22 pm)
Dr. James M. Green
Lecturer in Music--Ohio Northern University
Adjunct Professor of Music--Ohio Christian University
Gronitz PF 125
Miraphone 1291CC
Miraphone Performing Artist
www.russiantuba.com
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by bort2.0 »

His sound check video sounded as good as sound check videos can sound. I actually kind of hate those sorts of things, they really just sound like good tuba player playing a tuba.

But more notably, there wasn't any endless slide moving like you see with so many 6/4 tubas. Maybe that's still needed or whatever, but I liked seeing (or not seeing!) all of that.

Its hard to tell the bell profile of this too... The 822 has such a wide pancake to the bell, I think that's where it loses a lot of focus for me. I do like the 822 and how it plays. How it sounds... Not for me... But except for picky tuba players, nobody else really cares.

Final thought -- really glad to see NEW models of ANYTHING being developed. Keep it up!
These users thanked the author bort2.0 for the post:
cjk (Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:29 pm)
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by bort2.0 »

russiantuba wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 8:44 pm I have been told by another Yamaha artist that it is based on Jim Self's 1930s model York 4/4 CC tuba. I have played on an early 1920s York factory original 4/4 CC tuba (the same model Jacobs was willing to trade one of the CSO Yorks to Bob LeBlanc to use as his main horn). This horn is an amazing horn. If Yamaha kept the same concept design, it should be a great horn. I would say it will probably be close or an improved version of the PT 606 (GR 41?) based on this information.
Interesting! My one complaint about the 606 was that the low range could really sound like "tuba being pushed too much" if you weren't careful. And it was a little work to be careful. Contrast that to other piston tubas where the idea of "blow as hard and direct as you want and it'll ask for more" takes over... And I prefer the latter.

Based on what James says... This Yamaha is probably quite a special tuba.
User avatar
cjk
Posts: 695
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:46 am
Location: Atlanta, GA
Has thanked: 264 times
Been thanked: 147 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by cjk »

The instrument seemed to record well with what I presume to be a cell phone.

Has there ever been a YCB-622? I know there was a YFB-622.
The choice of model number seems strange.

Anyone know what the second tuning slide comment is all about?
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by bort2.0 »

cjk wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:38 pm The instrument seemed to record well with what I presume to be a cell phone.

Has there ever been a YCB-622? I know there was a YFB-622.
The choice of model number seems strange.

Anyone know what the second tuning slide comment is all about?
What was the 622?

Also curious about the tuning slide thing...
These users thanked the author bort2.0 for the post:
cjk (Fri Apr 14, 2023 7:20 am)
User avatar
cjk
Posts: 695
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:46 am
Location: Atlanta, GA
Has thanked: 264 times
Been thanked: 147 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by cjk »

bort2.0 wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:51 pm
cjk wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:38 pm The instrument seemed to record well with what I presume to be a cell phone.

Has there ever been a YCB-622? I know there was a YFB-622.
The choice of model number seems strange.

Anyone know what the second tuning slide comment is all about?
What was the 622?

Also curious about the tuning slide thing...

YFB-622 was one of the part numbers attached to the Roger Bobo custom version of the 621 F tuba. The other was YFB-821. Don't know why. I'd guess that the 8 series is more professional/nicer and somebody decided it should be apart of that series.
It gets called both numbers on this page:
http://wwwtemp.rogerbobo.com/instruments/f_tuba.shtml
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by bort2.0 »

Wow, that's really interesting, thanks!

I sure wouldn't mind trying the larger Yamaha's some time. I've always been interested in the rotary 861, but they are very rare (at least in the US). The last one I remember seeing was a gem of a tuba that Lee Stofer had at his place.

I think back to my earliest days of starting tuba as a 14 year old, grabbing print brochures about tubas at a local music store. I distinctly remember having a brochure aboyt the Holton Phillips model and a Yamaha brochure featuring (not exclusively) the 861. As a kid with no money, that 861 eluded me and was the most interesting thing in the world. I moved on, sorta, but if one were available and I had the $, you know how that would go. :laugh:
User avatar
cjk
Posts: 695
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:46 am
Location: Atlanta, GA
Has thanked: 264 times
Been thanked: 147 times

Re: New tuba: YCB-623

Post by cjk »

If I look at the pictures closely, it looks like the second tuning slide might be upward facing.
I think I see a slide on the inner bow right after the main tuning slide which points up.
I think that could have interesting applications depending on the intonation issues that instrument has.
Post Reply