Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

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.
Post Reply
User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3899
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 951 times
Been thanked: 1068 times
Contact:

Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by arpthark »

https://www.ebay.com/itm/365107691630?m ... media=COPY

Image

Thought this was kind of interesting. De Prins Bros. tuba imported by Walter Sear. This kinda looks like a CC as it is missing the signature loop in the 3rd valve tubing that BBb De Prins have. Shame it's missing a valve, maybe a franken-candidate. Nickel plated?

Anybody end up with this?

Further, anybody had any experience with De Prins tubas?

I have Belgian ancestry and am sort of dorkily interested.


User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19285
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3841 times
Been thanked: 4086 times

Re: Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by bloke »

buttons/caps look really similar to Reynolds... (only a comment, not an implication)
User avatar
Jim Williams
Posts: 192
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:31 am
Location: Indy Area
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 33 times
Contact:

Re: Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by Jim Williams »

For three or so years (1968-70) I uncrated and prepared dozens of the dePrins tubas when I worked for Walter Sear.
As I recall, they were--to me--a distant third behind the Cerveny and Mahillon models he also imported. My high school in NJ, knowing that I was studying with and worked for Walter, bought an upright-bell Mahillon (on which I played principal tuba in the 1969 NJ All-State Band under Frederick Fennell), a recording bell Mahillon (an absolute POS), and a couple of the front-action dePrins models, all in BB flat.
Walter traded lessons for work in his studio--he knew I had a top-class amateur radio license and was experienced with tube-based circuitry. Pulling patch cords, tweaking voltage pots, replacing tubes, soldering capacitors and resistors into place...big fun.
I also learned about synching sound to (interesting) films...
These users thanked the author Jim Williams for the post:
bowerybum (Thu Sep 12, 2024 5:00 am)
The artist formerly known as Snorlax.
Shires Q41 and Yamaha 321 Euphoniums.
Yamaha 621 Baritone, Conn 50H trombone.
humBell
Posts: 2048
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:25 am
Has thanked: 218 times
Been thanked: 165 times

Re: Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by humBell »

No great wisdom on my end, but i expect it to be BBb.

For some reason i think this was the normal 3rd valve circuit, and the odder variant was made for someone who wanted to be able to reach through the upper bow for some reason? I think i got that impression from a comment i saw on horn-u-copia, but i didn't understand it then and still don't.

I really liked the one i played when i played it, but i'd only been playing for a couple years...
"All art is one." -Hal
User avatar
Jim Williams
Posts: 192
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:31 am
Location: Indy Area
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 33 times
Contact:

Re: Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by Jim Williams »

IIRC, both the Mahillon and dePrins tubas used very thick brass, and thus became popular in schools. The Cerveny tubas had very thin brass.
The artist formerly known as Snorlax.
Shires Q41 and Yamaha 321 Euphoniums.
Yamaha 621 Baritone, Conn 50H trombone.
catgrowlB
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2023 8:46 pm
Has thanked: 53 times
Been thanked: 18 times

Re: Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by catgrowlB »

Another one in better condition:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305785367128
PlayTheTuba
Posts: 180
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2023 1:58 pm
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 35 times

Re: Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by PlayTheTuba »

They sure do look neat!
User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3899
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 951 times
Been thanked: 1068 times
Contact:

Re: Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by arpthark »

Saw that. There's a slightly gnarly patch around the receiver.
humBell
Posts: 2048
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:25 am
Has thanked: 218 times
Been thanked: 165 times

Re: Walter Sear De Prins tuba on eBay (auction ended)

Post by humBell »

catgrowlB wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 8:15 pm Another one in better condition:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305785367128
That auction ended, too.
"All art is one." -Hal
Post Reply