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Looking for a light weight, 3/4 BBb. Something that plays nice that a good tuba player would like playing (I have a Couesnon BBb that I think would be fine for a beginner who doesnt know anything else, but not for a seasoned player). Im thinking Yamaha. Looking in Michigan/NW indiana/Chicago.

The undisputed, peer reviewed consensus on a nice 3/4 tuba is as follows;

A used Yama 621
The Eastman facsimile
The John Packer facsimile
The Mack Brass facsimile

In descending order of how much one is likely to cost.

There is no argument unless you are a fact denying heretic!!

i'm somewhat late in seeing this... if you haven't found one, i have a John Packer 3/4 BBb i'm not using.

This wasnt for me... But I'm happy to report someone who needed a new tuba got one. Always a happy day

I (regularly) sell these three models of 3/4-size BB-flat tubas:


obvious copy of Yamaha YBB-105, but better
info/specs: https://www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/pr ... 78-bb-tuba

these:


similar to (but somewhat different from) a Yamaha YBB-621, and just as well made
info/specs: https://www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/pr ... p179b-tuba

and these:


obvious copy of a Cerveny Arion, but better...most recently supplied with an adjustable thumb ring
info/specs: https://www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/pr ... ng-bb-tuba

Each one is better than the one above it, and each lower one costs more.
None cost anything close to the cost of a dependable used car.
All three are remarkably well-made, and include sturdy cases.
The company offers a 2-year warranty (which you won't need to use).

In particular: the rotary one...I really-REALLY like it, and I'm not a "really-REALLY liker" of that many models of tubas.

=======================================

I don't publish my prices, but - if you p.m. me - I'd quote them (and they would include shipping).
We've been in business since 1979, and I can completely build tubas from new, used, or damaged bits-and-pieces (as seen in the repair forum).
I have a USED pretty-shiny BRAZIL-made copy of a Yamaha 105 out in the shop...missing a no-longer-available piston...but there are both Holton and a Bauerfeind 3-valve top-action valvesets out there as donor candidates. There is also an UGLY Bach (like Olds model O-99) 3-valve front-action tuba out there with an old hard case. The pistons worn plated surfaces ALSO look ugly, but really aren't leaky.
I could minimally repair/clean that one up and sell EITHER of these (either the Brazil one or the Bach/Olds one)..but not any time in the new two months...and I do not "as-is" stuff like this, because they sell instantly to local band directors, once repaired and (well...) I don't have to pack-ship them to local band directors. Though discontinued, (were this an issue...??) BRAND-NEW pistons are actually STILL available for the Bach. I'd be willing to drop a set in (at barely above cost), but that cost would need to be fronted to me. WERE it a 4-valve, the Bach would be about as good an instrument as the NEW middle one (pictured above), but it's only a 3-valve. Otherwise, the three NEW ones - pictured - are better instruments (new or used) than either of these just-mentioned 3/4-size used ones.

I was helping a friend find one... They ended trying out an old King student model that played well enough (and was priced nicely enough) for them to buy it. Added bonus, it was local.

very good !

Three Valves wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 7:37 am The undisputed, peer reviewed consensus on a nice 3/4 tuba is as follows;

A used Yama 621
The Eastman facsimile
The John Packer facsimile
The Mack Brass facsimile

In descending order of how much one is likely to cost.

There is no argument unless you are a fact denying heretic!!

Maybe I misunderstand and maybe this is thread drift but if you don’t want or can’t really afford a new or recently sold Tuba then what are the better 3/4 - and even smaller - sized older Tubas to look for, and particularly so in 3 valve form? For example I believe that the Yamaha YBB-103 is quite well liked - sought after even - and was also sold with a Holton badge on it too. As an aside the YBB-102 appears to have also been sold with a Holton badge on it.

Of course, when you’re buying second-hand, sometimes your choice is limited to a pool of instruments of which only some models are worth considering and some others are best left alone.

So, what are the good, older, three valve, and 3/4 sized BBb tubas?

Does a 10j count? Or is it just a wisp too large to be considered 3/4?