TubaForum.net

...tuba (or sousaphone), and it has to be a tuba that was a production model (i.e. nothing like the York CC that’s a one-off and a prototype or whatever).

It can be of any key and for any purpose (like having an unlimited supply of some excellent bugle and parts to reconfigure).

What are you going to pick?

King 1286. If that's too obscure, then maybe the 1216.

A vintage King fiberglass sousaphone in blue...

Nostalgia.

Late 70's 19" Bell Imperial BBb. Satin.

I would love to play one of those 1286's.

Conn 32J: upright wide flare bell, 4-valve, .734 bore. To me, it would be a great tuba for everything from high school through college and community bands, in a large-4/4 - small-5/4 package, to fit between the Con 2XJ's and the Kings.

York 700 series (surprise)

York 91
Preferably front action 4 valve but I don't know if that counts

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:33 am York 91
Preferably front action 4 valve but I don't know if that counts

Sure. I think if it was listed in a catalog and at least a few examples were built, it counts.

Yorkboy wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:22 am York 700 series (surprise)

I quite agree. I absolutely love my 712* It’s easy to play and the smile factor is huge.
* was 3v front action from the factory in late 1940 and absolutely trashed when I got it (hence being able to afford it), but now wears a York Master 4v set (thank you again to the person who supplied said valve cluster).

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:33 am York 91
Preferably front action 4 valve but I don't know if that counts

This is a 1928 York 736 (6/4 FA fixed recording bell) that was originally ordered with the extra 4th valve. It now sports a Lyon & Healy upright bell that was made in the year 1900. No parts were harmed and is completely reversible. I added an inch or so between the lead pipe and valve cluster and a MTS from a late 30’s York sousaphone. Both of those ‘adjustments’ made up for the pitch going sharp from the bell swap. The horn lost 5 lbs in the swap!

Man... If only I could get my hands on one of those yorks!

York-aholic wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 10:35 am

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:33 am York 91
Preferably front action 4 valve but I don't know if that counts

This is a 1928 York 736 (6/4 FA fixed recording bell) that was originally ordered with the extra 4th valve. It now sports a Lyon & Healy upright bell that was made in the year 1900. No parts were harmed and is completely reversible. I added an inch or so between the lead pipe and valve cluster and a MTS from a late 30’s York sousaphone. Both of those ‘adjustments’ made up for the pitch going sharp from the bell swap. The horn lost 5 lbs in the swap!

That horn was quite a find! I remember having “discussions” on the other board with members as to whether or not a horn like that ever existed (obviously not in the catalog).

I gave up trying to find one and built one:

CC03C154-82C0-4409-8868-9001890D5D48.jpeg

Yorkboy wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 3:19 pm

York-aholic wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 10:35 am

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:33 am York 91
Preferably front action 4 valve but I don't know if that counts

This is a 1928 York 736 (6/4 FA fixed recording bell) that was originally ordered with the extra 4th valve. It now sports a Lyon & Healy upright bell that was made in the year 1900. No parts were harmed and is completely reversible. I added an inch or so between the lead pipe and valve cluster and a MTS from a late 30’s York sousaphone. Both of those ‘adjustments’ made up for the pitch going sharp from the bell swap. The horn lost 5 lbs in the swap!

That horn was quite a find! I remember having “discussions” on the other board with members as to whether or not a horn like that ever existed (obviously not in the catalog).

I gave up trying to find one and built one:

CC03C154-82C0-4409-8868-9001890D5D48.jpeg

Yes, yours is gorgeous. What I wouldn’t do to have an original York bell on mine... Great work (as always) @Yorkboy !

I always meant to ask you: Did you build that 4th valve wrap by the bell, or did you use existing parts?

I’d love to make the fourth wrap on my 712 like York originally had it. The route I settled on for the 712 works well (reachable if need be) and looks balanced, but it would be nice...

It was a combination of parts - the crooks and tubing were original, and I made the dogleg(s) by pitch-filling some tubing and bending them to fit.

That L&H bell looks great and natural on that big York (and I suspect they were probably made by either Holton or York anyway). That was also a real find.

Meinl Weston 32

My opinions:
The MW 32 is an excellent all around tuba with a fine sound. They are easy to play and the good ones had excellent intonation. They were a standard back in the 1960s and 1970s. This model was played in some major orchestras and bands. I have one as my back up tuba and I used to use mine in quintets and for solos.

Best,
Mark

Nice work on that fourth wrap!

I originally thought that bell might have been made by Holton as L&H was in Chicago at the time but...

The bell was made (according to L&H serial numbers) in 1900. It has the early engraving of a picture of the L&H factory. I haven’t seen either a York or Holton 6/4 upright tuba from that far back. Doesn’t mean there aren’t any, but I haven’t seen anything yet to make me think they had started by 1900.

Thank you for the kind words by the way. There are a few spots on that horn (just above the small side of the bottom bow for instance) that if you lightly put your hand there and play a low f or g, you’d swear it was the beginning of an earthquake!

Mark E. Chachich wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 7:48 pm Meinl Weston 32

My opinions:
The MW 32 is an excellent all around tuba with a fine sound. They are easy to play and the good ones had excellent intonation. They were a standard back in the 1960s and 1970s. This model was played in some major orchestras and bands. I have one as my back up tuba and I used to use mine in quintets and for solos.

Best,
Mark

I owned a MW32 from the early 2000s. It was a great all-around CC tuba!

Mark E. Chachich wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 7:48 pm Meinl Weston 32

My opinions:
The MW 32 is an excellent all around tuba with a fine sound. They are easy to play and the good ones had excellent intonation. They were a standard back in the 1960s and 1970s. This model was played in some major orchestras and bands. I have one as my back up tuba and I used to use mine in quintets and for solos.

Best,
Mark

In 2016, I had asked Baltimore Brass if the MW-32 could still be ordered. They said it was not in the current price list. I asked if it could be custom ordered, they gave me the following prices:

MW32 Lacquer: $14,950
MW32 Silver: $16,500

It took 6 months to get the price quote. To build the tuba, who knows how long that would take! :)

York-aholic wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 7:53 pm

I originally thought that bell might have been made by Holton as L&H was in Chicago at the time but...

The bell was made (according to L&H serial numbers) in 1900. It has the early engraving of a picture of the L&H factory. I haven’t seen either a York or Holton 6/4 upright tuba from that far back. Doesn’t mean there aren’t any, but I haven’t seen anything yet to make me think they had started by 1900.

Maybe, just maybe, it went in the other direction - could Lyon & Healy have sold the bell mandrel and tooling to Holton (or possibly York)? The size and perfect fit onto your York is quite coincidental.