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I might be able to pick up a Yamaha YBB-103 here soon, but it's missing the first valve. I know parts are hard to come by, so if I don't find parts, I'm curious if anyone has ever done any Franken projects with one of these?

I know people have added a fourth valve. Anything else?

Missing a valve? Turn it into an old school 2v contra...?

These are fun little tubas. I'm hoping one will fall into my lap some day.

The really long mouthpipe leading into the main slide makes me wanna say, cut it to C!

Tubajug wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:19 am I might be able to pick up a Yamaha YBB-103 here soon, but it's missing the first valve. I know parts are hard to come by, so if I don't find parts, I'm curious if anyone has ever done any Franken projects with one of these?

I know people have added a fourth valve. Anything else?

Dunno.... Would grafting in an Olds 099-4 or Conn 5J valve/slide cluster work? Is the 103 first valve interchangeable with any other Yamaha horns?
There is a guy on Ebay (Texas Trader) selling103 parts and has a first valve that's kinda roached out and he wants $200 for it so that's kinda out of the question.

The Big Ben wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 10:08 am

Tubajug wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:19 am I might be able to pick up a Yamaha YBB-103 here soon, but it's missing the first valve. I know parts are hard to come by, so if I don't find parts, I'm curious if anyone has ever done any Franken projects with one of these?

I know people have added a fourth valve. Anything else?

Dunno.... Would grafting in an Olds 099-4 or Conn 5J valve/slide cluster work? Is the 103 first valve interchangeable with any other Yamaha horns?
There is a guy on Ebay (Texas Trader) selling103 parts and has a first valve that's kinda roached out and he wants $200 for it so that's kinda out of the question.

Yeah, I saw that auction hoping to get a deal, but man, that's pricey!

The valves are made to be interchangeable among themselves, but I don't think any other Yamaha tubas could substitute.

Just looking at it, I imagine a replacement valveset would have to be fairly vertical in its orientation.

If you're gonna spend $200 on a valve, you might as well pay $429+shipping and get a whole instrument:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 478035974/

King valvset and make something akin to a 621? They had a bore about the same as a king cluster. I’m not sure what the 103 has for a bore.

York-aholic wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 7:38 pm King valvset and make something akin to a 621? They had a bore about the same as a king cluster. I’m not sure what the 103 has for a bore.

0.648 is what other threads say, so not too far off.

Well, I won the 103. I'll pick it up next week and see what it needs (beyond the obvious missing valve).

Here are a couple pictures from the auction (it was a school surplus auction. They had several sousaphones, but they all went for over $1000...):





The buttons are mismatched, but the body looks to be in decent shape. The leadpipes on these are often dented and smashed. This one doesn't look too bad. I'm also happy that it comes with a case, which should fit my Eb Frankentuba...

I'll post more (or start a new thread) when I bring it home!

Yeah, I thought it was a nice design feature as well. I bought one of these years ago to flip and loved playing it. I'm going to keep this one for a while to have around for my kids to play on. I don't really want them picking up my other horns and playing on them...

Mack Brass sells a four valve "interpretation" of the 103. Might be a shot in the dark but are the valves the same size and style as the Yamaha? Might be able to get one as a service part from Tom McGrady.