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I recently acquired a Yamaha YBB-103 from a school surplus auction. I plan to fix it up a bit (take out dents, strip lacquer, probably another Scotch Brite finish...) and have it around for my kids to play on. I've got at least one of every other brass instrument that they can use, but I don't have a tuba for them (I don't really want them touching my "good" horns). Plus, I can take it on standing polka gigs and stuff every once in a while.

I've already got a replacement valve, cap, stem, and button on the way.

Photos!!

Tubajug wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 10:29 am I recently acquired a Yamaha YBB-103 from a school surplus auction. I plan to fix it up a bit (take out dents, strip lacquer, probably another Scotch Brite finish...) and have it around for my kids to play on. I've got at least one of every other brass instrument that they can use, but I don't have a tuba for them (I don't really want them touching my "good" horns). Plus, I can take it on standing polka gigs and stuff every once in a while.

I've already got a replacement valve, cap, stem, and button on the way.

Congratulations on your purchase and well done on having instruments for your children to play on.

Perhaps you’ve done it on another thread but might you be willing to share how you got the replacement valve parts please.

I know nothing of these small BBb’s but if one crossed my path for the right price then it would be hard to resist … there’s a lot of old guys in Brass Bands happily cruising along playing a BBb and you can make a lot of sound on some of the smaller three valve tubas .

That's great! But wait, which valve is missing number one or number three? Or, are they interchangeable?

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 12:00 pm That's great! But wait, which valve is missing number one or number three? Or, are they interchangeable?

If I remember correctly, from another recent thread on this instrument, the valves are interchangeable with each other.

viewtopic.php?t=6839

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 12:00 pm That's great! But wait, which valve is missing number one or number three? Or, are they interchangeable?

Yep, that was a design feature of this model. All three valves are interchangeable, so I didn't have to hunt down a specific valve.

As far as getting the missing valve, I just inquired among repair people who might have spares around.

You could just give it to your kids as-is. Think of it like taking the batteries out of a really annoying-sounding toy or remote control before handing it to a toddler.

arpthark wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 1:46 pm You could just give it to your kids as-is. Think of it like taking the batteries out of a really annoying-sounding toy or remote control before handing it to a toddler.

Nah.

First of all, Daddy's gotta look at it and is planning on using it sometimes himself.
It's not like he's gonna pull all the dents out, buff it to one inch of its life, have it silver plated with the valve caps and slide crooks plated 14K gold. Granted, that would look pretty cool but, if it's straight and in Scotchbrighted finish, it would look pretty good but if some scratches and dents show up, there will be no tears.

Glad a valve could be found. I mentioned I saw a used 103 valve on Ebay for $200 which would be a lot too much to pay. This could be a great horn to just have around and a kid could handle it. If the kid likes tuba well enough to learn to play it with some competence and playing it in the school band, it would be pretty good. If one of their band buddies wanted to try it out, they could with little risk. IMHO, better than buying them a saxophone of clarinet to play. ;)

The parts arrived today! It is now playable!



I'll make it look nicer for sure, but probably not to this level (stolen from somewhere a long time ago):

Tubajug wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 5:46 pm The parts arrived today! It is now playable!

Congratulations on both getting the Yamaha and in returning it to a useable state . I hope that it gives you and your family many years of happy use.