TubaForum.net

There is available locally a Dillon BBb Yamaclone --- looks like a 641. Anybody familiar with that?

If it's a copy of the Worst BBb tuba ever sold on a vast scale, I don't want a part of it

LeMark wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 11:16 pm If it's a copy of the Worst BBb tuba ever sold on a vast scale, I don't want a part of it

I agree wholeheartedly. I think I tried one many years ago. I didn't bother to remember if I could tell a difference between it and the"original."

Well, it's a free play test and will add to my general BBb knowledge. I'll take a tuner, but usually I don't need one to tell my ears what they are hearling.

As far as the genuine versions are concerned, it just doesn't make any sense to me - based on pricing being in the same range as Miraphone 186 - why any school would choose to purchase those, with the only explanation being what I've discussed many times on this site: being that a whole bunch of band directors - sadly - are yamabots.

It's always good - though, and infinitely better than basing opinions on others opinions - to play test something and form one's own opinions. One thing that seems to be better on this site than on the old site is that there is less groupthink here.

The main problem with the originals are terrible valve action and really horrible intonation around high G and F#.

The bore size is way too large for that horn

In ancient times (when they first appeared several decades ago) the blurb going around was that they were "Alexander- like". To me, they've always seemed to be (at least, but only) a physical attempt to be Meinl-Weston 25-like. If someone loves a Meinl-Weston 25 (which is sort of a scaled-down to 5/4 kaiser) - but doesn't have Meinl-Weston 25 money, the obvious choice is a JP379BB - for several thousand less.

I teach in a school that has a bunch of Yamahas and two 379bb. The top Two chairs get to pick the horns that they play on, and they both picked the packers

Physically, the packers have larger bodies, but smaller bore

LeMark wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 9:55 am The main problem with the originals are terrible valve action and really horrible intonation around high G and F#.

The bore size is way too large for that horn

That high G and F# never bothered me in high school. At that time, F was about as high as I could hope for on a good day!

yeah @York-aholic, the solution is to look towards one of those $27,000 Swiss tubas - absolutely perfect intonation

bloke "Don't mind my sarcasm."

Well it should be instructive anyway, and way closer drive than that Schiller I tried out that was so out of tune it was laughable.
See, I have that VMI here that plays fine except for being too big physically.
I actually started to get things in order to go to TMEA but realized I could spend the same $$ and go to Dillon's or somewhere -- and all I wanted to go to TEMA for was to playtest tubas. Kind of silly to go to a whole conference just for that, so I decided not to. And the walking distance hotel was already sold out anyway.

LeMark wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 9:55 am The main problem with the originals are terrible valve action and really horrible intonation around high G and F#.

The bore size is way too large for that horn

Way back when I first joined the then-just-getting-started brass band, there was a guy playing a 641 on the BBb part. What I remember is that I could hear the valves from three seats away, and did form an opinion based on that.

I've managed to get them quiet (without dumping a bunch of oil on them)...

What I see - routinely - is the green lime build-up on the rotor stem bearings actually PUSHES the rotors outward, then pushes the removable bearing plates outward, leaves vertical play in those rotors, and then they click (I can't stand valve clicking noises.)

When I remove the mounds of lime from the bearing surfaces and get them quiet, I still don't like the seemingly "dragginess" of them.

My model 98 rotors (.835" bore) are not "like lightning", but they're faster than I am, and that's fast enough.
I find myself "outrunning" Yamaha large bore tuba rotors.