TubaForum.net

arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 6:21 am The "Champion" branded tuba at BBC is a tiny, ~100 year old European 3v instrument.

https://baltimorebrasscompany.com/p-150 ... -tuba.aspx

Last time I was there, I did not give that one a toot, but the caveat on the website of "This instrument is an antique and was not serviced in our shop" gives me pause.

@WC8KCY, I scour the net daily for things like this and forward tubas to people who may be interested. I can add you to my list -- you're in MI, right?

WC8KCY wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 9:38 am

arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 6:21 am The "Champion" branded tuba at BBC is a tiny, ~100 year old European 3v instrument.

https://baltimorebrasscompany.com/p-150 ... -tuba.aspx

Last time I was there, I did not give that one a toot, but the caveat on the website of "This instrument is an antique and was not serviced in our shop" gives me pause.

@WC8KCY, I scour the net daily for things like this and forward tubas to people who may be interested. I can add you to my list -- you're in MI, right?

Thanks...yes, I saw the "not serviced in our shop" line on the web. If it needs just a little bit of work, I'd have them fix it up prior to sending it out. What I can see of the leadpipe does not look good, though. That said, if someone here did give it a toot and observed that "It plays OK--it's just small", it might just work.

I'm doing three or so gigs a year strolling around retirement homes, indoors, in tight quarters with low ceilings and doorways, and also switching between clarinet and tuba on stage gigs. A sousaphone just doesn't work, and my Holton Monster E-flat is too big and heavy. An "alto euphonium" sized E-flat is what I have in mind. A small Martin/IBICo would be at the top of my list, but the usual Besson, B&H, Buescher, Conn/Pan Am, Holton, H.N. White, and their stencil horns would be just fine, too. I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd let me know if anything decent turns up. I'm in lower Michgan, not too far from Interlochen.

MiBrassFS wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:54 am Unlike other brass instruments, the size variation of tubas has always been much wider, 1/4 size to 6/4+ size in every key. One thing about the Eb tubas from the first half of the 20th century that is important to consider is that most all of them, regardless of size, were designed around what would be judged by today’s standards as very small, shallower, bowl cupped mouthpieces. For example, take the Conn “Giant” mouthpiece that was included with their very large “Giant” model Eb tuba. It was anything but giant! While the instrument itself sought to mimic a BBb for use in the bands of the time, the “Giant” mouthpiece was much closer to what we would now use on bass trombone. Today people plug in their usual piece, which is in general huge, wide and deep, compared to these older mouthpieces, and everything goes pretty wonky. Do these early small mouthpieces fix everything? Well, no, but they do give the player a fighting chance at success. If you don’t have an appropriate vintage mouthpiece, a modern shallower mouthpiece like what we use on F tubas today is a good start. So, next time you pick up an old (hopefully, not too leaky because then all bets are off…) Eb tuba, try a smaller, shallower mouthpiece and remember they had a different approach.

arpthark wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 10:09 am To MBFS's point above, I have an odd little "All*Star E Bass" mouthpiece here that is way shallower and smaller than I would use on anything else. Works great on my small 1890s Boston and Distin.

humBell wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 5:46 pm Any luck finding a workable wee eb?

Was gonna comment i might have thoughts of ebs i like, but that is too open ended for this thread.

As per the one mentioned at BBC, looking the pic over, i would expect it to take a smaller shank than most would expect. I mean a really small shank, not just typical eb shank. Other than that thought, i expect it could meet the needs of the limited use ya want.

If i tried to be more of a BBC sales person rather than an Eb ambassador, you could call 'em up and ask directly? Also if i recall an earlier thread a few years ago, their stock of smaller older "as-is" instruments doesn't necessarily make it to the online inventory. That thread i think may have specifically referring to helicons, but it is also worth asking...

Anyway, sorry if i am too little, too late to be too useful...

GrecoTrombone wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2024 10:40 am I'll do y'all one better... Give you an answer from the horses mouth (bell?)

Just picked it up off the wall... It's a very small receiver. Too small to properly fit a LS trombone mouthpiece even. But too large for a euro trombone mouthpiece... It's... Uh... It's interesting. It plays, but it's a bit stuffy. Weight wise, might as well be a euphonium.

If you're looking for something to toot on, it'll be fine. If you're looking to perform with it, I'd suggest checking it out first and then making that decision.