Tuba cutting

InTuneBb · Post by **InTuneBb** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 12:42 am

Just curious,

about how much would it cost to cut a Bb tuba to a C? Does anyone know of anyone/any place who does that?

I already know cc fingerings but was just curious about this cutting philosophy.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 1:05 am

I don't know of anyone who actively solicits work to cut tubas from BBb to CC. That said... it's basically a matter of removing about 24" from the open bugle (total length of the leadpipe and large bows) and reducing the tuning circuits by about 12%. Although it's basically just mathematics... the results are unpredictable and not always good.

If you have a BBb and desire a CC... sell the BBb and put the funds toward a CC of known quality.

bort · Post by **bort** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 8:45 am

What is the BBb tuba?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:59 am

TubaTinker wrote:the results are unpredictable and not always good

Then you don't have a BBb or a CC tuba... just an expensive pile of metal that isn't much good to anyone.
Like the man said, find a CC that plays well for you(not as easy as it sounds) and sell the BBb to fund it.

Donn · Post by **Donn** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 1:17 pm

InTuneBb wrote:I already know cc fingerings but was just curious about this cutting philosophy.

It's a thing, as they say. Lately seems to be popular in the backwoods auto scene.

tbn.al · Post by **tbn.al** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 10:20 am

"Backwoods" meaning South Africa?

Donn · Post by **Donn** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:22 pm

tbn.al wrote:"Backwoods" meaning South Africa?

I'm going to guess that one may find something corresponding to "backwoods" in most countries, but the observations that prompted that comment were from the US and (apparently) Russia. The video linked above illustrates the results of the cutting philosophy, but not so much backwoods.

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 5:32 pm

InTuneBb wrote:Just curious,

about how much would it cost to cut a Bb tuba to a C? Does anyone know of anyone/any place who does that?

I already know cc fingerings but was just curious about this cutting philosophy.

Sam Gnagey has made quite a number of CC instruments which have been cut from King 2341 BBb bodies and use an early 20th Century monster Eb bell and bottom bow. He also adds a 5th valve and people are quite happy with the result. These are more "Sam Gnagey CC tubas" than something he cuts on contract but, at the present time, he is about the only person who does this on a regular basis.

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 4:11 pm

As "Miss Tomlin of The Phone Company" was fond of saying ...

one ringy-dingy - ernestine.jpg

TubeNet

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