3 valve Eb tubas

[The Big Ben]

Since i am new on eb and don't know much, does a piston front action Eb with 4 valves at an affordable price exist...past or present...any make? False tones in many ways pop out easier, but the idea of an eventual 4th valve is appealing if it won't break the bank.

They exist. Sometimes they have the 4th valve sticking out of the side like some euphoniums but they are out there. Don't spend less then absolutely necessary. Buying something and "fixing it up" can end up being very, very expensive.

[roweenie]

I jumped on a Conn Eb for $1000, but I spent probably close to another $1000 on it after that fixing an issue with the 2nd valve and adding a 5th valve to it.

But in the end, I have a really unique 5 valve front action Eb. It was worth every penny

This is what is not commercially available *new* today.

[vespa50sp]

I jumped on a Conn Eb for $1000, but I spent probably close to another $1000 on it after that fixing an issue with the 2nd valve and adding a 5th valve to it.

But in the end, I have a really unique 5 valve front action Eb. It was worth every penny

Very nice...

[roweenie]

This is what is not commercially available *new* today.

He did say "past or present"

Yes, indeed!

If the Wessex "Bombino" were supplied in 4 piston valve side-action, this gap would be filled....

(Hint gets louder...... )

[Donn]

but three-valved ones aren't much more that just toys.

That's fair, but we should bear in mind that most of our tubas are toys. The question is whether they're fun toys. I agree that in many applications, a fourth valve is very useful, but I've played in some where it really didn't matter.

[WC8KCY]

A lot of these piston valve horns have really good false tones. A 3 valve horn might have a really nice chromatic scale down below the fundamental if you make use of those

Yes, indeed. My Holton Monster has particularly nice false tones. Open A-flat pops right out and is nearly as robust-sounding as the 1-3 low B-flat. It can be played right down to the A below pedal E-flat.

Finding the perfect mouthpiece for a vintage E-flat can be a pain. The Holton does not like mouthpieces with really deep cups or large throats. My Martin Indiana sousaphone, however, plays great with everything I've tried on it--particularly the Bach-copy Holton 12 that is my favorite on this horn.

[toobagrowl]

3v Eb tuba = very limiting, imo. Even 4v Eb tubas are somewhat limited for "serious" playing.

[Dan Schultz]

but three-valved ones aren't much more that just toys.

That's fair, but we should bear in mind that most of our tubas are toys. The question is whether they're fun toys. I agree that in many applications, a fourth valve is very useful, but I've played in some where it really didn't matter.

That's reasonable. I should have added that needing more than three valves is more-or-less just a personal thing with me. Different strokes for different folks.

[Dan Schultz]

Dan, I enjoyed your post about Eb tubas. I may have a tuba that passed through your hands. I just picked up a Eb La Sete from EMC. It arrive via greyhound in cardboard box with a "Village Tinkerer" sticker on it. ....

Hmmm.... I don't have a Eb 'La Sete' in my database but I think I may have done some business with it's previous owner.

[jacobg]

3-valve Eb tubas may be "limiting" or "toys" or not "serious" if you are trying to play in the Chicago Symphony.
They're not toys if you play with a New Orleans style brass band, a rock group, a Mexican band, a Balkan band, experimental music, small group jazz, Dixieland, upper parts of a tuba choir, transcriptions of trumpet solos down an octave and a half, or for general practicing.
Not to mention that serious concert bands in the Sousa era had 3-valve Eb tubas.
There's more out there than just classical music, folks.

[vespa50sp]

Code: Select all

vespa50sp wrote:
Dan, I enjoyed your post about Eb tubas. I may have a tuba that passed through your hands. I just picked up a Eb La Sete from EMC. It arrive via greyhound in cardboard box with a "Village Tinkerer" sticker on it. ....


Hmmm.... I don't have a Eb 'La Sete' in my database but I think I may have done some business with it's previous owner.

That giant cardboard box with your sticker on it has been doing some traveling by greyhound ferrying tubas around the country then

[1895King]

I started on Eb in the 8th grade back in February 1961; When I got to high school, all they had were BBb's so I played BBb exclusively all through high school and college. I majored in music ed but never wanted to teach. I have played in community bands all my playing career, on BBb until 20 years ago when I had the opportunity to purchase a 3 valve front action King. Since then I have used Eb horns 95% of the time. My favorite is a York I bought from Lee Stofer 4 years ago. I have noticed that when playing next to BBb's I can hit the false tones fairly accurately. It all depends on what you feel comfortable doing.

[kathott]

3v Eb tuba = very limiting, imo. Even 4v Eb tubas are somewhat limited for "serious" playing.

Listen to the British and Scandinavian players, they might give you pause for thought. In the orchestra, brass band world, and as soloists, they are astounding.
.............The Eb is one of my favorite tubas, one I play regularly. When I started off, I was given a tarnished 3 valve beater (can't even recall a maker), then on to a 3 valve Eb B&H, and a 4 valve Eb Conn Sousaphone for marching. That's a good start for a young'un. I own and regularly play all the tubas (F, CC, Eb, BBb), but the Eb is my favorite all round instrument. I was recently given a 1950's era compensating B&H Eb, three valve - a bit of a white elephant for a youth band sadly liquidating it's holdings. It is in very decent shape from minimal usage. For awhile, I didn't even consider trying the false tones below the low A - I mistakenly thought them not usable a smaller tuba. However, with some practice (and a trusty Wick #2), they are just fine, the low Ab, G, F#, F and E being acceptable if you're in shape.

[Wyvern]

3v Eb tuba = very limiting, imo. Even 4v Eb tubas are somewhat limited for "serious" playing.

Listen to the British and Scandinavian players, they might give you pause for thought. In the orchestra, brass band world, and as soloists, they are astounding.

Remember they are compensated 4-valve Eb tubas. Using the compensated system 4-valves are enough for playing anything.

3-valve Eb are useful for students as starter tuba and also for more experienced players on standing gigs where keeping the weight down is important. I for many years used for when out Christmas carol playing with bands

[Donn]

They're not toys if you play with a New Orleans style brass band, a rock group, a Mexican band, a Balkan band, experimental music, small group jazz, Dixieland, upper parts of a tuba choir, transcriptions of trumpet solos down an octave and a half, or for general practicing.

Well ... some of those are by definition suited to bass tuba, and then 3 valves isn't necessarily a big handicap. My impression is though that the expectation for a tuba has shifted in favor of the contrabass over the last 100 years or so, including some of the above situations. That's where I think you start to see players who don't want to mess with a 3 valve Eb - they're essentially competing with real contrabass tubas, not augmenting them.

[eeflattuba]

3v Eb tuba = very limiting, imo. Even 4v Eb tubas are somewhat limited for "serious" playing.

Listen to the British and Scandinavian players, they might give you pause for thought. In the orchestra, brass band world, and as soloists, they are astounding.
.............The Eb is one of my favorite tubas, one I play regularly. When I started off, I was given a tarnished 3 valve beater (can't even recall a maker), then on to a 3 valve Eb B&H, and a 4 valve Eb Conn Sousaphone for marching. That's a good start for a young'un. I own and regularly play all the tubas (F, CC, Eb, BBb), but the Eb is my favorite all round instrument. I was recently given a 1950's era compensating B&H Eb, three valve - a bit of a white elephant for a youth band sadly liquidating it's holdings. It is in very decent shape from minimal usage. For awhile, I didn't even consider trying the false tones below the low A, as I mistakely thought them not usable a smaller tuba. However, with some practice (and a trusty Wick #2), they are just fine, the low A, Ab, G, F#, F and E being acceptable if you're in shape.

I have heard kathott play his ee flat on numerous occasions and he speaks the truth.I have recently acquired a 3 valve compensating imperial that has been in storage with the local brass band I play in.It is a remarkable horn that I plan to use in the brass quintet I play in along with my besson 981.

[groovlow]

I would like to discuss 3 valve Eb tubas. How much for one, and their perceived value among players....

For a playable vintage horn I say the going rate is around $500 to $700. Perceived value of my Ebs is around a 1k each or more. I wouldn't want the job of replacing my Ebs. I play a 1918 Conn Giant, 1941 Pan American and a 1952 Conn 26K sousa.

Since 2010 I've been playing mostly Eb and mostly as the sole bassist in many different size and style groups. I love the location of the Eb partial series, it is THE CASH REGISTER. I have experienced so much joy playing these horns and "keeping the lights on"... hmmm happy toys


I am very fond of my vintage Eb tools...but... I have played some very desirable modern Ebs .... have not pulled the trigger yet
(3 year case of new horn fever). I like the Kanstul 66T, colorful and doesn't get trombone-ish up to middle C. I am really looking forward to playing the Wessex-Gnagey Eb 4+1. I keep looking for a bargain European Eb on sale by an insurance company dumping inventory before taxes...

For anyone considering an Eb adventure here is a super buy, bang for the buck, new German, small american style horn, 3 valve http://www.ebay.com/itm/YORK-377-3-4-Eb ... SwaA5WjT8x
I gigged on a horn like this, very similar to my Pan Am, great valves pretty and colorful sound plus a nice case!(bell 16" height 31.5" my pan am). DUH free shipping 1800usaband AKA Taylor Music, Real business here.

Eb = Groove = Dollars
Privilege Tones sound so much better
Joe