York Style Tubas

[Matt G]

The horn on the left is something of a prototype for the EBC-632:



This horn was made by the esteemed Matt Walters back in 2005. Next to it is a 2165 that is kinda like a York but not really. But most people would put the smaller horn in the “shrunken York” category.

My “swag” is that the 4/4 Yorks Rick posted shared a valve block configuration with sousaphones hence the diagonal orientation.

Like Rick says, $3,000 is a tough limit, specifically when trying to buy a “in” style of tuba. The BMB is a solid deal. I know it’s lacking a fifth valve, but you might be able to get by until you can afford more.

[tobysima`]

The horn on the left is something of a prototype for the EBC-632:



This horn was made by the esteemed Matt Walters back in 2005. Next to it is a 2165 that is kinda like a York but not really. But most people would put the smaller horn in the “shrunken York” category.

My “swag” is that the 4/4 Yorks Rick posted shared a valve block configuration with sousaphones hence the diagonal orientation.

Like Rick says, $3,000 is a tough limit, specifically when trying to buy a “in” style of tuba. The BMB is a solid deal. I know it’s lacking a fifth valve, but you might be able to get by until you can afford more.

I'm definitely a shrunken York kinda guy. I may look into it, but I wanna look into the music store horns first.

[tubazach07]

Check out a Lee Stofer/Getzen CB50. The design originated when Bob Rusk took a York 33 cut it to CC and made it front action for Chuck Dallenbach of the Canadian brass. Getzen and Meinl Weston then got together and made parts for the production line. Lee took that design and left over parts from Getzen and made it better with a better leadpipe taper, he braces the tuba in the way York did, and of course assembles everything by hand ensuring the highest quality fit and finish. The Stofer CB50 has the York tuba sound.

[Matt G]

The Lee Stofer horns are gorgeous. He’s asking a fair price given the level of craftsmanship involved, but that’s 4-5 times OP’s budget.

Also out of OP’s budget, but worth considering on the used market, is the YCB-822. That’s a decidedly “American” looking bell and wrap along with a cluster at the sousaphone angle.

[tobysima`]

The Lee Stofer horns are gorgeous. He’s asking a fair price given the level of craftsmanship involved, but that’s 4-5 times OP’s budget.

Also out of OP’s budget, but worth considering on the used market, is the YCB-822. That’s a decidedly “American” looking bell and wrap along with a cluster at the sousaphone angle.

I did hear that the 822 was quite out of tune. But, I haven't played one, so I don't know for sure. I know Chris Olka said that the Eastman 836 was the closest to the Yorks that he's ever played.

[tobysima`]

Check out a Lee Stofer/Getzen CB50. The design originated when Bob Rusk took a York 33 cut it to CC and made it front action for Chuck Dallenbach of the Canadian brass. Getzen and Meinl Weston then got together and made parts for the production line. Lee took that design and left over parts from Getzen and made it better with a better leadpipe taper, he braces the tuba in the way York did, and of course assembles everything by hand ensuring the highest quality fit and finish. The Stofer CB50 has the York tuba sound.

How big is the bell on that thing?

[tubazach07]

About 19 3/4 inches. You can find a Getzen CB50 around your price range. They are good tubas without any adjustments. An option might be to buy one and than overtime have Lee make adjustments on it. The first adjustment would be to have him replace the leadpipe and receiver. I believe that makes the largest difference to the tuba. The leadpipes that came with the CB50 weren’t tapered right and not properly fit into the 5th valve. The receivers weren’t much better. Either way it’s up to you. I wish you the best in finding a tuba.

https://tubameister.com/new-instruments/" target="_blank

[tobysima`]

Before one can ask whether any solid reproductions exist, it's helpful to see some originals.

https://www.rickdenney.com/york.htm

One example from that page:



Here's another:



As you can see, the originals had diagonally arranged valves, while the modern instruments of this configuration are arranged up and down, like the York 6/4 instrument. (Of course, they all use the same valveset.)

For $3000, you need to find a used Eastman, and probably one that shows some experience. That's not really enough for a new or pristine modern 5-valve C, even one made in Asia, and even if you abandon that design for something more common (like a 4/4 rotary).

Rick "who owned a York Master--a German-made emulation in Bb made after the Grand Rapids plant stopped making professional instruments" Denney

Do any of those "York Style" tubas exist in F?

[tobysima`]

About 19 3/4 inches. You can find a Getzen CB50 around your price range. They are good tubas without any adjustments. An option might be to buy one and than overtime have Lee make adjustments on it. The first adjustment would be to have him replace the leadpipe and receiver. I believe that makes the largest difference to the tuba. The leadpipes that came with the CB50 weren’t tapered right and not properly fit into the 5th valve. The receivers weren’t much better. Either way it’s up to you. I wish you the best in finding a tuba.

https://tubameister.com/new-instruments/" target="_blank" target="_blank

Thank you! My local music store is bringing some stuff in for me to try, and I'll most likely end up picking an American style tuba.

[anotherjtm2]

Thank you! My local music store is bringing some stuff in for me to try, and I'll most likely end up picking an American style tuba.

That's pretty cool you have a local music store that will bring in tubas to try. They've vanished where I live.

[tobysima`]

Thank you! My local music store is bringing some stuff in for me to try, and I'll most likely end up picking an American style tuba.

That's pretty cool you have a local music store that will bring in tubas to try. They've vanished where I live.

They're nice people! I definitely owe them a lot! They do things rather quickly too! Also, I'm sorry to hear about that. Music stores vanishing is very sad.

[tobysima`]

This one:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=96782&hilit=bmb#p707621" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

I was told by my teacher to get 5 valves, but it's a very nice horn

Did your teacher "require" it be a CC? Are you trying to be an orchestral tubist in the U.S.? You can get a lot more tuba for your buck if you look for a solid BBb. A used Eastman 562 or Miraphone 186 would be all you would need, but in keeping with the York/American idea, a new-style King 2341 would fit the bill nicely. There are a couple of members here who can tell you about how well that works in orchestra.

But you asked about Yorkish CC tubas...

The Eastman 632 CC is a really nice tuba, and it comes at a really nice price. I've seen used 632's go for $4500-5500, and maybe one or two around $4000. Still not in your budget, but much closer than many other CC tubas. The 832 is more expensive, and there aren't a bunch of them floating around used. I wouldn't worry about it. The 6/4 862 CC is almost 4X your budget and probably is not the best choice for a student needing a do-it-all/play-everything tuba.

Yorkish F tubas? We occasionally see some frankentubas around here, but the closest thing to the York sound concept in an F tuba is likely the Kanstul 80 F tuba. Occasionally for sale here, and closer to your stated budget than anything else.

Unfortunately, tuba players have to pay to play. Buying a top shelf tuba is like buying a new Toyota - it ain't cheap. And just like cars, the tuba world has its Rolls Royce's (Swiss marketing even says so) down to the Yugo, and all other kinds in between. Shop carefully. At least tubas are pretty easy to tell if it has problems or needs work.

We laugh at trumpet players complaining about what their instruments cost, but string players really laugh at us - some of their bows cost as much as a Toyota, and their instruments can cost as much as a house in a small rural town OR MORE. If you could be patient and save a total of $5000, a few more doors will be open to you. If you were looking at BBb tubas, even more possibilities would exist. If your teacher is more worried about the key of the tuba than how well you sound on whatever you can afford, or has some misguided prejudice against BBb, IMHO that's a problem (we've discussed that here many times). But that's for another thread...

Either way, good luck, God bless, and let us know how it goes. We all know the journey and struggle, and many of us like to hear about each others' journey and struggles also.

My teacher does require it to be a CC, but he's the best teacher I've ever had, so I don't have an issue with it. I'll have to learn CC eventually!

[anotherjtm2]

never mind

[Wyvern]

Wessex are developing a 4/4 York Style CC tuba which we expect to release during 2021. I can’t say any more at present, but it is an exciting project for me.

[tobysima`]

My teacher does require it to be a CC, but he's the best teacher I've ever had, so I don't have an issue with it. I'll have to learn CC eventually!

Your business with your teacher is your business. My intention is not to make your teacher out to be a flake, but I'm sure he would agree that playing the instrument well and the musicianship are paramount, regardless of the key of instrument. A po boy does what a po boy can with whatever a po boy has. But if it's best for your situation to have a CC (no one can force you unless they pay for it, of course), keep saving. Not sure if the York idea is yours or his, but you can sometimes find a Musica CC (rotary) here in your budget range. Maybe not ideal, but it's CC and it's a start. And the cool/convenient/truthful thing about it, despite what any teacher/player/Tubenet Freak Jurist says, you can start with something and always upgrade. They sell tubas every day, and somebody somewhere will be glad to take your money. And that ain't going away, friend. Please keep us informed!

I don't intend to buy a York-style horn right away. I do quite like how they sound, though. I can't really describe it well, but it seems "fluffier" to me but it can have some edge to it like the trombones, and I like edge.

[tobysima`]

Wessex are developing a 4/4 York Style CC tuba which we expect to release during 2021. I can’t say any more at present, but it is an exciting project for me.

I cannot wait to see what it looks like! Will you be copying Will's Vienna F as well?

[tobysima`]

Here’s another:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=96881

It looks nice! Sadly my mom would shoot me if I spent that sort of money! Can't wait until I have a wife!

[bort]

Here’s another:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=96881

It looks nice! Sadly my mom would shoot me if I spent that sort of money! Can't wait until I have a wife!

I honestly have no idea what you mean by that, or what you expect to be different.

[tobysima`]

Here’s another:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=96881

It looks nice! Sadly my mom would shoot me if I spent that sort of money! Can't wait until I have a wife!

I honestly have no idea what you mean by that, or what you expect to be different.

Just sarcasm, sorry if I didn't convey that well

[Wyvern]

I cannot wait to see what it looks like! Will you be copying Will's Vienna F as well?

A Vienna F is a long term aim. I am mostly concentrating Wessex development on mainstream tubas at present.