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I find they work great as young student model instruments as they are small and overblow easy. They only come with 3 valves, which could make the low register difficult. It would also be difficult to manipulate the slides on the top valve action instrument. You would probably be better off if you could find a used 7/8 size 4 valve Conn.

Super Smooth wrote:John, I must express my ignorance and ask, what is a "hacked-up keefer?

The Keefer band instrument company operated in Williamsport, PA from 1909 until about 1940. Brua C. Keefer was the manager of the Henry Distin Company in Williamsport from the 1880s, when Distin moved there from Philly where he was with J. W. Pepper, until Distin died in 1909 when Keefer's family bought the company and changed the name.

Those 4 valve Martins are great old horns, but they are a bit much to haul around. Rather than a Yamaha 105 I would consider a Weril 681 (is that the BBb?), a Jupiter 482, or mayber a Cerveny 683. All are small easy to carry horns that will play better than a convertable marching tuba.

John_L wrote: In a soft-hearted (or soft-headed) moment, I traded it back to the previous owner for a hacked-up Keefer that I eventually sold for next to nothing.

If that Keefer was a BBb, you should have held on to it. I've got a hacked-up Keefer that's probably the best BBb I've ever played. Looks like hell, too.

John_L wrote:Thanks for your input, gentlemen.

Chuck(G) wrote:If that Keefer was a BBb, you should have held on to it. I've got a hacked-up Keefer that's probably the best BBb I've ever played. Looks like hell, too.

Yup, BBb. Mine was the opposite of yours - looked pretty nice, but played like h*ll. Someone had spliced in a valve set out of a Conn 24J (4 valve, short throw) and it just didn't match up well (the partials weren't even close to being lined up). I basically sold it off for the value of the valve cluster.

Mine was a Larry Minick creation-the first 3 valves where from a Conn 20K sousie (0.734), with the 4th valve from a 20J (0.770). Tuning slide in the leadpipe. A wonderful horn with a big warm sound and great intonation.

I've told myself that if I ever find another Keefer BBb, that I'll fall on it like a truckload of bricks before it gets away.

Chuck(G) wrote:

John_L wrote:Thanks for your input, gentlemen.

Chuck(G) wrote:If that Keefer was a BBb, you should have held on to it. I've got a hacked-up Keefer that's probably the best BBb I've ever played. Looks like hell, too.

Yup, BBb. Mine was the opposite of yours - looked pretty nice, but played like h*ll. Someone had spliced in a valve set out of a Conn 24J (4 valve, short throw) and it just didn't match up well (the partials weren't even close to being lined up). I basically sold it off for the value of the valve cluster.

Mine was a Larry Minick creation-the first 3 valves where from a Conn 20K sousie (0.734), with the 4th valve from a 20J (0.770). Tuning slide in the leadpipe. A wonderful horn with a big warm sound and great intonation.

I've told myself that if I ever find another Keefer BBb, that I'll fall on it like a truckload of bricks before it gets away.

I have seen one Keefer BBb (on ebay) and it looked identical to my Distin BBb. Mine is probably the best playing BBb tuba that I have tried. It speaks with almost no effort and has a great sound.