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I was wondering if putting on a small Conn xJ or a York bell would help my Weril J681S CC project more? Since it's basically a Conn 3J with a Yamaha style 621 bell, would I be able to do this?

Sounds like an interesting idea. Let us know how it turns out. If the Conn bell fits then you can always switch back if you don't like it. It's still going to be a small-bore instrument that fights back when you push too hard, but is fine for lightweight work. I think a larger bell will give it a better tone.

I have an ancient off-brand Eb I borrowed for a specific gig, and it has a huge 21 inch bell on a @.656 bore. It doesn't help. In fact, the flare is so large, it's making the Bb's sharp. If you don't match the taper and throat to a reasonable flare for the instrument, you can cause intonation problems.

tux anyone?

It's just an idea I'm thinking about. Probably won't do it since the horn sounds great for what I use it for (quintet and jazz). For you tuba snobs (ew, a Weril, tuba faux pas), I'd put this horn against any Yamaha YCB-621 for playabilty, sound, ergonomics, and price. The only thing the Yamaha has over it is durabilty. I've paid for my Rudy and F with this tuba alone in just a year.

If you tell people that you're gigging enough in Alamagordo to pay for a Rudy F in one year, you will start an exodus of tuba players moving to New Mexico who want to pick up the slack.

you figure that a bell would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of a $1000 and then add on what a repair guy would charge you, probably at least a couple of hundred, and since they make more money doing chem cleans and fixing emergency problems, your project will most likely not be first on the list. I'm thinking of the Dillon project horns, they are amazing, but i know the Joe Burton waited about 2 (3?) years or so to get his stuff done, becuase the repair guy just isn't going to make a lot of money off a project like that. Yeah, yeah, I know it's all about the love and all, but when you have bills to pay, sometimes that comes first. IMHO the cost + time + pain in the butt factor (plus you, and I for that matter don't really know if it will help any) would make me rather sell the horn and upgrade to something that better suits my needs/ sound concepts.
Good luck,
Bill

Actually, I inherited a Miraphone 186 CC (actually got it very cheap, couldn't pass it up, no not stolen) that is unplayable because the old derlin DVS system sounds like four castanets. I took it to a local music store, and they couldn't do anything about the linkage. When I get some free time, I might have to replace them with Rick Denney's Du-Bro system or find another music store that can put on good linkage.

Now, Weril is a fine company whose quality is rising every year, and they already have some fine instruments. But even then, why are you even thinking about another bell for the Weril instead of just going ahead and getting the 186 linkage updated?

I guess I'm not surprised that there is music a-goin' on in Alago-Muerto. (local joke.)

Did you know that a very fine horn repair guy re-located to Las Cruces? (Jim Patterson.) I don't know if ever works on tubas, but it might be worth a query.

MA, NMSU grad

Haven't ran into him, yet. My son is just finishing his first year in band on horn (pretty good player for a beginner). Nancy Joy told me Jim Patterson moved to LC. When I buy my son a horn, I'll go through him or Mark Atkinson.

MaryAnn wrote:I guess I'm not surprised that there is music a-goin' on in Alago-Muerto. (local joke.)

Did you know that a very fine horn repair guy re-located to Las Cruces? (Jim Patterson.) I don't know if ever works on tubas, but it might be worth a query.

MA, NMSU grad

Well, the Rudy was 2/3rds paid off (got it used) when I got the Weril, and I got my MW F pretty cheap. The Weril I traded my Yamaha Eb for. I'm working on getting a 1950's Martin sousaphone from a friend who didn't even know what he had.

Bob1062 wrote:

ai698 wrote:I've paid for my Rudy and F with this tuba alone in just a year.

I'd be happy if I could make enough in one year to pay for a Weril!

So, with all the other horns, what's the Weril for, anyway?

It's lightweight, sounds good and fun to play. Our jazz group mikes everybody, so the Weril works great. The Rudy and my MW F aren't for sale, but the Miraphone...

iiipopes wrote:So, with all the other horns, what's the Weril for, anyway?

Bob1062 wrote:

ai698 wrote:I've paid for my Rudy and F with this tuba alone in just a year.

I'd be happy if I could make enough in one year to pay for a Weril!

Ditto! In fact, since I haven't been paid to play (not counting school) since the early 80's, I'd be glad to make any money playing tuba.

ai698 wrote:It's lightweight, sounds good and fun to play. Our jazz group mikes everybody, so the Weril works great. The Rudy and my MW F aren't for sale, but the Miraphone...

OK, Cool. I have a few more guitars than I can play on any given day, so I understand; just curious how it fitted in. Don't give up on the Miraphone, yet. Once you get the linkage sorted out, you might really enjoy it!