What is your instrument history?

[josh wagner]

my middle school i really didn't get to know what tuba i was using it was an old beater the school has had for a while, and in high school we had these crappy conn tubas, then we used these fiber glass sousaphones that were falling apart, and some nicer conn sousaphones. Model numbers i'm not sure at all about. I'll update later if i can find them out from the director.

Jr High: Some old beater conn

High School: Conn Sousaphone, Conn 4 Valve (not sure the models all were not the best at all), Meinl-Weston 2155

Undergraduate: Meinl-Weston 2155,(the next two are my current horns) Meinl-Weston Thor, Yamaha 103 BBb

[Dan Schultz]

Man.... what a fun thread!

Here goes:

Grade school - 1958 (I think!) - Conn Eb with 3 top pistons. Lugged it home day after day and spent ungodly amount of hours trying to polish a badly tarnished finish. Band director didn't know the difference. He probably thought it was a cello or something.

Junior high school - early 60's - Conn BBb sousa. 14K, I think.

High school - thru 1964 - Conn 20K's with the worst valves in the Universe!

1965 - 66 - Old beat-up Conn Eb helicon. It's probably still hanging around at Corry Field in Pensacola (Naval Security Group). I'll bet it's still full of trash from a Mardi Gras parade in '66!

1966 - 67 - Whatever was available at the Montrose Town Band in Montrose, Scotland. Probably an Eb Besson. Man... those guys could sure put away the Scotch! Had a hell of time getting used to playing treble clef!

1968 thru 1998 - Nothin'

1999 to present - Current wife dared me to buy a tuba and get back into playing. It started with an old Holton Eb 3V beater and has now evolved to the following:

- Mirafone 186 BBb with added 2-3 tuned rotor.
- Marzan BBb... B & M built.
- King 1240 Eb bell-front with Gnagey-added 4th piston.
- King 1241/2341 with upright and front bells and a dab of custom work.
- Conn double-belled euphonium.
- Conn 14K sousa with added 4th piston and convertible sousa and helicon bells.
- King fiberglas sousa.

I've owned/bought/sold/traded over 150 tubas and sousas since 1999. Can't have too many tubas!

[Chadtuba]

Just acquired an old Ludwig Eb sousaphone, but please don't tell the wife Had it shipped to the school so she doesn't know about it yet!

Oh dear, I feel a bad case of blackmail coming on.

SHHHH!!!!. Dinner's on me next trip to the panhandle if you stay quite.

[sloan]

high school/college: sousaphone
adult: tuba

[WoodSheddin]

high school/college: sousaphone
adult: tuba

high school/college: tuba
adult: sousaphone

[uncle jerd]

Junior High (school horns)

Conn BBb fiberglass sousaphone
Conn 10J, beat all to pieces

High School

4-valve recording bell King (school)
BBb Meinl-Weston Model 25 (mine, and a great horn)
Mirafone 185-4U (mine)

College

Meinl-Weston standard CC with numerous modifications (theirs)
Mirafone 185-4U (mine)
Mirafone little F (mine)

Now (age 50)
still have the Model 25
Conn Eb
Conn BBb Helicon
Gibson ES-150 hollowbody electric (1950)
Gibson L-48 archtop (1949)
Gibson RB-100 (1959)
Fender Jazz Bass (1974)

searching for a good CC

Ken Riddle
TTTE, 1976-1980

[guillaumedu]

high school yahama ybb-621

my first cc tuba cerveny piggy

grad school horn meinl weston 2155 very bad horn
i sell my piggy to buy a pt-15

i buy my first big tuba from tubiste of vancouver sym.
pt-6

i sell my pt-6 for rudy 5/4 both are great horn but the sound of rudy...

i buy firebird and i want sell my pt-15 if someone want it ?

[guillaumedu]

high school yahama ybb-621

my first cc tuba cerveny piggy

grad school horn meinl weston 2155 very bad horn
i sell my piggy to buy a pt-15

i buy my first big tuba from tubiste of vancouver sym.
pt-6

i sell my pt-6 for rudy 5/4 both are great horn but the sound of rudy...

i buy firebird and i want sell my pt-15 if someone want it ?

[Bandmaster]

Let's see...

3rd to 5th grade - Piano

7th to 10th grade - Clarinet

Then a little accident with a table saw...

11th grade - Tenor sax and started learning sousaphone in November 1969 and joined a youth band to play sousaphone.

12th grade - school's Conn Sousaphone and youth band's King Sousaphone

Cal Poly SLO ( 1971-75 ) - school's Satin Silver King 2341 and various old sousaphones.

Long Beach State ( 1976-78 ) - school's Olds 4v BBb (first year) and the school's brand new Miraphone 5 valve 186 CC (second year).

Nothing until 1990 when I rescued an old beat up Miraphone 186 BBb from a local high school, my first personally owned tuba. But I did own one King and 3 Olds fiberglass sousaphones for the youth band I founded, but those were for the kids, not me. Traded Miraphone to Dan Oberloh and lent out sousaphones.

Oct 2003 - bought a used Sanders Custom (miraphone 191 clone) on eBay. Sold it in June 2005.

Feb 2004 - bought a VERY used BBb Holton 345 on eBay and took it to Dan Oberloh in September 2004 to be restored... still waiting.

Jan 2005 - bought 1927 Conn 38K Sousaphone on eBay, turned out to be in fantastic condition and satin gold. I play it for special occasions.

Feb 2005 - bought a beautiful 1955 silver York-Master BBb on eBay and is my main horn right now.

Apr 2005 - bought a 3v Kanstul GG Contra Bass bugle from the Mandarins. Marched it in SoCal Dream and Kingsmen Alumni Corps.

Jun 2005 - bought 1926 Conn 30K Helicon on eBay, waiting to be repaired or restored.

Sept 2005 - bought 1923 Keefer EEb on eBay, play it just for fun.

Jan 2006 - bought 1895 Conn Eb on eBay, play it just for fun.

So basically I bought way too many horns in 2005.

[jonesbrass]

Elementary: Horn so big we had to sit it on a 5-gallon bucket just to reach the mouthpiece (4th grade)

High School: 3v Bach, 3v Olds, various sousas

College: Various sousas, 1950's 3V comp Besson, Cerveny BBb (my first horn)

Post-college: Same Cerveny BBb, Musica F (mine), 1970's vintage Meinl-Weston 45 F tuba, Miraphone 186 BBb and Miraphone 187 BBb 5V, traded both my horns for Miraphone 188 (mine), Satin silver King sousa, unknown Eb sousa

Today: Cerveny CFB-653

Many years into the future: an additional tuba (can't we all say that?)

[Bandmaster]

Let's see...

3rd to 5th grade - Piano

7th to 10th grade - Clarinet

Then a little accident with a table saw...

Yep... trying to finish up an end table project. Damaged three fingers on my left hand. Made playing clarinet well a little difficult. But I did eventually learn how to adjust my left hand position to stop squeaking. I played contra bass clarinet in one of the concert bands for one semester at Long Beach State. But if I had never had the accident I would have never learned how to play tuba. So I look back at it as fate playing its roll in life.

[The Big Ben]

Feb 2004 - bought a VERY used BBb Holton 345 on eBay and took it to Dan Oberloh in September 2004 to be restored... still waiting..

Saw this horn last week... It's getting mighty close, my friend... Dan's just about has the body finished- in the process of adjusting the braces for best fit and appearance. Saw the replacement bell and it needs the finishing touched before it goes onboard. It's gonna be shiny silver plate, huh? It will be worth the wait!!!

Jeff "Gets 'while you wait' service on spit valve corks" Benedict

[Untersatz]

BUMP for anyone who cares to add their horns to the list that wasn't around in 2007

[David Richoux]

Somehow I missed this - this is in roughly chronological order - some years are approximate.
Some of the horns could be for sale - let me know off list if something looks interesting to you.) NFS = Not For Sale

2nd Grade: Tonette (unknown maker)
3rd Grade: 3 valve Baritone (unknown maker)
5th Grade: Olds Ambassador Bb Trumpet (Xmas gift, but no band to play in.)
7th Grade: Switched from trumpet to King Eb Sousaphone school horn
8th Grade: Switched to King BBb Sousaphone school horn
9th-12th Grade: Olds BBb Sousaphone school horn for Concert, Marching, and Pep Band.
12th Grade: Olds Trombone school horn - for jazz/stage band.
1969: Navy 2 valve G Baritone Bugle in USN San Diego Drum & Bugle Corps
1971: my Olds trumpet and an Olds Bass Trombone (in shipboard rock band.)
1973: got a repaired (freight damaged) Olds 3 valve BBb tuba for Junior College brass ensemble and concert band.
1977: got a Conn 1918 BBb Helicon ($50 + $300 repairs) for use in Los Trancos Woods Community Marching Band. (sold in 2000)
1979: got a Conn 1935 4V front action BBb Recording Bass for pro jazz band work. Extra heavy version! (sold many years later)
1982: got a used Miraphone 4V BBb (don't remember the model number) - sold it 6 months later.
1983: got a very used Monke 4V BBb rotor tuba unknown vintage (was owned by the tuba player of Berkeley's Klezmorim band.)
1984: got an EEb sousaphone (King) for playing with the LSJUMB - sold it 20 years later.
1985: got a YBB-103 for goofing around - still use it for some random gigs. NFS
1987: got a BBb Olds/Reynolds fiberglass Sousaphone for LSJUMB and other bands, still use it with California Repercussions. NFS
1989: got an earthquake damaged YBC-621, converted it to BBb with extensions - still use it for rehearsals and small room gigs. NFS
1990: had a Rob Stewart EEb OTS made. NFS
1990: got a 1929 Conn BBb 4v Sousaphone - still use it for New Orleans brass band work and other outdoor work. NFS
1991: got a 1880? Danish F 4v rotor - no water key, nickle plate. Had Rob Stewart restore it.
1992: found a 1860s Ophicleide in pretty good shape - still trying to learn how to play it correctly. NFS
1993-ish: got a used Courtois 6v C tuba - still trying to learn how to play it correctly. NFS
1993: got a very small US made Disten 3v piston Eb tuba, probably from around 1900. NFS
1995: got a new Cerveny-Amati BBb Helicon for German band work and Dixie. Probably NFS.
1998: got a Kalison DS BBb tuba for "fancy" gigs (where the funky Conn Sousaphone is not quite appropriate.) Probably NFS unless I get a really good offer.
2013: got a F/EEb Mack pocket tuba - waiting for the BBb version.
1990 - 2013 - way too many random antique or vintage Baritones, Euphoniums, Double-Bell Euphoniums, Mells, trumpet/cornets, Alto Horns, helicons, etc.

[Bandmaster]

Let's see...

3rd to 5th grade - Piano

7th to 10th grade - Clarinet

Then a little accident with a table saw...

11th grade - Tenor sax and started learning sousaphone in November 1969 and joined a youth band to play sousaphone.

12th grade - school's Conn Sousaphone and youth band's King Sousaphone

Cal Poly SLO ( 1971-75 ) - school's Satin Silver King 2341 and various old sousaphones.

Long Beach State ( 1976-78 ) - school's Olds 4v BBb (first year) and the school's brand new Miraphone 5 valve 186 CC (second year).

Nothing until 1990 when I rescued an old beat up Miraphone 186 BBb from a local high school, my first personally owned tuba. But I did own one King and 3 Olds fiberglass sousaphones for the youth band I founded, but those were for the kids, not me. Traded Miraphone to Dan Oberloh and lent out sousaphones.

Oct 2003 - bought a used Sanders Custom (miraphone 191 clone) on eBay. Sold it in June 2005.

Feb 2004 - bought a VERY used BBb Holton 345 on eBay and took it to Dan Oberloh in September 2004 to be restored... still waiting.

Jan 2005 - bought 1927 Conn 38K Sousaphone on eBay, turned out to be in fantastic condition and satin gold. I play it for special occasions.

Feb 2005 - bought a beautiful 1955 silver York-Master BBb on eBay and is my main horn right now.

Apr 2005 - bought a 3v Kanstul GG Contra Bass bugle from the Mandarins. Marched it in SoCal Dream and Kingsmen Alumni Corps.

Jun 2005 - bought 1926 Conn 30K Helicon on eBay, waiting to be repaired or restored.

Sept 2005 - bought 1923 Keefer EEb on eBay, play it just for fun.

Jan 2006 - bought 1895 Conn Eb on eBay, play it just for fun.

So basically I bought way too many horns in 2005.

Well, I can add to my list above with transactions that have happened since January 2006.

Feb 2007 - bought 1939 York (stensiled Blessing) model 716 4V BBb tuba with front facing bell for future restoration.

Aug 2007 - bought a sousaphone chair off eBay for my Conn 38K.

Dec 2007 - bought a 1919 Martin 3V BBb Helicon. The bell was damaged in shipping and the valves were bad so I had the bell repaired and the valves rebuilt. Sold the untouched 1926 Conn 30K Helicon to a friend so he could have it repaired.

Dec 2007 - bought a 1960's era Olds 3V BBb tuba so I could keep it up our ranch for a practice horn.

Dec 2008 - bought a beat up 1960's era Miraphone 186 BBb tuba for a restoration project that went nowhere. It plays, sort of... lots of leaks.

Feb 2009 - bought a Yamaha YBB 201 BBb tuba body (missing valves) for parts (bell) to use to repair the Miraphone 186 someday.

May 2010 - got my Holton 345 back from Dan Oberloh, it is my main horn now. I gave Dan my York 716 for future restoration. Still waiting on it.

Jan 2011 - bought a Schiller American Heritage BBb Tuba to donate to one of the community bands for which I play.

Mar 2011 - sold my 3v Kanstul GG Contra Bass bugle to a friend since I wasn't using it anymore.

Feb 2013 - bought a 1967 Besson 226 3+1V BBb off of Government Surplus Auction website. I plan to clean it up and resell it for a profit, but it plays well.

[roughrider]

I started playing the tuba because I was caught along with several others laughing out loud at our elementary school band. They were terrible! The conductor made a point of calling me out and the next thing I knew, I was a tuba player. He arrived at our classroom with a Yamaha BBb 4 valve tuba and told me it was time to learn how to play. That was in 1970. The tuba was so big I had to put it on a chair facing me as it was too heavy to hold in my lap. I also had a much smaller Yamaha 3 valve that I was able to keep at home to practice. In high school there was a really bad Yamaha as well. In the summer of 1975 my parents bought a 3 valve King "Symphony" BBb Recording Bell tuba. It had been owned by a music teacher in Utica, New York by the name of Keemer Wetzel. I hated the thing on sight and if I had only known then what I know now! I played the horn in Grade Twelve and then two years in a very good amateur band. My career as a teacher and then principal took me a long way from any community bands until about six years ago. I am now retired and have added a MW 2145 CC which was purchased from a very fine graduate student at the University of British Columbia. I thought it would be cool to learn to play a horn in a different key. Hmm. Not necessarily one of my better ideas, however I have learned to play it reasonably well. I have also added a Holton/Yamaha 321 BBb. This horn is an exact copy of the very first horn I started on thanks to Mr.Alfred Dahl, now of Winnipeg Manitoba who saw through an obnoxious little kid and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I love playing the tuba!

[ScottM]

I started on cornet in 7th grade as I was too small to do 1-3 combo on tuba. I switched to tuba the summer between 8 an 9th grade. I was using a bell front Conn 3 valve. In tenth grade I played a bell front Bes son 4 valve compensating. For graduation I got a Mirafone 184-4 which I played about 20 years. It desperately needed a valve job. Then I bought Mirafone 184-5u from a person I knew in college. Three years ago I bought a PT20p. I also have a Boston E Flat which isn't playable and am looking at a Conn three valve e flat as a Christmas gift to me. I still have the two Mirafones and play them depending on the sound needed. The Pt is my main horn these days. All are CC's unless otherwise noted.
ScottM

[uncle jerd]

sixth grade-ninth grade; Conn 10-J and fiberglass sousaphone
high school; 4-valve King bell front (POS); Meinl-Weston 25 BBb (still have)
late high school-age 30; Mirafone 185-4U CC good horn
age 30-40 Conn BBb helicon (traded for banjo)
after that-
York 4-valve CC helicon (from Harvey Hartman)
Weirl CC little bitty easy to carry
York raincatcher Eb (cool factor off the charts)
1905 Conn BBb helicon (had been Harv's personal horn)

[eupher61]

5th through 11th grade...King or Conn souzies, all school- or city-band owned.
owned POS trumpet, alto sax, trombone,
borrowed flute, clarinet, oboe, drums
Conn baritone horn
11th- college 2nd year--purchased MW 11 (4 top valves, BBb, great little horn that I wish I could get back) sold in 1981

undergrad their MW 20 (?) essentially a 186 in MW form.
their Alex 164 CC 5 valve gorgeous sound, a dog on pitch. but that sound....
Purchased Piggy CC 4v--another I wish I still had --sold 1989)
Holton bass bone (T180? with the superbar thing) sold/stolen 1983
Grad school--Piggy;
borrowed Besson 3+1 F (Tucker Jolly's amazing F); school owned Besson 3v comp with added tritone valve (great upper range)
school's Hirsbrunner euph
Conn Connstellation baritone
purchased PT10 (later featuring "The Dent")
purchased King Monster souzie 4v (dubbed "Chloe") (sold to a well-known collector 2003)
purchased Bach 50B (sold 1991)

Post-grad Conn Custom Jumbo BBb (like the Alex above, AMAZING sound but pitch was miserable) (sold to a well-known collector 2002 or so)
Cerveny F helicon (sold summer '13)
Weril J680 BBb 4 front pistons (sold 2012)
Kay M1B bass fiddle

Current same B&S PT10 (with "The Dent")
Martin Mammoth BBb, both bells, 4 front valves
Conn Eb (3J? from 1918 or so...hard to say what model) 3 front valves
Amati Helicon
Schiller Comp Euph 3+1
Schiller comp baritone 3v
Benge F165 tenor bone
same Kay bass
assorted washboards and traps.

[Zoop Soup]

Armstrong Alto Sax (2010-2013)
Yamaha Bari Sax (2013)
Conn Fiberglass Tuba (2013)
4 Valve BBb Tuba (2013-2014)
All school owned aside from the Armstrong.

During the instrument tryouts back in 6th grade I had my heart set on sax, and after some sweet talking to the tryout instructor, I got the okay to proceed. I was blissful in my ignorance up until 8th grade band I realized I was a layering instrument for the band which I wasn't happy being (No matter how important they may be). I took up bari and enjoyed it much more than alto, even if I was just in the same position for a different section.
After sitting by the tubas for a semester, I decided to switch, director be darned I started taking a tuba off the rack every day after school and with a mouthpiece (clean!) I would make an attempt to run the Bb scale, having trouble with the partials (Especially the F). The director finally noticed and gave me some bass clef worksheets to fill out and I was off. For the last 3 weeks of school I would stay after school, continuing to run the same notes, having a grand time. On the last day of school I was sent off with a tuba ("Don't sell that off to a pawn shop!") and a beginning book. I taught myself over the summer and came back a mediocre tuba player, ready to face the world. Marching season was my "training wheels", as I learned real music and how to be a tuba player and not a saxophonist. I still play bari sax in jazz band (I'm much better at that than tuba).
Now concert season has started and some weird thing called "dynamics" has come into play According to my director, "real band" has started and I'll start playing like a real tuba. My goal for myself is to make first band All Region, which will take some elbow grease, that being one day free practice, one day private lessons, jazz band the next, sectionals Thursday (Fridays, I give my director a break ). I'm on my way!

I find it amusing to watch my gradual descent into the low section of the band. But now I've found my home