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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 9:24 pm
by Chuck(G)
To cut a BBb to CC, you need to find a way to make the instrument about 2 feet shorter. The result may be unplayable in any case. If it's a good player in BBb, save your money and sell the horn to buy a good CC later.
BBb-to-CC conversions are for hacks like me who are willing to shoulder the consequences of a modification gone wrong.
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:50 am
by Rick Denney
You'll need to remove 25 inches from the length of the instrument, and still have a tuning slide. I'm not sure that the VMI arrangement will net you that much by replacing the tuning slide with a straight-in pipe.
Conversions typically cost in the $2000 range or more, depending on who does the work, and that does not include any current needed repairs or any finish work after you are done. A 3302 is probably too new and too nice to be worth this risk. I'm with Chuck--if you want a CC, sell this one and buy a CC. I'm betting you pay less in the long run, and probably end up with a better tuba. Plus, those who do these conversions are usually trying to salvage otherwise unplayable and unsellable BBb carcasses with fine-sounding outer branches and bells, and might not be willing to consider such a conversion of a newish instrument that is still worth a reasonable sum as a BBb tuba.
Rick "who can only aspire to be a hack like Chuck" Denney
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 1:14 pm
by Z-Tuba Dude
Why bother to convert at all? It is a huge gamble, and to what end?
My undestanding is that VMI 3302's are good horns, and there is nothing wrong with playing Bb tuba!
If you MUST play a CC, then do as others have suggested, and buy a CC. I think you'll be much happier in the long run.
Good Luck!!!