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Guys.... I'm totally disgusted with all the marketing hype lately. Assuming you've already spent time reasearching the best horn to 'fit your face' and playing style..... here's the real question that needs to be answered before you plunk down the big bucks for a new horn....

WHAT'S THE AVAILABILITY OF PARTS FOR THIS HORN?

Face it... you're brand new baby might need a part or two fairly early in it's life due to accidents, etc. Would you dream of buying a new automobile without knowing a little bit about whether it could be serviced? Would you like to be out of commision because simple things like springs and such that should be off-the-shelf items aren't available?

I've been hounding a VERY well-known brand-name for over two years to get their parts program together. I ordered simple stuff like valve springs and guides over two months ago... received only a partial shipment after begging them for three weeks... and am still getting the run-around about when I might receive the balance of the order.

I saw the sales and marketing guys for this particular company at NABBA over the weekend and they actually thought it was 'funny' that I was so upset with their parts program. When I mentioned that I was calling weekly for updates, one of the reps even responded with "boy, I'll bet so-and-so is really getting tired of that!". It was like I am the one being the pain in the axx!

I'm not going to mention the name of this particular company. Mainly because all of the recent mergers, sales, and plant closing have really made a mess of trying to figure out who is doing what. Parts are a problem throughout the industry.

Hey!.... whatever horn your are considering buying... whether it be a high-end $25,000 tuba... or an Asian import... don't be afraid to ask about the availability of parts. It's important.

That supplier must be a four letter word in some circles.

TubaTinker wrote: I saw the sales and marketing guys for this particular company at NABBA over the weekend and they actually thought it was 'funny' that I was so upset with their parts program. When I mentioned that I was calling weekly for updates, one of the reps even responded with "boy, I'll bet so-and-so is really getting tired of that!". It was like I am the one being the pain in the axx!

I believe it is partly because of attitudes such as this that I am on blood pressure medication. Aaaaaargh!

TubaRay wrote:I believe it is partly because of attitudes such as this that I am on blood pressure medication. Aaaaaargh!

Welcome to the difference between Marketing and Support...

TubaTinker wrote: I'm not going to mention the name of this particular company. Mainly because all of the recent mergers, sales, and plant closing have really made a mess of trying to figure out who is doing what. Parts are a problem throughout the industry.

Does anyone particularly stand out on the other side of the ledger, with good parts support?

Donn wrote:

TubaTinker wrote: I'm not going to mention the name of this particular company. Mainly because all of the recent mergers, sales, and plant closing have really made a mess of trying to figure out who is doing what. Parts are a problem throughout the industry.

Does anyone particularly stand out on the other side of the ledger, with good parts support?

Yamaha has had very good parts support but has begun phasing out support for earlier models of their very popular 321 lines of euphs and tubas. ie. ... due to marketing-driven and manufacturing changes, leadpipes no longer fit the older models... even though the basic horn has remained the same. All things considered, I would probably have to say that Yamaha is still on top as far as parts availability is concerned.

I remember seeing an article several years back about the joys and challenges of vintage motorcycles. At the end of the article was a table, arranged by brand. One of the columns was Parts Availability. I still remember that the entry for Ducati was, "Become friends with a machinist."

I've been lucky in that the only factory parts I've ever had my repair people order came fairly quickly from Yamaha. I have had parts made for a couple horns and had generic parts from Allied modified to work. You are right though, Dan. I would never buy a car if I thought my local mechanic would have to machine a new steering rack for it. On the other hand, if the computer I'm using to write this reply dies I probably would have to ship it to Bangalore...

I would agree that Yamaha has excellent availability of parts. I can drive 20 miles up the interstate and get any Yamaha part I want at the local music store. Unfortunately, I don't play Yamaha euphs at this point in my life (huge mistake). I have been told that I can not acquire new valve guides for my Besson 967 euphonium (11 years old with original parts) because 1. the new valve guides are not interchangeable with the pre-Buffet/Besson models and 2. the parts supply/distribution is VERY poor. This is a very frustrating situation. I am planning to buy a new horn within the next two years and at this point Besson/York instruments are not on my short list. The horns play very well and are built very well but the lack of available parts is a major turnoff.

jameseuph642 wrote:...... I have been told that I can not acquire new valve guides for my Besson 967 euphonium (11 years old with original parts) because 1. the new valve guides are not interchangeable with the pre-Buffet/Besson models and 2. the parts supply/distribution is VERY poor. This is a very frustrating situation. I am planning to buy a new horn within the next two years and at this point Besson/York instruments are not on my short list. The horns play very well and are built very well but the lack of available parts is a major turnoff.

Besson has added a taper and a step to the stem to better hold down the valve guides, but I think the guides themselves are the same. Doesn't matter.... you can't get the old OR the NEW valve guides, anyway!

bloke wrote:I'm considering re-entering the audition circuit. I need a BBb for the continental European auditions...Does anyone have any experience with the new Vento?

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Y'know... I started this thread over a year ago. Some of the names have changed but the problems remain the same.

You might consider a Schiller.... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Just try getting a part for one of those babies! I dare 'ya!

No problems about getting parts for Schiller tubas. Many players have books full of parts.

K

I have a YBB 321 and a 25J....I'm pretty sure there will parts available for both horns long after most of are gone to the big orchestra/band in the sky!

JJ

bloke wrote:I can quite easily be accused of arguing for arguing's sake.

That being established,

- I still own a tuba that I bought "new" in 1982 (made in Communist East Germany...NO real chance - at that time - of ordering "parts").

- I have never bought any new parts for that instrument.

Several reasons for that. Apart from occasionally stuffing that tuba with toy items you don’t abuse it. It even is rarely taken out for practice outside of ensembles. You keep it lubricated and maintain the moving parts. If a spring needs replacement, you roll a new one yourself. And as it is an old school instrument with mostly handmade elements, you could make new parts yourself. I could imagine problems, if you lost a screw, as they have metric threadings, but then such screws are easily found in Europe.

Klaus

TUBAD83 wrote:I have a YBB 321 and a 25J....I'm pretty sure there will parts available for both horns long after most of are gone to the big orchestra/band in the sky! JJ

Well... maybe.

If your Yammie has a serial number lower than 100,000... you can't buy valve guides or pistons for it now. You can get a replacement but you have to go with the later piston that takes the plastic guides. Meaning you have to change the piston, guide, and the stem (plus the little washer). Just one of those little 'manufacturing changes' that happened a few years back. Everything considered though... Yamaha still is one of the best when it comes to parts availability.

As far as the 25J goes... those pistons went obsolete several years ago. The current 20K (sousaphone) production piston will drop into the piston casing but the bore is smaller.

Every once in a while some 'new old stock' parts pop up... such being the case with the 2XJ #2 piston that Bloke pointed out to me earlier this week.

MikeS wrote:I remember seeing an article several years back about the joys and challenges of vintage motorcycles. At the end of the article was a table, arranged by brand. One of the columns was Parts Availability. I still remember that the entry for Ducati was, "Become friends with a machinist."

OLD GUARD wrote:Sir.

If you can get me two pices of tubing measured at .842 on the outside at 8 inches long . please contact me at J76Y@insightbb.com" target="_blank" target="_blank or call me at 812-421-8199.

Respectfully,

Jim Hadley

As I replied you privately, I am no repairman. If you want to lower the pitch of your tuba you have other options than making the male branches of the main tuning slide longer. If you find the right tubing, you may add to the female branches with a more flexible result.

But first of all try to see if one or two bits will help the pitch without spoiling playing ergonomics. Also try having an experienced teacher seeing if it is you playing sharp. There are ways to change that. The right mouthpiece also will be helpful.

Klaus

Donn wrote:

TubaTinker wrote: I'm not going to mention the name of this particular company. Mainly because all of the recent mergers, sales, and plant closing have really made a mess of trying to figure out who is doing what. Parts are a problem throughout the industry.

Does anyone particularly stand out on the other side of the ledger, with good parts support?

Meinl Weston has been terrific in parts support for me.

any opinions on cerveny tubas as far as parts? just purchased a new cervney 686px model. purchased from a local music store who does own repairs. jds