TubeNet

Hello all,

For the last 2 years I've been living on a narrowboat (in th UK) and I'm missing practicing on my Besson Soveriegn BBb! (It doesn't fit through the DOOR!)

I'm looking to see if anyone can custom make a 4 valved BBb in the tornister size or if anyone knows of any existing ones. (Like the prototype F tuba that was on here).

The main priority is that it can't be bigger than a Euphonium as I have no-where to put it ¬_¬

I know I won't be getting the sheer sound and volume out of this that I would with a full size one so this will only be used for practice and the odd 10-peice band / christmas job.


Cheers!


P.s,

I've also got a very old Helicon in quite good condition that I'm interested in flogging to finance this tuba, I'll be putting some details up on the for sale page soon.

Would the 3/4 Yamaha Ybb 621 be able to fit within your space constraints?

Unfortunatly not, I need it to be tiny ¬_¬.

The Tornistertubas available are disproportionally expensive compared to their potential.

If you get yourself a euphonium with the bassbone receiver (large), it will take most large tuba mouthpieces.

The tuba solutions I can imagine are either the tiny old Westminster/Regent/Oxford Eb, which is almost as small as a euph, or the smallest BBb of the models mentioned for the Eb. These tubas are 3 valve non-compers, but the BBb tornister BBb promoted by Bob Tucci also is 3 valved non-comper. My 1870 Besson 3+1P Eb bass also would fit your needs, but it is not for sale. The 3+1 version appears to be rare, but the 3 valve version pops up on British eBay more frequently.

Klaus

RanmaSyaoran wrote:(It doesn't fit through the DOOR!)

What is width of the door? Will give us an idea of what might go through

RanmaSyaoran wrote:The main priority is that it can't be bigger than a Euphonium as I have no-where to put it ¬_¬.

Although the one sold by Bob Tucci is the only BBb which would fulfil that criteria
http://www.hornboerse.de/lshop,showdeta ... rni,,,.htm" target="_blank

Otherwise talk to Mark Carter at http://www.MrTuba.com" target="_blank about building/modifying something for you.

If customizing/building will be part of the game, then you might just as well get yourself something special usable in other contexts also:

Get a 4 valve BBb cimbasso.

Klaus

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This small BBb seems to have a very small bell, which might fit through your door. And it's light-weight (5.2KG!):
http://www.jestaedt-instrumente.de/modell82.htm

The Jestaedt miniature BBb differs from the other samples of the mini revival by having a real tuba bore as known from other rotary contrabasses: 19.5mm (around 0.770").

I never saw a price for this model. Anybody in the know?

Klaus

I think i read some article, where a price of about 4.000 Euro for a 4 valve BBb version of the Jestädt Mini-Tuba was mentioned. But i don't remember the source, so no guarantee.

The Jestädt small F also looks good
http://www.jestaedt-instrumente.de/modell80.htm
If 4000 euros (hopefully less for F), might make a good alternative to the M-W travel tuba and in gold brass too.

KHHS wrote:This small BBb seems to have a very small bell, which might fit through your door. And it's light-weight (5.2KG!):
http://www.jestaedt-instrumente.de/modell82.htm

This one looks promicing!

The main storage space area I have is about 13 inches wide so it really IS tiny.

I Cimbasso does appeal to me, but I think our brass band would have a fit of hysterics if I turned up with it ¬_¬ I'd still prefer a bass.

is your narrowboat on a fixed mooring, or do you travel around the canal network?
If you are fixed, the one solution might be to keep your tuba in the bandroom, and negotiate regular access to practice, supplemented with mouthpiece practice in your boat, or if you need something no bigger than a euphonium, think about transitioning to the euphonium.

I'm a traveler, an aquagypsy as I like to call myself.

The band has 2 Euph players plus one spare and we need our bassists!

RanmaSyaoran wrote:I Cimbasso does appeal to me, but I think our brass band would have a fit of hysterics if I turned up with it ¬_¬ I'd still prefer a bass.

You hardly will find an instrument fitting your storage space as well the sound output wanted from a band contrabass tuba. I read your original post as a wish for a practice instrument.

Reading the TubeNet combined with my own experiences let’s me suggest something not too far from bloke’s idea.

An American BBb like the old King with a detachable upright bell has a body not radically larger than the miniature basses suggested and it certainly could enter your boat cabin. If you leave the bell in the band room, you may practice well enough on the body alone to keep basic playing skills alive. The pitch will be sharp, the scales will be a little off, and the sound will be harsh. However the right practicing mute will take the pitch all the way down to BBb again.

Klaus

Can someone please translate the text about these small horns. Yes, I am techno incapable. These things look very interesting. Where on earth does one buy one of these things and who builds them? Anybody play one?

If it plays even 2/3 as well as the MW tiny F, I'm buying one. ASAP.

Neptune wrote:The Jestädt small F also looks good
http://www.jestaedt-instrumente.de/modell80.htm
If 4000 euros (hopefully less for F), might make a good alternative to the M-W travel tuba and in gold brass too.

LJV wrote:

Cameron Gates wrote:Can someone please translate the text about these small horns.

Clicky, clicky!

You are the man.

I will be going over to Germany before the end of year, and if I can work it to stop off at Jestädt "House of Music" on route to try one of these, I will and report back.

I have just heard from Jestädt and the list prices for their small tubas are;

F model 80 is 4,378 euros with 4 valves in goldbrass.
BBb model 82 is with 3 valves 4,181 euros and with 4 valves 4,497 euros.

They have both models available to try at their place in Bimbach

It's on mornings like this (not enough time between classes to go back to my dorm for the tuba) that I really wished I had one of these Tornisters...lugging the Kaiser back and forth across campus is gunna be really bad for my back....