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About three weeks ago, I tried out a Yamaha 4 valve BBb tuba to see how it plays. I can tell you it was quite different in terms of positioning the horn from what I've been used to with my King BAT.

First of all, I had to first position the mouthpiece to my mouth. Then I had to extend my right arm out to reach the valves. Finally, I had trouble viewing the music with the bell in my way.

Maybe I would have needed to get used to this some more, just like anyone would have to with a King 1241.

Any Yamaha stories out there. I know most high school band students use them here.

The YBB-321 is an ergonomic nightmare, much like the Besson model it is based on. I found the sound of the one I tried out for a few minutes to be OK sound and scale-wise, but this was only in a small practice room.

Eric "who has owned (and sold) several Yamaha horns" L.

These horns may not be everyones cup of tea, but I actually liked them and never played a bad one. The second valve was consistently flat on EVERYONE I played through the years, but I always liked the sound and the fact they had a very nice low register. YMMV.

Chuck"never owned one, but there were a couple of them I wished I had"Jackson

I played one my senior year in high school 2 years ago.
Intonation was ok, I don't specifially remember any terrible notes. Pulling the slides is challenging due to the upright valves.

The low end is good, and I remember specifically pedal D(D1) was really easy, and for some reason you could give it extreme amounts of air without edging out.
I never pulled any slides due to the upright valves.
I personally didn't have a problem with ergonomics/seeing around the bell. I usually rested the bow on my chair inbetween my legs, that was the only was for my lips to reach the piece.
It's built like a tank, also easy to carry around.
Bore is fairly small though.

I did angle the horn when I played it. Even by doing that, I had some difficulty seeing the music. I'm 6'4". Maybe my height was a factor it's just that I don't play Yamaha 321s that often.

Hank74 wrote:I did angle the horn when I played it. Even by doing that, I had some difficulty seeing the music. I'm 6'4". Maybe my height was a factor it's just that I don't play Yamaha 321s that often.

Don't feel bad, a lot of folks find the 321 to be awkward, especially if you're not accustomed to upright valves in the first place. (Most of the people I see playing them do not angle them, but rather rest them straight up and down on their right knee. if you angle it too much , that can put a lot of strain on your right wrist.) They are good horns though, capable of producing a nice big sound, especially on the bottom end, and the ones I've encountered in local high schools can be played pretty well in tune. It doesn't hurt that they're built like tanks as well, wich is a big reason they remain so popular in the public schools.

I started on a YBB 103 in 5th grade, then in 7th grade "graduated" to the 321. I was never really comfortable with it, and by the time my junior year rolled around I was ready for a change, so I stepped up to the YBB 641.

I'm not a big fan of any of the Yamaha top-action tubas more-or-less because I'm just not a top-action kind of guy. I'm just returning home from the Association of Concert Bands convention. The guy sitting to my right in the convention band was playing a Yamaha YEB-321 and was using a tuning bit on it. He had some ergonomic issues with his horn and the bit apparently helped.

Are these Yamahas made out of a particular type of stronger metal? Everyone here is saying they are built like tanks. The one I played on three weeks ago had the bottom bow dented.

Hank74 wrote:Are these Yamahas made out of a particular type of stronger metal? Everyone here is saying they are built like tanks. The one I played on three weeks ago had the bottom bow dented.

The metal is not necessarily any thicker or better than something like a King 2341 but the Yamahas are very well braced and survive nicely in classroom situations.

TubaTinker wrote:The guy sitting to my right in the convention band was playing a Yamaha YEB-321 and was using a tuning bit on it. He had some ergonomic issues with his horn and the bit apparently helped.

I remember Steve Inman mentioning that a bit in his 381 helps bring the overall pitch down a bit, though I don't recall whether or not he said it helped ergonomics. Steve, are you still with us?

Personally, I am too tall to comfortably play most top valve tubas but if I ever see another (it would be the THIRD!) mint, small, top valve York Eb for $400/600 (the 2 I saw) I'm getting it anyway! Damnit, damnit, damnit,..... FWIW, I have pictures of both of them if anyone wants to see them (beautiful horns, and all the more desirable after I played that sweet Rusk York F).



Bob"euphonium is to regular people as a small top valve Eb is to me"Kolada

I've spent a lot of time on older YBB321's. The sound is better than the older Besson/Boosey&Hawkes Imperial three valvers they're based on and they are much easier to hold. (The old British tubas have the leadpipe positioned high for marching - they are a nightmare sitting down).

I have found the intonation on the 321's I've played to be problematic. Notes played on the first or second valve alone were very flat but the first and second combination seemed to be sharp! Also two lines down C on fourth was a quite flat but the dreaded low B on second and fourth was very sharp - I had to lip down as far as possible. I took my 1291 to rehearsal on the day I got it and was told that it sounded better than the Yamaha - and I was playing the 1291 really badly - closed throat and jaw.

Regards

Gerard

Bob Kolada wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:The guy sitting to my right in the convention band was playing a Yamaha YEB-321 and was using a tuning bit on it. He had some ergonomic issues with his horn and the bit apparently helped.

I remember Steve Inman mentioning that a bit in his 381 helps bring the overall pitch down a bit, though I don't recall whether or not he said it helped ergonomics. Steve, are you still with us?

I was wondering about the tuning also. A bit would be like having the tuning slide out about an inch or so, wouldn't it?

I have tried both the 321 and the 201. The fourth valve just makes an unwieldy tuba more unwieldy. They are uncomfortable for shorter players, and kind of expensive (as most Yamaha prices quoted are). They don't seem to be made of thicker metal, but they do have nicer cases than a lot of tubas (lots of storage, durable materials, handles that don't kill the hands). The horn itself plays okay, with a clear sound and a full bottom register. I found it got thin rather quickly past the top of the staff. Tuning ranges from good to bad, especially on the second or third valve notes. I had problems keeping a relaxed embouchre, because the horn seemed to need more control than I was used to giving.

As you can tell from my signature, I did indeed purchase a used Yamaha 321. It needs a little repair work and cleaning, but I've always been intrigued by this particular tuba and that's why I'm taking a chance with it.

When I tried it out briefly the day it arrived, I did position it a little differently than I have before. I can tell you I need to have my legs opened up, unlike my King BAT and have the bottom bow rest on the chair. That, and seeing pictures of players with a Yamaha 321, has made all the difference.

I seem to have more comfort in playing this time!

This type of instrument is made for a classroom, where it sits on a stand for many, many years.

http://www.interstatemusic.com/webapp/w ... y_rn=20000" target="_blank

I used one of these in 1971.

I think the ergonomics issue would be solved (mostly) with one of the newer BBC or DEG stands, especially for the smaller students.

the elephant wrote:

swillafew wrote:http://www.interstatemusic.com/webapp/w ... y_rn=20000" target="_blank

I used one of these in 1971.

Again -- a photo. Never seen them in the wild and see no use for them, either.

I agree with Wade. At the risk of being "non-PC" not everyone should play tuba. If a kid needs something like that because he/she can't hold the tuba, that person needs to play a smaller instrument.

J "I wrestle with a 31lb beast with a 24" bell and loving it" J

These horns play very well because Yamaha knows how to make pistons with very high tolerances and they can copy designs very well.

Can any band directors chime in on why they are so prevalent in the schools? It would make much more sense to use King 2341 Tubas. I am not a band director, so I don't know, and I need someone who does to help me.

My college has a Yamaha 321 and the original Besson on which it was based. They both played remarkably well, but I couldn't get comfortable with them. I tried stands and chairs, and I just couldn't make it work for me. Funny thing though, I have a very short friend who LOVES the Yamaha and plays it very well.