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Can anyone throw any light on PERSY tubas - made in Brussels, Belgium? Is the firm still in existence? They were still being made till at least the 1980s as this 2008 link shows....

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I'm particular interested because the characteristically Belgian 3 + 2 piston valve configuration is said to be the precursor and inspiration behind Harry Barlow's legendary British F tuba designs till his death in 1930

I'd love to hear from Benelux tuba players who can help me source these 3 + 2 tubas and point me in the direction of retailers and musical instrument collections in Belgium & Holland who may have some. Anyone know any Benelux players?

Here's a current listing of a Persy CC http://www.2dehands.be/muziek/muziekins ... cat=tuba-s" target="_blank" target="_blank

Thanks!

Andrew

The Belgian makers appear all having designs inspired by Mahillon. They maybe are good, if one can adjust to an older style of really small bore instruments.

I have a de Prins Bb Saxhorn basse in a similar configuration:

2 whole steps in the 3rd valve

a fourth in the 4th valve

a long semitone in the 5th valve (mine has a plain semitone here, but I pull the slide to a long semitone).

I don’t play that baritone much. It sounds OK, but it is very stiff in its response. And then it takes a lot of brainwork to adjust to the long 3rd valve.

One factor may speak for this Persy tuba: the current price isn’t very high.

Klaus