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Re: Name that tuba: round #6

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:19 am
by SousaSaver
Either that or a York...

Re: Name that tuba: round #6

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:52 am
by opus37
Definitely a Martin BBb. The third valve tubing gives it away.

Re: Name that tuba: round #6

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:23 pm
by J.c. Sherman
opus37 wrote:Definitely a Martin BBb. The third valve tubing gives it away.
Seconded.

Re: Name that tuba: round #6

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:21 pm
by imperialbari
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Re: Name that tuba: round #6

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:21 pm
by Paul Scott
I'm quite certain that is a Martin. Probably a Martin "Renowned" BBb which was a tad smaller than the more well-known Mammoth BBbs.

Re: Name that tuba: round #6

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:10 pm
by Alex C
The large bows being squared off has always been a Martin trademark to me.

Re: Name that tuba: round #6

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 9:09 am
by Paul Scott
Here's an early (ca. 1917) Martin catalogue page showing the Renowned BBb Bass, the Mammoth's smaller cousin which was called the "Medium" later on. The catalogue photo was "retouched" (edited, in modern parlance, to make it look more like an engraving) making it appear as though the larger top bow is in front of the smaller one, ala York. I've seen and played this model and the smaller top bow is actually in front of the larger one just like the photo of the lady tuba player. Either that or they changed the design later on. I will say that the main tuning slide appears lower in the photo of the lady and the lad but they may have used a high pitch horn for the catalogue photo. BTW, the example that I played was a wonderful little horn.

Judge for yourselves:

Image

Re: Name that tuba: round #6

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:04 pm
by Frank Ortega
Yes, that is a Martin Renowned BBb Bass, I own one just like it.
It's a tad bigger than the King 2341, making it more of a 5/4 tuba.
I had Martin Wilk convert it to a side action with a .689 valve bore.
Plays beautifully and very well in tune. I use it all the time with the Imperial Brass.

Frank Ortega