Shockwave wrote:Does anyone know what the difference is in sound between a Holton, York, and Chicago-style York BAT? The Chicago York seems to have a much larger and more gradual bell flare than the standard York and Holton, which appear very similar.
Also, how does the tone change when one of these monsters is hacked to CC from BBb?
Pretty much all 6/4 tubas are similar in the dimensions of the bells. Certainly all the modern reproductions of the CSO York are--they are all made on the same mandrel. I suspect they are within millimeters of the original
I've held a York that was converted to CC by Rusk from a York Monster BBb Bass. The original bell of that instrument was just under 23", but Rusk trimmed this bell to 20". Here's a picture of me playing that instrument, next to a picture of my Holton:
If anything, the old York Monster BBb Bass is a little bigger. I assume the Monster BBb Bass is what you are calling the "Standard York". The CSO York is most certainly not bigger than this.
Then there is the lore that suggests York made the bell and bottom bow for Holton in any case.
In terms of differences in sound, I'll defer to a professional assessment:
http://www.chisham.com/tips/bbs/jul2001 ... 62773.html
When I play them, they all sound like me, more's the pity.
Cutting them from BBb to CC has variable results. Some converted instruments are outstanding, while others don't work at all. It's always a risk.
Rick "who thinks the Holton has a more colorful sound that the converted York did, but who knows that subsequent modifications were made to that York" Denney