Dick Barth in Buffalo-review of Big Mouth Brass-BMB CC tubas
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:01 pm
Hi-
Dick Barth was in town this morning at Kleinhans Music Hall--Don and I got to play and buy new Big Mouth Brass-BMB-CC tubas today. I will let Don speak for himself about his horn and thoughts.
I bought a silver 4 valve J-844 CC tuba--OMG!!!!
These horns are terrific--easiest CC tuba I have ever played. Everything slots great, pitch wonderful, the sound is gorgeous--just an amazing tuba--4 pistons--.750/.770, 18" bell--AND his new Barth Helleberg, which comes with each horn, is the very, very best I have ever played--I like the sound better than a GREAT original Conn Helleberg (I don't say that lightly at all!). The plastic wheeled cases have been improved and are terrific--and the new gig bags for the horns are incredible!
More about the J-844. You can play the most ppp passage or really rock the boat at ffff and the horn just does the job. So easy--no messing around with alternate fingerings--it is right on the money. The slide pulls are long enough so that the extreme low range rocks but is very in tune (like a great vintage Mirafone 186 CC 4v, a great vintage modified Alex 4v CC, etc.). Don and I each got a 4v silver 844 and Dick also dropped off to Don a silver J-845 with dependent 5th valve for someone else (Ed Diefes?)--I think it plays even better than the prototype that Dick let me use with Buffalo this past Winter. These horns keep getting better and better-it blows my mine you can get something this superb for such a reasonable price!
Some pics:
Don with a silver J-844 CC-4v
Don with a silver J-845 CC-5v
Don with the amazing J-834LQ 4v 3/4 horn--16" bell, .730/.750
The consistency is amazing--I could have been easily as happy with Don's 4v, the 5v, etc. What was a huge surprise was the 3/4 CC Dick brought along--it is the J-834LQ lacquered CC tuba, 4v--this blows any 3/4 CC away--and the price is even more amazing--not only has he hit home runs with the 4/5-5/4 CC tubas, but the 3/4 CC tuba must be tried by folks.
All I can say is that if you are near Hartford tomorrow, at any other of Dick's stops, or get to Elkhart----drop everything and check out these horns!! The entire fleet--the BBb, CC's, the Eb, and the F are top tier horns--don't take my word for it, go play them--you'll be very glad you did. The 844 or 845 CC and the 445 F make for a dynamic duo of tubas!
Oh, and BTW, the 6/4 BBb piston may be ready for prototype for MidWest/Capital-Army tuba Conference, with the 6/4 CC piston a few months after..stay tuned.....
Any further info on availability, prices, etc. contact Dick directly.
My 2 cents....
Regards-
mark
Dick Barth was in town this morning at Kleinhans Music Hall--Don and I got to play and buy new Big Mouth Brass-BMB-CC tubas today. I will let Don speak for himself about his horn and thoughts.
I bought a silver 4 valve J-844 CC tuba--OMG!!!!
These horns are terrific--easiest CC tuba I have ever played. Everything slots great, pitch wonderful, the sound is gorgeous--just an amazing tuba--4 pistons--.750/.770, 18" bell--AND his new Barth Helleberg, which comes with each horn, is the very, very best I have ever played--I like the sound better than a GREAT original Conn Helleberg (I don't say that lightly at all!). The plastic wheeled cases have been improved and are terrific--and the new gig bags for the horns are incredible!More about the J-844. You can play the most ppp passage or really rock the boat at ffff and the horn just does the job. So easy--no messing around with alternate fingerings--it is right on the money. The slide pulls are long enough so that the extreme low range rocks but is very in tune (like a great vintage Mirafone 186 CC 4v, a great vintage modified Alex 4v CC, etc.). Don and I each got a 4v silver 844 and Dick also dropped off to Don a silver J-845 with dependent 5th valve for someone else (Ed Diefes?)--I think it plays even better than the prototype that Dick let me use with Buffalo this past Winter. These horns keep getting better and better-it blows my mine you can get something this superb for such a reasonable price!
Some pics:
Don with a silver J-844 CC-4v
Don with a silver J-845 CC-5v
Don with the amazing J-834LQ 4v 3/4 horn--16" bell, .730/.750
The consistency is amazing--I could have been easily as happy with Don's 4v, the 5v, etc. What was a huge surprise was the 3/4 CC Dick brought along--it is the J-834LQ lacquered CC tuba, 4v--this blows any 3/4 CC away--and the price is even more amazing--not only has he hit home runs with the 4/5-5/4 CC tubas, but the 3/4 CC tuba must be tried by folks.
All I can say is that if you are near Hartford tomorrow, at any other of Dick's stops, or get to Elkhart----drop everything and check out these horns!! The entire fleet--the BBb, CC's, the Eb, and the F are top tier horns--don't take my word for it, go play them--you'll be very glad you did. The 844 or 845 CC and the 445 F make for a dynamic duo of tubas!
Oh, and BTW, the 6/4 BBb piston may be ready for prototype for MidWest/Capital-Army tuba Conference, with the 6/4 CC piston a few months after..stay tuned.....
Any further info on availability, prices, etc. contact Dick directly.
My 2 cents....
Regards-
mark