TubeNet

Hello All,
One of my loaner tubas has gone missing, (student has disappeared, will not respond to numerous emails, texts, voice mails, etc.). I will not go so far as to say "stolen" at this point, but I have no idea where the horn is.

It is a rather distinctly modified Olds 4-valve BBb with nickel-silver lead pipe, some reinforcements on the bell (see photo) and custom bracing. It also has some custom gold-tinted white valve button pearls (not shown in the photo).

If anyone sees this instrument out there please contact me.

The instrument was returned to me at last, safe and sound.

That's good news.

Good that it came back!

Were the bell reinforcements part of a wreck rescue, or were they added for sound improvement?

Klaus

The bell had been rather badly dented, (crushed might be a better word) and was brought back to life by Martin Wilk. Martin felt that the reinforcements would offer some additional protection. That said, I think that they do offer some sonic benefits as well, (the sound is a little "tighter" and doesn't break up as much at higher dynamic levels).

I suspect that a bigger bell with more taper could improve the horn a great deal, but I'm not sure that it could be done without also changing the bottom bow. It's not a bad little horn as it is.

I'm thankful that the tuba was returned in perfect condition, along with it's gig bag, mouthpiece, etc. Good things still happen!

I should also add that the position of the water-key on the main slide was corrected shortly after the photo was taken. Not sure how that was turned around in the first place but Martin Wilk corrected it.

Paul Scott wrote:I suspect that a bigger bell with more taper could improve the horn a great deal, but I'm not sure that it could be done without also changing the bottom bow. It's not a bad little horn as it is.

Sadley Harvey isn’t among us any longer. I have one of his rescues: cornet + tenor trombone joined into a well playing soprano trombone.

Another rescue of his joined the body and stack of an American 3/4 BBb tuba with the flare from a sousaphone. I would have liked to try that one.

Klaus

Fantastic! I don't know why, but I thought of this thread the other day and was wondering whatever became of this horn, so that's great to hear!

Glad it was found/ returned. Relief!