TubeNet

Here's one:

http://www.jestaedt-instrumente.de/frame.htm

(from the "frame" page, click on Produkte, then scroll down to Tübchen, and then click on Modell 82)

schlepporello wrote:Besson made a 3-valve BBb that was smaller than a Yamaha YBB-103. Bach made one that was a hair smaller than that. I have no idea what the model numbers were on either though. As for new production horns, I haven't seen any.

In that size range I own one of these - someone listed it on ebay as a baritone so bought it for a lark:
http://www.wwbw.com/Amati-ABB-223-Series-3-Valve-3-4-BBb-Tuba-464433-i1422528.wwbw

It plays quite well with surprisingly good timbre.

This thread led me to a couple of youtube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU4IPdYE-FM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cfkB_m9jhc

Aside from some tasty bass lines, check out that little tuba!!! If Jin Bao could make a decent copy of that I would buy it in a heartbeat!

schlepporello wrote:Besson made a 3-valve BBb that was smaller than a Yamaha YBB-103. Bach made one that was a hair smaller than that. I have no idea what the model numbers were on either though. As for new production horns, I haven't seen any.

Besson 787 or similar? I have one- not a bad little horn for what it is. Certainly easy to carry when you have to stand up, which is the main reason I got it.

Garsh!

KiltieTuba wrote: his probably had more thought behind it, rather than "hey! these look like they might fit together... and I have all this extra tubing... might work for something I can play while I'm stuck in rush-hour traffic on Interstate 5, on the way to practice!"

Plus, because his looks like an actual instrument, he won't get a bunch of strange looks from the conductor.

I think my next one should be silver plated. It's quite inspirational!

I've actually used your mini tuba A LOT more than I expected. Basically, anytime our family goes anywhere for more than a few days, I'll take it along. I found a large-bore bass trombone practice mute that fits it perfectly, and I've successfully played it with the mute while someone was sleeping without waking them up. It's also great for marching season so I don't have to leg the sousaphone home anymore. I've even performed a few short solos on it as a novelty and brought it to a few band rehearsals to freak out our director !
I think with a couple of improvements on the 'prototype' design, a piston tornister tuba could be very marketable!