Stranger Than Expected (Horn dorn)

[bigtubby]

So I looked at a beautiful tuba the other day. Didn't have any tools (quartz tuner, measuring tools, etc.) and in a situation where the owner had left it with a repairman who wasn't going to make any $$$ on the deal. Couldn't really play it with broken strings, etc. but it sounded simply wonderful just hooting on the fundamentals. Decided that I needed to own it and made the owner an offer. It's sort of a strange horn with a very unusual wrap, HUGE bugle but only 38" long overall.

One thing that looked odd to me from my cell phone photos was the length of the first and second valve circuits - they looked ... well, too long but what key other than BBb would a tuba built for the U.S. market be? _maybe_ CC but that would mean shorter valve circuits.

At home now and playing it against a quartz tuner, it is in EEb. Not as in Eb spelled wrong but a contrabass Eb tuba. The first valve circuit is roughly 47" long and the second roughly 24". Sure is a beauty though and maybe will make me get my Eb chops together.

From my cell phone pix a couple of guys whose knowledge I trust suggested that it is probably a 1920's Bohland & Fuchs. The "Czecho-Slovakia" stamp in the mouthpiece receiver would support this. Any other ideas on pedigree?

[TheHatTuba]

Wow, what a find! Congrats on the new beast!

[Dan Schultz]

Whoaaaa.... when you emailed me pictures of that tuba yesterday I did not notice how long the tuning circuits were! You obviously have something that's 'just a little different'! What is a rough measurement of the open bugle? Maybe 25 feet?

[k001k47]

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At home now and playing it against a quartz tuner, it is in EEb. Not as in Eb spelled wrong but a contrabass Eb tuba. The first valve circuit is roughly 47" long and the second roughly 24". Sure is a beauty though and maybe will make me get my Eb chops together.
" s

So. . .Is it a pocket sub contrabass tuba? Cool!

[Donn]

Wow indeed. That doesn't happen very often. Keep us posted. I guess you already have some idea how it will sound.

[bigtubby]

Whoaaaa.... when you emailed me pictures of that tuba yesterday I did not notice how long the tuning circuits were! You obviously have something that's 'just a little different'! What is a rough measurement of the open bugle? Maybe 25 feet?

Yes. This thing makes the York Monsters look like toys. lol

I've been threatening to brush up on Eb fingerings so I can use the Yorks, guess this is some serious incentive.

[Mark E. Chachich]

One of my former teachers (David Bragunier) told me about this kind of tuba. He once showed me a mouthpiece that he had for one of those tubas, it looked like a kitchen funnel to me. All I can say is WOW!

many happy years with the Beast!
Mark

[eupher61]

Please take it to Akron Tuba Christmas or TubaSummer!!!!

[bisontuba]

Great acquisition- congratulations!
Mark

[Greg Lecewicz]

Communistic Cerveny from Kraslice from the 60-70's. Amati-Kraslice for Carl Fisher.

[Heavy_Metal]

Videos! We need videos!

[bort]

Awesome find! It's a beautiful and ugly all at once. Love it!

[Wyvern]

What is the valve bore, bell size and height? And how does it play?

Quite incredible find!

[bort]

It also looks like it's never been used, it's in incredible condition. Perhaps a clue about the playability or usefulness of an EEEb tuba? Maybe it's an air hog?

Either way, it's super cool!

[Ben]

That's a great looking EEb! I love looking at the 3rd and 4th branches, and seeing how thick they are. Quite a great little find. That looks much more playable than those FF's out there. How heavy is it?

[bisontuba]

FF tubas? What FF tubas ? A contrabass FF tuba ?
Mark

[Ben]

I was <erroneously!> referring to this:

[bisontuba]

Ahhhhhh....
Mark

[UDELBR]

This is sooo cool! Deeply envious. Wish I could get a chance to honk on it . . .

[bigtubby]

So. . .Is it a pocket sub contrabass tuba? Cool!

Haha, I like that!

What is the valve bore, bell size and height? And how does it play?

Quite incredible find!

Bore .800" ~ 20.3mm
Bell 18"
Height 38"
Weight 26.2 lbs.

It plays well for what it is, I bought it thinking that it was a large but potentially nimble BBb. The valves that were still strung had quite short travel like my similarly laid out J. Low kaiser.

"Nimble" is not a term that springs to mind while playing it but it has a beautiful and resonant voice.

It also looks like it's never been used, it's in incredible condition. Perhaps a clue about the playability or usefulness of an EEEb tuba? Maybe it's an air hog?

Either way, it's super cool!

It is in exceptionally good shape, especially for a school (well, university) horn. There are a couple of whangs in the small side of the bottom bow and a very few inconsequential dings here and there. Valves hold very well with substantial pop.

It doesn't seem to need more air than my full size BBb's in the same ranges, it is very resonant. New-like valves probably help those both.