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I've noticed in various threads that numerous people have reformed tubas on this website, so I thought it would be cool if there were a reformed tuba thread to kind of try and catalog these.

If one of these already exist, share me the thread and I will merrily resurrect it.

A thread about reformed Eb tuba players would be much shorter.

I have always liked the dimensions and sound of the York Monster EEb tuba but felt that the .656" valve bore, the leadpipe taper and the small mouthpiece receiver were holding it back as a usable instrument. My conversion involved putting a .687" bore valve section, adding a fifth valve and installing a leadpipe with a less gradual taper than the stock York pipe with a standard American mouthpiece receiver.

The sound is superb. The response is even in all registers and the intonation is excellent. It has played Rite of Spring, Symphony Fantastique, Russian Easter Overture and Franck's Symphony in D minor behind a 100 piece orchestra and a Chicago-trained bass trombonist and had no trouble being heard.

hbcrandy wrote:I have always liked the dimensions and sound of the York Monster EEb tuba but felt that the .656" valve bore, the leadpipe taper and the small mouthpiece receiver were holding it back as a usable instrument. My conversion involved putting a .687" bore valve section, adding a fifth valve and installing a leadpipe with a less gradual taper than the stock York pipe with a standard American mouthpiece receiver.

The sound is superb. The response is even in all registers and the intonation is excellent. It has played Rite of Spring, Symphony Fantastique, Russian Easter Overture and Franck's Symphony in D minor behind a 100 piece orchestra and a Chicago-trained bass trombonist and had no trouble being heard.

Did you keep the horn in EEb?

the elephant wrote:This horn is now owned by another TubeNetter. I have a long thread covering the entire process buried here somewhere...

DAMN that looks good!

I did keep the York tuba in EEb. When I was studying with Paul Krzywicki, Paul came back from a tour to Japan with several Yamha EEb tubas. He recommended that I learn to play EEb tuba. It was cheaper than an F tuba at the time and he thought it worked just as well. I stuck with EEb. Until the Yamaha F tubas, I never found an F tuba that I liked. So, my contrabass tuba has always been CC and my bass tuba has always been EEb.

hbcrandy wrote:I did keep the York tuba in EEb. When I was studying with Paul Krzywicki, Paul came back from a tour to Japan with several Yamha EEb tubas. He recommended that I learn to play EEb tuba. It was cheaper than an F tuba at the time and he thought it worked just as well. I stuck with EEb. Until the Yamaha F tubas, I never found an F tuba that I liked. So, my contrabass tuba has always been CC and my bass tuba has always been EEb.

This is awesome as I am in a position where I too wish to keep My York Monster in EEb as well. I was hoping to make a do it all bass tuba to go with my do it all Rudy 3/4.

This was originally a top-action BBb York. I put a Miraphone 1271 valve section onto it, (still BBb) and replaced the original bell with an identical one from a York Eb that was in better shape. I still like it.

If anyone has an original leadpipe and receiver in decent shape from one of those conversions, I need one. I would also consider a larger "better" replacement, but ideally I want an original. Three valve top action.

Here is a Monster EEb York that I had put together by the Music Shop in Boonton, NJ. It started out as a 3 valve top action. I had a 4 valve set from a York Eb sousaphone added and turned it around. It played very well, and I even played it on it on this Imperial Brass cd:

http://www.imperialbrass.org/playlist_christmas.html" target="_blank" target="_blank



I sold it to Kevin Madden when I decided that EEb was just not for me.

Really enjoying this thread - wish these instruments had been available this side of the pond.

Frank Ortega wrote:Here is a Monster EEb York that I had put together by the Music Shop in Boonton, NJ. It started out as a 3 valve top action. I had a 4 valve set from a York Eb sousaphone added and turned it around. It played very well, and I even played it on it on this Imperial Brass cd:

http://www.imperialbrass.org/playlist_christmas.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank



I sold it to Kevin Madden when I decided that EEb was just not for me.

And it has now been serving me very well playing in brass quintet and a Miles Davis nonet on a cruise ship.

Keep the pictures a'comin, these are all really neat looking horns.


Side note-

I am really liking my York Monster EEB. Ever since I purchased a DW-3 it's like falling in love with it all over again. The C below the staff really resonates on my horn played 3rd valve... if only the others did so easily.

still wonky intonation, but it's not frustrated me yet