TubeNet

Reading about Jim Self’s 1938 York CC restored by Lee Stofer and some of the subsequent posts, I noted mention of similar instruments made with a detachable bell.

TubaAS wrote:FWIW, Lee has another York original CC, similar to this one, but no 5th valve yet, and it had a detachable upright bell.

That got me wondering. Why detachable bells? Was there an intent to switch back and forth with bell-fronts? Was it for ease of transportation? (Seems two cases would be more challenging than just one, but only a thought.) Any noticeable/discernable affect on the sound of the instrument in having a bell that is not “hard mountedâ€

Why detachable bells?

My old Beuscher Aristocrat euphonium has a detachable bell. Just recently I needed to share music and my bell was facing towards the other player, easy fix, loosen the three knurled screws and rotate the bell. Come to think about it I have rotated it a few times depending on which side of the stage I was sitting at.

I know it makes my life easier. If my horn didn't have a detachable/rotatable (is that a word?) bell, theres no way I'd be able to git it in a gig bag.

[quote="JB"]That got me wondering. Why detachable bells? Was there an intent to switch back and forth with bell-fronts? Was it for ease of transportation? (Seems two cases would be more challenging than just one, but only a thought.) Any noticeable/discernable affect on the sound of the instrument in having a bell that is not “hard mountedâ€

Migght it also have something to do with repairs?

When i was marching corps back in the day, we had Kanstul Grande Tubas. Two guys fell one day, and they sent those two bells (the horns had detachable bells) orr to get refurbished rather than the whole horn.

Mark

I wouldn't be suprised if many trombones, especially bass trombones, begin to be offered with detachable screw bells. Airplane security after 9/11 is so unpredictable that many people have a hard time getting their instruments on board. A screw bell creates the option of having an extremely streamlined flat case which would be easier to fit in smaller overhead compartments. It's funny how historical events can influence instrument design for a 500 year old instrument.

Our school bought a couple MWs back in the day with upright and front-facing bells. The front-facing bells were only for performances in the main concert hall, which had a "blackhole" area right where the tubas sat. You could have seven tubas back there and not hear a one unless they were playing FFF! (as was the case in our concert on Sunday)


-heads

I love my King,bell front,detachable.I mike the tuba with a Schure SM-57 mike on a tripod stand with a boom.I have to sit on the guitarists right to see his left hand to tell what key he's in and his right hand to get the rythm (spelling?)-especially that last "oomp"at the end of the song.
Various stage configurations dictate where I can set the boom stand.All I have to do is rotate the bell until it lines up with the mike.So neat!

jacobg wrote:I wouldn't be suprised if many trombones, especially bass trombones, begin to be offered with detachable screw bells.

I had one of the few Holton TR-281 factory screw-bell bass trombones. The screw bell did perform a little differently than a stock horn. On the plus side, the threaded brass collar soldered to each side added a little more weight to the bell and helped keep the sound together at louder volumes. On the minus side, the bell had a rather inconsistent response with some notes tending to ring out considerably more than others. With the current fanaticism over trombone bells (Edwards and Shires have more flavors than Baskin Robbins; covering every conceivable gauge, brass alloy, and rim) I highly doubt that they are going to start slicing their mega-buck bells in half and soldering on collars. FWIW, I am much happier with the response from my non-screwbell Getzen 1062 bell at all ends of the dynamic and frequency spectrum than on the old Holton.

Off topic, one has to wonder why Mirafone or someone else hasn't come up with the option for 50 different bells on their 4/4 CC. If it sells trombones....

But Doc, in keeping with the original topic of this thread, is yours detachable???

I don't think tuba bells would be as profitable as trombone bells. I mean, how much do the trombone bells run for? With current trombone-tuba prices, you could probably get 2.5 trombone bells for the price of one tuba bell... I just don't see as many people going for it on tuba.

Ah, the humor reminds me of the defininition of "men" as being "larger little boys" as opposed to "grown-up boys." Seems the humor stays the same! If I hadn't had little brothers I probably wouldn't get it, but I do get it and think it's funny.

BTAIM, re screw bells on (french) horns: my horn is a screw-bell for a couple of reasons. One is so that I can carry it on when I fly. The other is so that I can use a different bell for different situations. The horn body does have some effect on the sound, but the effect of the bell is in a much bigger ballpark. I was amazed at the improvement of my horn when I switched to a different bell. Much easier and cheaper than purchasing an entire other horn, especially since the ergonomics on the one I have a perfect.

MA