Vintage Eb tuba fans...

[Donn]

How far does it extend the receiver?

[windshieldbug]

How far does it extend the receiver?

Since many of these tubas are in High Pitch, it may be enough to tune to 440 with the original tuning slide (pulled FAR out)!

[bisontuba]

Excellent--Matt does it again!!!
Mark

[Donn]

It seems to extend the system about the same length as what a mouthpiece would go into a receiver. So, not a whole bunch.

Well, a standard shank doesn't really go in any appreciable depth, in my Eb, so there'd be for sure a little over an inch extra, maybe 1½ inch accounting for thickness of the adapter?

[ghmerrill]

Interesting. I'm not sure I'd want to use it as a permanent solution (though I'm also not sure I wouldn't). But it might well be worth the $25 just to be able to try a bunch of mouthpieces in the horn, even if you then decide to replace the receiver.

From the image, it does appear that it would extend the length of the instrument by an inch or probably a bit more. On a high pitch instrument, this would help (but probably not quite "enough"). On a low pitch instrument, it might well (in the case of A=435 or 438) put you far enough in the hole that you'd be way out. Since when I cut my horn down I cut it a bit sharp, this might work very well.

Since I've been contemplating getting the torch out and replacing the receiver, I just ordered one of these. Either it will work great and I'll just use it, or it will work enough to show me that the Denis Wick 5 I've been using is the best I can do, or it will work okay and show me it's worth replacing the receiver for a different mouthpiece -- which looks like a good investment.

[ghmerrill]

This arrived today and I've been experimenting with a few mouthpieces I have.

First, it's not a tight fit in the receiver of the 1924 Buescher. It rattles around a bit. However, it is virtually a perfect fit in the receiver of my Mack Brass euphonium. I surmise that either the Buescher receiver was made a bit oversize or else enlarged due to wear over the years. A single wrap of electrical on the shank yields a tight fit.

Thus inserted, it extends the receiver about 1 1/2". In a receiver where it fits perfectly, it will extend it about 1 5/16".

I am shocked to discover that the use of this device has not eliminated all the intonation issues on my horn. However, it otherwise works extremely well and in fact, with mouthpieces I can now use, does appear to eliminate some of the intonation issues.

I currently have only three mouthpieces worth trying with this. The PT-63 is definitely not a winner. The Schilke 66 is acceptable and produces better sound and intonation than does the Wick 5 I've been using, but oddly sounds a bit stuffy. The current winner is my Miraphone TU-17. Not altogether surprising since the Kelly 25 that I turned the shank down on produces nice-sounding results but with intonation issues. However, the TU-17 both sounds very good and doesn't seem to induce intonation problems by itself (meaning that the 3rd valve combinations are still what you might expect). False tones seem a bit improved. So I think I'll be abandoning the Wick 5 and going with the adapter and the TU-17.

The adapter arrived with a printed insert that said "DILLON AS2 for tuba $49.95". This was initially a bit shocking, but my emailed invoice shows the web price of $25 (plus shipping). I think it's a bargain.

[ghmerrill]

Matt:

Thanks. It is indeed a modest investment, and seemingly quite a bit of effort with a lathe (and finishing, and plating) in order to produce something that in the end just looks like a little tube . However, I was reflecting on what it would take to make it (including the two colinear tapers, one inside) and decided that probably I wouldn't want to do it for $50.

I will ultimately decide whether I want to replace the receiver on this horn, but I may just decide to keep it original and continue to use the adapter. Also, you never know when I may come across another old Eb tuba.

"... more people than I would have guessed in my wildest dreams ... I can't make this stuff up ..." Yeah, I know. A lot of people just want stuff to work, apparently by magic.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Just got one to use on old Eb saxhorns--what a great item. Very nice...
Mark

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Just got one to use on old Eb saxhorns--what a great item. Very nice...
Mark

In under the wire... Sounds like you may have landed one of the last ones.

The LAST one....

[ghmerrill]

So now we have collector's items? I'm not selling.

[bisontuba]

So now we have collector's items? I'm not selling.

Apparently so. Me neither...

I guess so----it's a keeper.....

[ghmerrill]

Should have got them autographed by the artiste.