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For the true equipment fanatics, here's something to make your palms sweat...

Robb Stewart is the Dean of All Things Brass Repair here in Southern California. He created Jim Self's Fluba (http://www.jimself.com/fluba.html) and Selfone (http://www.jimself.com/selfone.html). Here are pixx of the two Yamaha double tubas he "whipped up" for Tommy Johnson. Tommy is shown playing the original, and the hero shot is Robb's second edition, built using Roger Bobo's old 822F.

To the best of my knowledge, the top trigger flips the long switch valve to lengthen the first through fourth valve tuning slides, and simultaneously flips the fifth valve, which is now used to re-route the main bugle through enough tubing to drop the horn's fundamental down to CC.

Perhaps some of the local gentry who've played one of these masterpieces might comment on their experience with the horn(s).

Dont know about these horn s in specific, but Dillons had a Meinl Weston 45SLP that had the same basic idea going on, in which it was primarily an F, with the 5th valve flipping the horn into CC. A petty interesting horn, definitely agreed with Matt that the F side was by far the better horn. But the CC side made it insteresting, especially if you were going to be playing music that jumps octaves a lot.

Can you give the specifications of this horn?

I tried the Roger Bobo's old horn (the 2nd one) and it's a great 822 to start with. It has a brighter, crisper sound, more like an F tuba. The added CC tuba section didn't affect the sound too much from my recollection. The F tuba section's definitely better than the CC tuba part just like the 45slp at Dillon's. But it's a really cool horn though. I actually have been considering selling my 188 Rudyfone and Gronitz F to buy a double tuba since I'm going into composition more.

Tommy's (the first one) is very very dark and tends to sound woofy. I haven't played it and only from what I've heard from Norm and my colleagues. But even if it's on the darker and woofy side, Tommy Johnson still makes it sound crisp or big if he wants to. But that's Tommy.

I sure hope these things have a "CC/F Double Tuba for Dummies" book. Otherwise, I'd be afraid to touch one......Good grief, it looks like the thing has a valve for your valves.

I need a Tylenol and my BBb 186, please.