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Who is this tubist and what make/model tuba is he holding?

It looks like the BMB 6/4 horn to me.

If it's a BMB, it can't be more than 6(?) years old. With all due respect to the tubist (student) and to the manufacturer and designer, I hope that's not what the lacquer finish looks like after a few years' handling.

Perhaps it's a second-hand horn, or a school-owned horn, or a prototype that had been in the hands of many at conferences, exhibits, etc. ...

Can't you buy them in raw brass?

Also, not a great way to hold a tuba!

Looks like the prototype BMB. It was featured a few years back at the Army Conference in raw brass.

bort wrote: Also, not a great way to hold a tuba!

¿ Why not ?

Hup

Stress on the lead pipe - hold the big bows instead. I popped off a brace in my younger days this way.

arpthark wrote:Stress on the lead pipe - hold the big bows instead. I popped off a brace in my younger days this way.

Exactly -- I did this once a long time ago, too. It's the kind of mistake you only make once... although bending and distorting the leadpipe is also possible, and just as bad.

Holding it that way is MUCH better than picking up your euphonium by the tuning slide, which I did when it was only two days new to me.