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I thought I would share a pretty cool story. I was on a business trip in Idaho Falls this week, happened to take a walk from my hotel to a coffee shop one morning and just walked past a shop window that had big old tuba sitting there, walked up and it had a little plaque telling the story of the horn. A 1914 Holton 3 valve BBb. The best part is it appears that the store keeps the horn in playing shape letting it be heard. The store was closed, or I would have loved to have learned more.

Very cool. Love those old American BATs. And a neat looking piston French horn next to it as well.

Possible to get tons of core without the overblowing?

The owner plays it at tuba Christmas in Idaho falls every year. He would have loved telling you all about it. He also has a four rotary valve bass trombone that he built years ago which is pretty cool.

In a band, it makes more sense. In an orchestra though, we've already got string basses... Bunches of them. Why not go for a different sound?

Sometimes I forget that the woofy sound is what I dislike. The Warren Deck kind of mega power sound from a 6/4 piston tuba is much more pleasing to me. But even then, I'd rather use a rotary tuba and work much less hard to get a more focused sound.

Blah blah blah...

Thanks for posting these photos. I know I would have been very excited as well to walk past something like that during a business trip!