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Just curious, I wonder if anyone has done (or has thought about) a screw-bell conversion (like for horns/some trombones) for a tuba with a wide bell or with a tall bell stack.
It's probably impractical/risky, but it's interesting to think about.

I forget details but, it has been done.

I'm curious as to what kind of horn underwent that type of surgery.

Is this what you mean ? - https://www.kanstul.com/up-up-and-away- ... ing-tubas/

Up, up and away with the new Kanstul Flying Tubas - " The 903/5B (in BBb) and the 904/5C (in C) feature a threaded, removable bell, and pack into a custom-designed, wheeled SKB iSeries Waterproof Case, providing the ultimate in tuba protection and portability. "

Baadsvik had Miraphone do this for one of his Eb tubas.

Is this what you mean ? - https://www.kanstul.com/up-up-and-away- ... ing-tubas/" target="_blank

Up, up and away with the new Kanstul Flying Tubas - " The 903/5B (in BBb) and the 904/5C (in C) feature a threaded, removable bell, and pack into a custom-designed, wheeled SKB iSeries Waterproof Case, providing the ultimate in tuba protection and portability. "

Yes. I'm just curious as to how effective it is regarding travel, and if it has an effect on how the horn plays.

bort wrote:Baadsvik had Miraphone do this for one of his Eb tubas.

The one I have seen is not screw-on: The two bell-parts fit on each-other like a detacheable bell, three screws each to hold them in place.

B&S has done a similar thing for Alessandro Fossi 's F tuba:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeEUat3XWvI

Not all that hard to do, IF you have a metal lathe which is large enough and able to do internal and external screw cutting. A Dremel rotary tool mounted so that it can go around the bell to make the cut; with either the bell being turned or the mototool being moved is the other requisite.


It could mean being able to use a smaller hard case for transport.

As for the effect on playing, not something I would try to predict. In the past at least one tuba maker installed "tone rings" with effects that different players did or did not like. It would probably be much like having a detachable bell. I did find that when I converted my King 2041 to fixed bell it made an improvement in that particular instrument.

oedipoes wrote:

bort wrote:Baadsvik had Miraphone do this for one of his Eb tubas.

The one I have seen is not screw-on: The two bell-parts fit on each-other like a detacheable bell, three screws each to hold them in place.

B&S has done a similar thing for Alessandro Fossi 's F tuba:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeEUat3XWvI

You're right -- my mistake!

oedipoes wrote:B&S has done a similar thing for Alessandro Fossi 's F tuba:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeEUat3XWvI" target="_blank" target="_blank

That design looks quite fiddley, probably not much more so than a screw bell that size though.
The big advantage is those rings look like they were probably made on a CNC milling machine, not a lathe. Much easier that way, no distortion from work holding, no ginourmous threads to cut.
Also since there are only 3 engagement points around the diameter, much less worry about distortion from torch heat during installation or from damage.

Somewhere out there in the world is a tuba that I have seen where the entire bell (not just the flair) threads into the bottom bow ferrule and is removed/installed as one piece. The leadpipe is detachable as is the bell-to-top-bow brace. Nothing else was supported by or braced to the bell.

I do not have a photo of this and don't remember exactly where I saw it...it's been years. Somebody out there went to a lot of trouble to make it. It was a small tuba - does this ring a bell (ha!) with anyone?