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Hi all! I play a lot of sousaphone gigs. But I live in a very small space. I’d like to get a front action 3 valve BBb tuba to practice on, that won’t take up the entire corner of the hallway I can practice in. I play CC for my concert horn, so I’m not looking into getting anything high end. Just an affordable BBb I can practice on. It can be 4 valves I just don’t need the fourth valve. I’m not in any rush to make a purchase but I’d appreciate recommendations for front action BBb’s I should keep an eye out for. As of now all I know I should keep an eye out for are Yamaha 103’s.

Thanks for any advice.

King
Conn 12J
Olds O-99

The King is more like a sousa but takes up more space.
The Conns and Olds are smaller but still very good and often inexpensive on Ebay.

sugawi wrote:https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3878910167

That's one of the first I've seen in awhile which has a more realistic price (499.99). Someone said that Yamaha 103s are nice little horns and the price went through the roof. This same seller also has a Conn 5J ($999.99) and a King 1240/2340 ($599.99) at reasonable prices. The 1240/2340 is a 1241/2341 with three valves. I like the recording bell of the King for some occasions and situations but found handling it and getting around with it was a little clumsy. They take top more space, too, They need to be laid down on their back or put in a stand not just stood on the bell and eased into a corner. Upright bells are available but that's more money and good ones are not cheap.

What make/model/era sousaphone do you usually play? Reason for asking: for example, if you play a King souzy, then a King 3-valve tuba is a natural fit, especially if it has the recording bell, because the two instruments have the same bore and have a similar response due to the similar construction. That might help the TNFJ recommend a tuba for you.

I play a 1933 King but I don’t need it to feel the same or have similar characteristics. This is more for my ear and fingers. If I have a new tune I need to memorize, or to play with recordings, it would be helpful to have a horn that’s producing the same pitch with finger combinations as I’ll be playing with my band. I’ve used my baritone or my euphonium in the past. That has been a useful trick if I just need to memorize something quickly. But it’s just not the same as playing in the right octave.

There is a nice, cheap Jupiter King 1140 copy at Baltimore Brass on line...

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=92390" target="_blank" She's a good little player. 12J Conn. Can ship greyhound for about 75 bucks.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Couesn ... 100623.m-1" target="_blank