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My wife and I have been sharing a Besson Sovereign BBb (994) for about 20 years. But neither of us plays enough these days to really enjoy it anymore. It's a lot of work to play a horn that size. We have both, separately, been thinking of talking to the other about downsizing for a few years, but always thought the other was still happy with it.

Our playing these days is mostly duet and trios, and not usually more than a couple times a year (Christmas and 4th of July). We have the Besson, a baritone, tenor horn, and our oldest daughter is on french horn, most of our playing is the three of us on some combination of those instruments. Neither of us expect to be in a band big enough to need the Besson again. But we do still want a tuba to round out our ensemble options (and because we are tuba players). Any suggestions on a smaller horn to replace the Besson?

For some background, in college we played on everything, our college professor was a real believer in trying everything before you bought a horn, over the years he had put together a stable of school horns that he made students cycle through. I loved the Besson because it was the only horn I played that was my size (6'3" with long monkey arms). My wife has to put it on a stool in front of her chair, but she makes it sound great. She still covets a friend's Conn 2J to let you know what her dream horn is (was? we haven't really worried about buying horns in a while, so trying to think about what we want in a different horn is kind of weird). I have fond memories of a Meinl Weston 25 and Cerveny piggy I played in college.

Thanks,
Phillip

Do you want to stay with the same key of tuba, or would be downsizing to an Eb or F work? Since you already like the 3+1 compensating system, a nice Eb tuba might be the ticket.

tbonesullivan wrote:Do you want to stay with the same key of tuba, or would be downsizing to an Eb or F work? Since you already like the 3+1 compensating system, a nice Eb tuba might be the ticket.

Agreed. Or maybe a nice 4/4 CC horn

bloke wrote:The Meinl-Weston 25 is as large as your Besson...but just front-action/rotary.

I also haven't played one of those in almost 20 years, all I remember of it is how freely it blew and what a great sound I got out of it

Re: "dreams"...What about a blend of her dream (2J front-action C tuba) and your dream (rotary tuba, but your dream does NOT define a "downsize"), and (when the right one comes along) buy someone's good/used four-valve Miraphone 186 C tuba ?

I'm not particular about the valves, those were just two examples of other horns I have enjoyed playing in the past.

tbonesullivan wrote:Do you want to stay with the same key of tuba, or would be downsizing to an Eb or F work? Since you already like the 3+1 compensating system, a nice Eb tuba might be the ticket.

Not too particular about the key, we've both played everything in the past, but some of that is a long time ago We will definitely be considering Eb and F horns.

Eastman

Art Hovey wrote:Eastman

What would you recommend by Eastman? I'm not familiar with their full lineup, but what I've seen from them seem to be full size copies of Miraphone and King horns. (I'm not opposed to buying Chinese horns, our tuba professor was an Eastman artist the last few years before he retired, he really loves them, not just for the quality per price, but as good horns in their own right)

I bought a John Packer from someone on this board. Very happy with it.

If you’re considering the Eastman 4/4 CC, you should also consider a used Conn 52, 54, or 56 J and a Gnagey tuba. They are all similar.

bloke wrote:A surprising amount of the weight - with tubas - is two, three, or four extra inches of bell diameter plus the 4th valve piston, casing, and circuit tubing.

It's difficult to reduce a tuba's weight without either eliminating several inches of bell diameter or eliminating the 4th valve.

Definitely makes the YBB 103 an attractive choice. It isn't in production anymore, neither is the Holton stencil. Are there any Chinese clones of the 103?

bloke wrote:I sell a four-valve larger-bore SIMILAR tuba...precisely the same size bell and bows (more like a YBB-621, but NOT a copy of the 621)... very very high-quality, but – of course – heavier than a 103.

Mack Brass also sells a 4 valve version of what looks similar to a Yamaha 103 clone (but with a handy 4th valve.)

http://www.mackbrass.com/TU356L_BB_Tuba.php" target="_blank

I noticed a Conn 2j on your list. Baltimore Brass has a very similar horn, a Conn 3J CC and, by the pictures, it looks pretty nice.

https://www.baltimorebrass.net/index.php?cat=5" target="_blank

I have a brand new Yamaha YFB 3/4 F.

The Eastman EBC-632 is the finest horn I have ever owned, and perhaps ever played. Incredible intonation, great sound. Perfect 4/4 horn. It is, however, not light. There is a nearly identical version, the Model 832, which uses a different valve section and which is a little lighter, but I would not call either horn inexpensive ($6,500-$7,700 new, depending on model and finish ), though far less expensive that its European/Japanese counterparts. You can get a used one for $5,000 or less. Build quality is excellent. If you're looking at a 105, it's a totally different class of instrument.

bloke wrote: When something actually fits the bill, it's rejected for other reasons.

The King fiberglass sousaphones are
- remarkably lightweight
- instruments that play remarkably well in tune (with three-valve limitations)
- instruments that play fully chromatically (because of sousaphone false tones)
- large 4/4 contrabass tubas, with a big full sound

Hmm, I wonder if I could convince her to go for a sousaphone But she never loved marching band as much as I did, so that probably won't fly. But a great idea.

I hate sitting with a sousaphone. If it applies, that's the only serious flaw I see in the concept.

Over here in Europe helicons are gaining a certain popularity again. As far as I know, only Cerveny offers them new. But there are excellent used ones around (and offered for sale) from earlier times, very light weight. You can play them with one hand in the pocket
Hubert