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Recently, I’ve been looking for a horn to buy. As a euphonium player who is looking to play both. I am not exactly looking for a 6/4 horn right away but I still want to be able to resonate well. I’m looking for a 4 valve compensating horn preferably 4 on the front not 3+1 that has a removable bell that can also use a recording bell. I understand that the king 1241 and 2341 fits the criteria however, it doesn’t produce the sound I’m looking for . Any recommendations would be helpful.

Those are not compensating tubas. If you're looking for specifically BBb tubas, I don't know of a current compensating instrument with front valves; Besson used to make one, but it's long discontinued. There are a ton with 3+1 valves. There are a few compensating Eb's with front valves, a couple from Besson, one from Wessex, some from Eastman, and likely several more I don't know about.

It might be a good idea to de-prioritize compensating valve systems - they're less common on contrabass tubas, so it's going to put a severe limit on your selection, while you're dealing with finding the sound you're looking for.

For anyone looking for a tuba - tell us where you are. Sweden? Oregon? Australia? It really could make a difference in whether the conversation leads to any useful outcome. You can do that permanently in the "User Control Panel" at the top of the page, or you can just mention it in a post.

zanebenziger27 wrote:Recently, I’ve been looking for a horn to buy. As a euphonium player who is looking to play both. I am not exactly looking for a 6/4 horn right away but I still want to be able to resonate well. I’m looking for a 4 valve compensating horn preferably 4 on the front not 3+1 that has a removable bell that can also use a recording bell. I understand that the king 1241 and 2341 fits the criteria however, it doesn’t produce the sound I’m looking for . Any recommendations would be helpful.

I don´t think the horn you describe, exists. You should however look at an Eb tuba, for instance a Besson, they are compensating but has the 3+1 valve configuration. Front valve tubas are not compensating, to my knowledge. There are also the big Bb tubas with a compensating system, but it also depends on what key you read as a euph player, since Bb tubists often have to play bass clef music in concert key, which means transposing.

oleirgens wrote:I don´t think the horn you describe, exists. You should however look at an Eb tuba, for instance a Besson, they are compensating but has the 3+1 valve configuration. Front valve tubas are not compensating, to my knowledge. There are also the big Bb tubas with a compensating system, but it also depends on what key you read as a euph player, since Bb tubists often have to play bass clef music in concert key, which means transposing.

There are some Front Action 4 valve compensating Eb tubas, Wessex makes one, as does Eastman.

However they are all upright bells, without a detachable bell. Recording bells really are out, as are removable bells.

There are some interesting 4 and 5 valve Eb’s at Baltimore Brass you should look at.

bloke wrote:yeah...They're mentioned B-flat tubas in their post, so...

Yeah, I did notice that, but if they want something compensating, that's probably never going to happen. I don't think I've ever seen a compensating front action Bb. I'm honestly still surprised they made a front action compensating Eb, but in the end an Eb has much more of a need for it in the lower registers.

Besson made front action compensating B flats.There was one here in town and although I saw it, I never tried it. And I don't know if they are still in production. Ed