Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
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Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
I plan to buy a Besson student model three-valve E flat or an old Besson 700-series compensating E flat with the 15-inch bell. Where I live, I cannot try the student model, and I have not found a sound demonstration on the internet. Do you think the tone quality would be significantly better on the new student model than on a 50-year-old tuba? By the way, does the Besson 700 series use metal valve guides? Thanks for any advice. Bill
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Re: Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
I personally would go with the Compensating horn. I like having access (full usable access) to the full range that is sometimes called for in our literature. Something to keep in mind, on a 3V Eb A2 is as low as the "true" tones go before entering the false (privileged as some refer to it) and pedal register.
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Re: Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
Morning,
I have a Besson 782 EEb with 19" bell built around 1982, with brass guides.
It is an old warhorse.
I love it.
Smaller bell is better for projection of sound over 19".
Piston valves can be modified to take nylon guides.
I have done a lot of custom work to my horn and plan more.
https://youtu.be/KASsK-A4DH0
Look out on this FB group as 700 series do appear from time to time, especially Carl Mercer and Jenny Thomas are good contacts.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130819023694810
Good luck,
G
I have a Besson 782 EEb with 19" bell built around 1982, with brass guides.
It is an old warhorse.
I love it.
Smaller bell is better for projection of sound over 19".
Piston valves can be modified to take nylon guides.
I have done a lot of custom work to my horn and plan more.
https://youtu.be/KASsK-A4DH0
Look out on this FB group as 700 series do appear from time to time, especially Carl Mercer and Jenny Thomas are good contacts.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130819023694810
Good luck,
G
- Steginkt
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Re: Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
Get the one you can play test
Yamaha Xeno YSL-8820
Willson 3400 Eb
Lyon and Healy Sousaphone
5/4 Rudolf Meinl CC
Wessex trumpet
Willson 3400 Eb
Lyon and Healy Sousaphone
5/4 Rudolf Meinl CC
Wessex trumpet
- joshealejo
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Re: Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
Greetings,GeoffC_UK wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 2:02 am Morning,
I have a Besson 782 EEb with 19" bell built around 1982, with brass guides.
It is an old warhorse.
I love it.
Smaller bell is better for projection of sound over 19".
Piston valves can be modified to take nylon guides.
I have done a lot of custom work to my horn and plan more.
https://youtu.be/KASsK-A4DH0
Look out on this FB group as 700 series do appear from time to time, especially Carl Mercer and Jenny Thomas are good contacts.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130819023694810
Good luck,
G
Does in the UK people take badly if one plays a Yamaha YEB-321?
Thank you!
José
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Re: Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
"Does in the UK people take badly if one plays a Yamaha YEB-321?
Thank you!
José "
Most commonly used tubas in the UK are Besson (Boosey & Hawkes) because until 2000 they were British manufactured.
The market is flooded with them. Almost all amateurs play them.
Yamaha have been selling tubas in UK for a long time, but Besson still is the most popular by a long, long way.
No, anyone playing a Yamaha horn is seen as someone who is not paying a Besson in the UK.
Thank you!
José "
Most commonly used tubas in the UK are Besson (Boosey & Hawkes) because until 2000 they were British manufactured.
The market is flooded with them. Almost all amateurs play them.
Yamaha have been selling tubas in UK for a long time, but Besson still is the most popular by a long, long way.
No, anyone playing a Yamaha horn is seen as someone who is not paying a Besson in the UK.
- joshealejo
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Re: Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
"Most commonly used tubas in the UK are Besson (Boosey & Hawkes) because until 2000 they were British manufactured.
The market is flooded with them. Almost all amateurs play them.
Yamaha have been selling tubas in UK for a long time, but Besson still is the most popular by a long, long way.
No, anyone playing a Yamaha horn is seen as someone who is not paying a Besson in the UK."
Even if we are talking about the non-compensated horn? (sorry if this is a too obvious question)
Thank you!
José
The market is flooded with them. Almost all amateurs play them.
Yamaha have been selling tubas in UK for a long time, but Besson still is the most popular by a long, long way.
No, anyone playing a Yamaha horn is seen as someone who is not paying a Besson in the UK."
Even if we are talking about the non-compensated horn? (sorry if this is a too obvious question)
Thank you!
José
Some stuff
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Re: Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
"Even if we are talking about the non-compensated horn? (sorry if this is a too obvious question)"
Jose,
Most tubas are Bessons in the UK, so most people play compensating horns.
In continental Europe, most people play non-compensating tubas.
The majority of tuba players in the UK play in brass bands.
List of bands: http://www.ibew.org.uk/link01.html
In each band (there are many) there can be up to 6 x tubas: 2 x Bb tenor, 2 x EEb bass tuba, 2 x BBb bass tuba.
All of these tubas 99.9% will be compensating horns.
Almost all bands own the instruments, not the players.
So when you join a band, you are given an instrument on-loan.
I could imagine that in some UK wind bands and school bands there may be non-compensating tubas.
Also, many UK professional tuba players will play non-compensating instruments, but most will have a Besson, too.
I own both. But I use my Besson in brass bands and my Willson for everything else.
Geoff
Jose,
Most tubas are Bessons in the UK, so most people play compensating horns.
In continental Europe, most people play non-compensating tubas.
The majority of tuba players in the UK play in brass bands.
List of bands: http://www.ibew.org.uk/link01.html
In each band (there are many) there can be up to 6 x tubas: 2 x Bb tenor, 2 x EEb bass tuba, 2 x BBb bass tuba.
All of these tubas 99.9% will be compensating horns.
Almost all bands own the instruments, not the players.
So when you join a band, you are given an instrument on-loan.
I could imagine that in some UK wind bands and school bands there may be non-compensating tubas.
Also, many UK professional tuba players will play non-compensating instruments, but most will have a Besson, too.
I own both. But I use my Besson in brass bands and my Willson for everything else.
Geoff
- joshealejo
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Re: Advice about choice of Eb tubas?
Thank you so much for the very detailed information, Sir!GeoffC_UK wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 2:00 am "Even if we are talking about the non-compensated horn? (sorry if this is a too obvious question)"
Jose,
Most tubas are Bessons in the UK, so most people play compensating horns.
In continental Europe, most people play non-compensating tubas.
The majority of tuba players in the UK play in brass bands.
List of bands: http://www.ibew.org.uk/link01.html
In each band (there are many) there can be up to 6 x tubas: 2 x Bb tenor, 2 x EEb bass tuba, 2 x BBb bass tuba.
All of these tubas 99.9% will be compensating horns.
Almost all bands own the instruments, not the players.
So when you join a band, you are given an instrument on-loan.
I could imagine that in some UK wind bands and school bands there may be non-compensating tubas.
Also, many UK professional tuba players will play non-compensating instruments, but most will have a Besson, too.
I own both. But I use my Besson in brass bands and my Willson for everything else.
Geoff
José
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