Advice about choice of Eb tubas?

[willako]

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

[DouglasJB]

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.

[GeoffC_UK]

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

[Steginkt]

Get the one you can play test

[joshealejo]

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

Greetings,

Does in the UK people take badly if one plays a Yamaha YEB-321?

Thank you!
José

[GeoffC_UK]

"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.

[joshealejo]

"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

[GeoffC_UK]

"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

[joshealejo]

"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

Thank you so much for the very detailed information, Sir!
José