Could I convert a 3/4 or 4/4 BBb rotary tuba into an F...?

[Tigerreydelaselva]

Hello everybody...
I would like to know if I buy an old small BBb tuba I would like to convert to an F Tuba because for BBb tuba...ok my mind...what's that's the 5/4 and 6/4 horns for...
B&S Horns are very similar size of some BBb horns because...I would have the possibility finding a Bohland 3/4 and...I don't like small BBs so much...
Regards.

[Ken Crawford]

It will cost more than buying an actual F tuba and won't be as good.

[The Big Ben]

A post on cutting an Eb tuba to F is on Noted TubeNet Personality Rick Denney's web site. If the prospect of a cutting project intrigues you, have a look. Money and success wise, an Eb to F project makes sense.

http://www.rickdenney.com/cutting_Eb_tuba.htm" target="_blank

[WC8KCY]

I'm scratching my head here. There are scores of E-flat tubas in all sizes and configurations gathering dust that could be turned into someone's first F tuba.

Seems to me that a vintage high-pitch (A=452 HZ) E-flat would be a particularly good starting point for a cut to F.

[WC8KCY]

If someone were to consider such a project viable (responding to immediately-previous post) some of the ancient Eb tubas that offer non-stinky bugle intonation are the SMALL 5/8" (.625") bore Conn/Elkhart Eb tubas from the 1920's.
MOST old Eb tuba bugles (from that era) offer stinky intonation...particularly most of the large ones.

I once encountered a very early "The Buescher" E-flat (S/N 200) that tuned very nicely. It, too, was a small-bore, compact instrument.

[pjv]

Just keep your eyes open for a Yamaha 822. The Intonation is good (depending on the year). It’s not the best in tune F but probably the best in this size (which is what you wanted, a big F) and a lot of professionals are happy with it.

[Frank Ortega]

I always wondered if the King 1135/40 would make a good F tuba body.
I'd imagine this would be more successful if you snagged a compatible Eb top bow to cut with it so the taper would be closer to an f.
Probably too much work to bother, though.