An interesting jumble of tubes- Besson EEb/BBb tuba

[The Big Ben]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Besson-Recording-Tu ... dZViewItem

What a jumble of tubes! The seller says that it is an EEb/BBb horn. Push a valve and more tubing gets put in to make it play in BBb.

Have a look.

[windshieldbug]

Besson Recording Tuba

I wonder where you put in the blank DVD?

[Kevin Hendrick]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Besson-Recording-Tu ... dZViewItem

What a jumble of tubes! The seller says that it is an EEb/BBb horn. Push a valve and more tubing gets put in to make it play in BBb.

Have a look.

What a novel concept -- three top valves plus a change valve on the side! Looks almost exactly like a compensator. What'll they think of next -- maybe using a "copper-zinc alloy" instead of that common old "brass" stuff?

[windshieldbug]

Besson Recording Tuba

I wonder where you put in the blank DVD?

No, no, no … It is reel-to-reel!

Well, to get a double tuba then, you probably have to swap out the tubes in the amp!

[WakinAZ]

The seller says that it is an EEb/BBb horn. Push a valve and more tubing gets put in to make it play in BBb.

Q: Are you sure the 4th valve changes this to BBb? Typically it would take the key down 7 steps to the key of "F" (duplicating the 1 & 3 valve combination). You're saying this one only drops the tone 3 steps. The tubing coming off the 4th valve appears to be too long. Mar-13-08
A: This model is a compensating horn. Playing first and third transfers the air through a different set of tubing that puts it in tune. The fourth valve changes it to BBb.

I am just amazed at how widespread this "fourth valve=double tuba" misconception is. You see it over and over, especially on eBay. I have a section mate who is under the illusion that the purpose of the flat whole-step fifth valve on his high-priced German rotary CC is to turn it into a BBb when you would need that kind of magic. When I suggested it was really just to improve his lower register intonation, I got a blank look.

Eric "who did not bring up the subject again" L.

[KevinMadden]

I am just amazed at how widespread this "fourth valve=double tuba" misconception is. You see it over and over, especially on eBay. I have a section mate who is under the illusion that the purpose of the flat whole-step fifth valve on his high-priced German rotary CC is to turn it into a BBb when you would need that kind of magic. When I suggested it was really just to improve his lower register intonation, I got a blank look.

Eric "who did not bring up the subject again" L.

Not going to lie.. the first time I saw a CC tuba with 5 valves i thought the same thing... I was in middle school though FWIW.

I had a friend who is a Euph-ist and recently bought her first Euph, its also the first 4 valve (3+1) Euph she's played. She thought that the little cap that holds the fourth valve down when the horn's in its case was for when you wanted to play the horn in F!

[windshieldbug]

I had a friend who is a Euph-ist and recently bought her first Euph, its also the first 4 valve (3+1) Euph she's played. She thought that the little cap that holds the fourth valve down when the horn's in its case was for when you wanted to play the horn in F!

Truth be told, that's what it really IS... the rest of the horn just doesn't play so well in tune then!

[brianggilbert]

I'm ashamed to admit that I once believed this once upon a time...

[Kevin Hendrick]

I had a friend who is a Euph-ist and recently bought her first Euph, its also the first 4 valve (3+1) Euph she's played. She thought that the little cap that holds the fourth valve down when the horn's in its case was for when you wanted to play the horn in F!

Truth be told, that's what it really IS... the rest of the horn just doesn't play so well in tune then!

It works fine, though, as a compact, easy-to-handle-and-transport "substitute alphorn" ...

[WakinAZ]

Actually he's a really nice guy, just a little ignorant about this particular topic. And you lost me on the switch valve thing...nice to see you posting again, btw. When does the Love Boat take off?

[J.c. Sherman]

This is a recording bell version of the typical Besson Imperial Eb. And it is a double tuba - a compensating double in Eb/BBb. Could've been a good value - just need a YEP 321 bell for it.

J.c.S.

[WakinAZ]

I dismissively did not even look at the photos , but yeah there sure is a lotta tubing there, so I guess this is the rare true double tuba. Sheesh, what a maintenance nightmare.

I stand by my earlier comments re: the all-too-common misconceptions re: normal fourth and fifth valves.

Eric "had three fingers pointing back at him" L.

[cjk]

This is a recording bell version of the typical Besson Imperial Eb. And it is a double tuba - a compensating double in Eb/BBb. Could've been a good value - just need a YEP 321 bell for it.

J.c.S.

I agree. 4 valve compensating tubas (and euphs) are double tubas just as much as compensating double french horns are. Maybe that wasn't the goal of the Blaikely compensating system. They were likely not sold as "double tubas" but that is indeed what they actually are.

When you press down the 4th valve on a 4-valve compensating E-flat, it routes the air through another set of ports on the valves, effectively making valves 1-3 BBb length. With the fourth valve down, you now have a 3-valve BBb tuba.


--Christian

[windshieldbug]

Well, horns, regardless of system, are Bb tenor and F bass in length.

But I've never yet seen a "double baritone/tuba horn".
(If I do, I'll bet it will bring "much happy"...)