LS: York 6/4

[Alex C]

Has anyone compared this to the somewhat more common Martin Mammoth 6/4, 3 valves, .750 bore, 24" bell forward? I would think they have similar characteristics, but still, I wonder...

Even though the large Martins and other large tubas look similar, they are totally different animals. As mentioned, the Martin bore was quite a bit smaller. While both are good manufacturers, the end result if different and they play differently as well. While I prefer playing on the Yorks, there is nothing wrong with a big old Martin.

[TubaZac2012]

Has anyone compared this to the somewhat more common Martin Mammoth 6/4, 3 valves, .750 bore, 24" bell forward? I would think they have similar characteristics, but still, I wonder...

Even though the large Martins and other large tubas look similar, they are totally different animals. As mentioned, the Martin bore was quite a bit smaller. While both are good manufacturers, the end result if different and they play differently as well. While I prefer playing on the Yorks, there is nothing wrong with a big old Martin.

Really? Because the pictures I've seen of Martins look HUGE, like a bore of .900, joking of course, but you know what I mean. They look like they're massive. I may add one of those to my collection, eventually. They look pretty sweet.

[Frank Ortega]

For your perusal, here is an original 1931 Martin Handcraft 6/4 BBb next to a 6/4 CC Nirschl/York



These horns are nearly identical. And, when listening to several major players from Chicago and abroad, play on a lineup of BBb tubas with the Chicago York CC, and including a BBb 6/4 York, the Martin, with it's smaller valves, was closest in tone and timbre to the CC York, in the estimation of Several other tubeneters and I who were there at Carnegie, on those days. (This is perhaps the longest run-on sentence that I've ever written!)

IMHO - the smaller valve set allows for a more nimble and responsive instrument with great projection. Can't wait to play Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet on the Martin with the Chelsea Symphony next month!

Just my 2 cents - FWIW

Frank

[Walter Webb]

What is the bore size of the big York? The Mammoth Martin is .750"

[Walter Webb]

Just for the halibut, regarding bore sizes, I went to my early 60s Martin Mammoth [has the RMC shield on the bell, 24' removable bell, bell throat 8" across] and pulled a few slides to measure. They are all 3/4" in diameter. Did I do that right, to get bore size? The main slide starts at 13/16", and goes to 7/8".

When I first got this Martin, it played horribly stuffy, which is why it was only $1100. The seller was honest enough to warn me, but I took a risk, thinking it probably had a dead mouse in the tubing. Thanks to some kindly Martin experts around here, I learned to get the valve stems lengthened and the ports aligned. It was wayyy off. Somebody had done a piston plating job and put it back together with the wrong stems! It played just good enough, I guess, that nobody complained. Now, it feels very responsive and all notes speak loud and clear. At full volume, this horn is seismic. The windows rattle. It is unmanageably heavy and awkward to play. I've got it in a Wenger Tuba Tamer and can handle that if I sit directly behind it. It is a very long reach to the pistons. I need a longer arm, but if I rotate the tuba forward enough, my thumb enters the ring just right. There's more to the story, involving the skills of Martin Wilks, but maybe I'll move this to the right TubeNet section. If you get the Giant York, please tell us all about it!

[apsapienza]

This is the York tuba sitting in my music shop in my town that needs to be restored.

Small world, I know exactly which horn you're talking about - I was on the road two summers ago, and I stopped in that music store for oil or something and saw it just sitting there. First York I'd actually ever saw in person. Can't remember the name of the music store though :/

[TubaZac2012]

This is the York tuba sitting in my music shop in my town that needs to be restored.

Small world, I know exactly which horn you're talking about - I was on the road two summers ago, and I stopped in that music store for oil or something and saw it just sitting there. First York I'd actually ever saw in person. Can't remember the name of the music store though :/

Couldn't have been Alabama Music, could it?

[bort]

Hey Zac -- did you get it yet?

[TubaZac2012]

Hey Zac -- did you get it yet?

No. I've called everyday. I know Greyhound is getting tired of me calling, but it's been nearly a week, I'm beginning to get worried. Right when I get it I'll post a video, most definitely. In fact the first notes will be recorded!

[Donn]

but it's been nearly a week

Greyhound requires more patience than this. Delivery time for a large item can vary rather dramatically. Most (not all) accounts testify to relatively low damage rates, but reliable fast delivery does not seem to be the reason to go Greyhound.