The Yamaha YBB-103 Thread

[schmediummonchichi]

Might as well keep this thread going.

I've had a 103 for about 12 years now. I always used horns provided by my schools (minored in music in college, never felt the need to spend thousands more when I could always borrow a good enough one at school). I wanted to attempt to keep playing occasionally after school, and saw an ad for a 103 on craigslist for ~$600. I ended up buying it and still have it.

The only group I've played it in is a local British brass band. People are always surprised by the amount of sound that comes out of it despite being a 3/4 size, 3 valve BBb tuba. The lack of a fourth (or fifth) valve is limiting sometimes on Bb bass parts for British brass, but I just take the upper split on any divisi notes or take things up an octave if I can't get a good enough false tone.

I also have a Buescher 3 valve Eb for when I play the Eb bass part. I've also been reading treble clef almost exclusively since finishing college and playing only in the British brass group. Recently I started doing some quintet playing and I now use my Eb to play bass clef parts.

All that being said, I'm thinking about selling both my YBB-103 and Buescher Eb to put some money toward a 4 / 5 valve Eb.