Old rotor tuba cheap, v.2.0

[Heavy_Metal]

Have you found the serial number? Often these are stamped into the mouthpiece receiver.......

[Minkrott]

There is no number on the receiver or receiver ring. There is a "2" stamped on the receiver brace where it meets the receiver, and a "1" stamped on each of the rotor casings.

The reason I am asking what it is worth is because it plays flat with the main slide pushed in. It's the same with a Bach 18 mouthpiece. The 3rd and 4th rotors are slightly out of alignment. I can barely lip it up. I don't know if cleaning and rotor adjustment will fix that, or how much I should limit repair costs to a technician.

Here's one that sold for a grand on eBay 2 weeks ago. http://www.ebay.com/itm/GERMAN-BBb-BRAS ... 7675.l2557" target="_blank . It has better lacquer, a name, and bell wring. I'm thinking I need to stay under $500 total investment.

[Pat S]

Ah, that's the age-old question... What's it worth commercially vs. what it's worth to YOU!

[Heavy_Metal]

These horns usually have very good intonation. I'm not enough of a tech to be able to say if mis-aligned rotors can make a horn play flat, but if so that's usually a pretty easy fix.........

[Minkrott]

So far I ran warm water through the mouthpiece, and drained out at the tuning slide. Lots of gunk. I took out the rotors and cleaned with CLR. I connected a hose at the tuning slide and ran hot water for several minutes to make sure there were no blockages. I shimmed the rotor bumpers with newspaper to align them exact. After all this, it still plays flat. I tried both mouthpieces in my MW 20, and they work fine, the GBH is slightly flatter due to the larger shank, but still in tune at 1.5 inches on it. I think the problem may be the dent in the third leg where I hold it. I am about ready to shorten the tuning slide by an inch. If it is the dent or worn rotors, this should resolve it. Would that be a mistake?

[Levaix]

My Sonora plays flat. I always figured it was because of the smaller size receiver (standard American shank sticks out a little extra). If it's warm enough outside it plays just fine.

[Heavy_Metal]

This was posted in another thread but may explain this situation too (italics/underline added for emphasis):

A bit of background on Scherzer:

In ca 1900 there was an excellent instrument maker (among many..)in Markneukirchen called "Rino Werkstätte" by its owner, Emil Knoth. His son Kurt Knoth took over in 1935. In the mid 1960s Knoth retired, although I believe some instruments carried his name until the mid 70s and his workshop was taken over by his nephew Johannes Scherzer(he recently turned 80) whos workshop was later "integrated" in the mid 1980s into what became known as B&S. Many fine instruments came out of Scherzer's workshop including several CC tubas. Like many tubas from Markneukirchen in the 60s, it was tuned a bit flat to our modern ears hence the shortened tuning slide on this example. ......
cheers
2165

[Minkrott]

This was posted in another thread but may explain this situation too (italics/underline added for emphasis):

A bit of background on Scherzer:
..... Like many tubas from Markneukirchen in the 60s, it was tuned a bit flat to our modern ears hence the shortened tuning slide on this example. ......
cheers
2165

Thanks!!! The thread also mentions another BBb that had the tuning slide shortened, so that makes me more inclined to do the same. Now I need to find a small hacksaw...

[Minkrott]

I've had this exactly one week. I trimmed the tuning slide and peened the linkages. It plays nice. Just need to solder a couple of braces and cork a couple of rotors, and it will be ready to try out at community band.

[Heavy_Metal]

Looks good- let us know how it does in rehearsal. I bet you really get to like this .

[Pat S]

I admire a person willing to take a hacksaw to their tuba. Did you mount the attack with gusto or trepidation?

[The Big Ben]

It cleaned up pretty nice! Have fun playing it! It would be really fun to have a vintage tuba which played well, both sonically and mechanically.

[Minkrott]

...Did you mount the attack with gusto or trepidation?

I was not concerned about damaging it. I approached it as hopeful to make it useful in a group setting.

[MartyNeilan]

I think you got your money's worth and then some!

[Minkrott]

I polished it up with Mother's Maag and Aluminum Polish and used it at community band the last two weeks. The valves are quiet and I really like the sound. It performs very well in both the high and low ranges. Now I just need to figure out how to put a small patch on a crack in the bell.

[Pat S]

I polished it up with Mother's Maag and Aluminum Polish and used it at community band the last two weeks. The valves are quiet and I really like the sound. It performs very well in both the high and low ranges. Now I just need to figure out how to put a small patch on a crack in the bell.

It's gorgeous... glad it plays well!