Buescher Eb thoughts?

Bandmaster · Post by **Bandmaster** » Sat May 13, 2006 5:41 am

bloke wrote: For $1500 - $2000, you can pick up (if you bide your time) a nice, useable YEP-321. For $5000 (rarely-offered, but out there there occasionally) you can pick up a Willson 3200.

Not exactly "old" tubas, but each has a good reputation. But of the old classic monster Ebs like the York, Conn, Holton, Keefer, Distin, Buescher and King... which played well and had an acceptable in tune scale? I am just an old BBb player with not much experience on many of the old Eb horns. If I had the money to spend on it and a real driving need to play an Eb, I would pick up a Besson 983 or the Willson. But I just want one to have fun with and maybe play a few solos. Plus I have friends that have a British Brass band a few miles away.

Bandmaster · Post by **Bandmaster** » Sat May 13, 2006 2:30 pm

harold wrote:Hate to change the direction of the thread but,

J.W. York and Sons Eb tuba: Made in 1904, original condition, A rare classic! Four top action piston valves, this is an excellent player as is but what a great candidate for restoration! An excellent find for the collector. Does not come with case.

$2400.
http://www.oberloh.com/sales/sales.htm

This one has a new receiver and the tuning slide has been replaced so that it plays on pitch.

Why get a Frankenhorn when you can get the real deal?

Yes, I have looked at that one several times. I have been tempted. Only I am not a big fan of upright valves. I would prefer front valves if I could find them.

Then there is this York Eb for sale at Baltimore Brass, but it's almost as much as a new Besson....

But those big pull rings kind of give me a clue as to the pitch qualities of this horn.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sun May 14, 2006 9:44 pm

Occasionally a Besson Eb comp will pop out of nowhere. If it is a 4-valve, you have all you need. If a 3-valve, you may have to settle for the low A natural limit, because Bessons are extremely variable with false or real pedal response due to their bell flare and comp valve block. Jonathantuba is about right. In Britain, the Eb horn is the standard tuba, not a BBb, which is considered a specialty instrument for the brass bands, although more and more orchestral players are playing CC's, so more development has been put into moderate sized Eb tubas for the last 150 years than any other pitch. Just make sure it predates the move away from Edgeware, so that you know it will be in tune.