On another note, I not only started on the 103 (not evident when mentioning my preference for an Eb cut). But just purchased one at a screaming deal. They are nice full-range dixie instruments (sometimes a 3-valve Eb feels limiting) and I can loan it to students who need something from time to time. Probably pay for itself.
Cool. Used to hate 'em... then played their replacements and the competitions'. There isn't competition.
J.c.S.
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass http://www.jcsherman.net
I really like these small Tubas. For one they are very easy to get a big sound out of. Anyone who has been playing for years will EASILY over blow one without trying. This means that beginning students should be able to easily get a big sound out of it.
I like them. They are light and compact. I might know a place that has one in stock too...
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass http://www.jcsherman.net
Hi!
I've seen/played quite a few 103's!
They play well, and the cases are fairly sturdy compared to my other starter BBb choice, a Besson 727. The original Besson case has a CARDBOARD bell cover, like their old Euphonium cases! The front valves of the 103 are nice compared to the Bessons' upright action. I think the Besson produces a better overall sound, but they take English shank MP's I had the last 727 fitted with a new receiver, about $50.00, and the students parents saved that much on a MP alone...
Al
I have both a YBB-103 and a YCB-621 (extended to BBb) and I have played both of them for over 40 years on all sorts of gigs. Even though they are the same size bell and major tubes, the 103 is much better for "honking" - as in outdoor situations or in large bands when you want to be heard. The 621 plays more in tune and the 4th valve is nice, but I never seem to be able to get quite the same bark out of it as the 103.
They are both great 3/4 tubas - too bad they stopped production of the 103...
This is an old thread but I'll post anyway. Yeah... the 103 tubas are pretty good fun to play. As I speak I'm on my way to Florida with two of them... a standard three-valved one and one that I've added a fourth piston to. Both may be sold on this trip (but maybe not).
These are very small compact horns and difficult to add a fourth piston to partly because the leadpipe enters the cluster through the third valve. That makes for lots of work to relocate several of the tuning circuits. That couple with the fact that it basically takes two horns to make one in order to get the donor parts. Parts have been out of production for some time and there are two versions of valve sections... one with fine or course threads on the top and bottom caps... and two different styles of guides and pistons.
Fun horns. Yamaha should still be making a four-valve version especially for student use. Maybe WESSEX will copy it some day!
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker" http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
There are no 'copies' even close to the Yamaha YBB-103. Maybe a similar bore and bell size but that's about it. The Yammie is quite a bit of a departure from any other tuba out there. For one thing... I don't know of many modern tubas where the main slide is in the leadpipe and the leadpipe goes into the third valve. The pistons also all interchange and that alone makes the tuning slide circuity somewhat unusual.
The fact is... the Yammie is so unconventional that I'm surprised it performs as well as it does. It was probably introduced only to be a crappy middle-school instruments and Yamaha had no ambitions to make it attractive to anyone beyond an eight-grader. They could have developed the horn into one with at least four valves and made it attractive to older musicians.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker" http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
I had the last 727 fitted with a new receiver, about $50.00, and the students parents saved that much on a MP alone...
