Marzan BBb

bort · Post by **bort** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:58 pm

Just saw this on the 'bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-4-valve-BBb-Ma ... 0410849664" target="_blank

This is just like mine, only in BBb. I've never tried a BBb Marzan, but if it's anything like my CC, it'll be a *great* player!

vintage7512 · Post by **vintage7512** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:52 am

Anyone have a good opinion on this Marzan? I have never owned a horn of my own and have been playing forty years and want a mostly quintet horn, with occasional brass band. I play a King 2341 (old two-piece) which has really no lower end but is good otherwise and want to trade up. You can borrow a tuba from all over the place if you agree to play in their group - like to see a clarinet try that! Thanks for any reply especially Bort - what are the characteristics of yours? Vintage

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:40 am

You might PM TubaTinker - I believe he has a BBb piston Marzan

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:52 pm

vintage7512 wrote:Anyone have a good opinion on this Marzan? I have never owned a horn of my own and have been playing forty years and want a mostly quintet horn, with occasional brass band. I play a King 2341 (old two-piece) which has really no lower end but is good otherwise and want to trade up. You can borrow a tuba from all over the place if you agree to play in their group - like to see a clarinet try that! Thanks for any reply especially Bort - what are the characteristics of yours? Vintage

I own and play regularly both a piston and a slant-rotor version of this horn. But, I don't have any experience with the detachable version one. Both of mine have fixed upright bells. My Marzans are the most resonant open horns that I've ever played... and being in the repair business, I get to play a BUNCH! I also play a King 2341. These Marzans are Worlds above the King but your complaint that the King has no lower end sort of makes me wonder if perhaps there isn't something wrong with your horn. My Kings have excellent bottom ends and so have the other dozen or so I've reconditioned and sold the last couple of years. You might have your repairman check for leaks in the tubing, leaky valves, or poor piston alignment. Sometimes even loose braces can cause tubas to be unresponsive in certain ranges.

Getting back to the Marzan... I don't have any experience with the detachable bell ones but from my experience with other detachable bell horns compared to fixed bell ones.... I might expect the detachable bell one to be less resonant than either of my two. That doesn't mean it's not a good horn, though. If I didn't already have two Marzans, I would be bidding.

I think the seller is a tuba player (as opposed to an antique dealer) who might even frequent this board. You should email the seller and inquire about the playing characteristics.

vintage7512 · Post by **vintage7512** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:24 pm

The lister of the Marzan B flat indicated they need instruction in how to post pictures with more detail. I told them that they already posted one and that they should just do the same thing to post more. I am a bit suspicious. I want to know I don't have small tubing problems and that I don't have to immediately spend a boatload of money on this horn. I am convinced that the Marzan tubas would be great for me - thanks for that all- just not sure the seller in this instance is solid. As to my 2341 - is the small bore to blame or my own embouchure? And if it's me, how do I fix the issue. Loud, low notes such as low F or E are wiffed on by me - especially if they are fortissimo. Thanks in advance for the free lesson. Vintage

J.c. Sherman · Post by **J.c. Sherman** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:34 pm

Are we sure this isn't Mr. Jenkins' Marzan?

J.c.S.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:10 pm

J.c. Sherman wrote:Are we sure this isn't Mr. Jenkins' Marzan?

J.c.S.

Don't think so. James Jenkin's Marzan was indeed a piston BBb but it had lots of custom work done to it and appeared to be in much better condition finish-wise than this one. Besides... I also think his had a fixed bell.

bort · Post by **bort** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:20 pm

My Marzan CC plays very well. The thing is just so easy to play, it's great. The intonation is very, very good, it responds quickly and evenly, and it sounds great, high and low. It's a LOT of fun to play, and not a lot of work either. A few other "features" are the detached-from-the-bell leadpipe, a relatively short leadpipe, a pretty open wrap, and of course, the top-facing tuning slide.

The only downfall so far for me is its weight. It is a tank! And the weight is a big "higher up" on the tuba too -- the valve set is a little higher than my 1291, and then you've got all that extra metal for the detachable bell collar. I'm glad mine is only a 4-valve tuba, the 5th valve would just make it heavier. It's a little tiring to hold, but just new muscles for me to develop.

When I bought mine from its original owner, Kevin Ladd, he did tell me that though the CC Marzans were generally more consistent than the BBb's, which varied a bit more. I can't speak to that personally, though I trust his opinion.

vintage7512 · Post by **vintage7512** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:09 pm

Thank you all for the experience feedback. The owner still hasn't offered more pictures so I think I won't offer up the dollars. Sounds like it would be a great horn, though. Also, thanks to Tinker for the advice about the 2341 - I will take it in to the BBC and let them have a look. Really tough low range. Vintage

EdFirth · Post by **EdFirth** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:20 am

I owned the BBb 4 piston one rotor detachable bell Marzan that was biult for Connie Weldon. It was a superior horn but as someone else pointed out , weighed alot and was a killer on the show I was doing at the time. There was no time to put it down. It had as good intonation as any horn I've experienced and a beautiful dark sound. It was, in fact, just like James' Marzan but for the detachable bell and fifth valve. I think that the tenon Did dampen it down a bit as alluded to earlier.It recorded very well and sounded great up close but didn't project that well. That, combined with the weight thing was what led me to sell it. I have pretty much always had a King in the house. My detachable King projects much better than the Marzan and my newer style one is more like the Marzan in that respect. But they are both much lighter and still have a big dark sound.Neither one is as easy to play, and they are certainly not as well constructed but I'm a path of least resistance kind of guy. I can't tell by the photos on the Ebay one if it's the same bigger model like mine but if it is that model it would be worth a shot.Good luck with it, Ed

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