Eb Besson sovereign 'stuffy' mid range

[slim_tut]

Over the last few years I've borrowed 3 or 4 EEb sov's (eventually managed to buy my own tuba, an early 80s B&h imperial, that i love)

Anyways. The sovs that I've borrowed, I have noticed that certain notes in the mid range (between Bb and Eb, around C³) sound very stuffy. For 2 of them ot was just the C, and for the current one it's practically the entire range mentioned (not the open harmonics but everything in between)

Is this a feature of the sovereign specifically, or just the idiosyncrasies of the instruments I have used?

I have noticed that the specific problematic range I mentioned has a wonderful tone when played with the 4th valve down (effectively using Bb fingering) on this specific horn, but am just wondering about others experience

Thanks for any help

[Yane]

These horns are quite variable and “quirky”. I have a 1979 example that I recently put out to pasture, I didn’t realize how hard i was working until I got a different horn. To address your problem maybe try thicker valve oil for a better seal, and align your valves. Those steps were helpful for me.

[chucknberry]

Over the last few years I've borrowed 3 or 4 EEb sov's (eventually managed to buy my own tuba, an early 80s B&h imperial, that i love)

Anyways. The sovs that I've borrowed, I have noticed that certain notes in the mid range (between Bb and Eb, around C³) sound very stuffy. For 2 of them ot was just the C, and for the current one it's practically the entire range mentioned (not the open harmonics but everything in between)

Is this a feature of the sovereign specifically, or just the idiosyncrasies of the instruments I have used?

I have noticed that the specific problematic range I mentioned has a wonderful tone when played with the 4th valve down (effectively using Bb fingering) on this specific horn, but am just wondering about others experience

Thanks for any help

It's possible that the stuffiness you're experiencing in the mid-range of the EEb Sovs you've used is due to certain design features or manufacturing inconsistencies specific to those particular instruments. Without examining the instruments and hearing you play on them, it's difficult to say for sure what the exact cause of the stuffiness is. If previous advice did not help you it might be worth seeking out the opinion of a qualified brass technician who can help diagnose the issue and provide guidance on how to address it.

[iiipopes]

Welcome to the world of Besson tubas. Try a Wick mouthpiece, 1, 2, or 3, depending on your preferred cup diameter, that has a large throat, to help with the stuffiness. On my 3-valve BBb comp I used to own, 1+3 C above open low BBb was stuffy, but low F below open BBb was not. Perfectly in tune, but stuffy. Go figure.