Gemeinhardt (BMB) F Tuba FS - $3500.

[Bill Troiano]

Hi all. I haven’t been on here for a while. I have a Gemeinhardt J445 F tuba in silver plate that I bought new in 2014 that I would like to sell. I have no use for an F tuba anymore. Besides, I think my playing days are numbered due to age and chop issues. 

The history, if you’re not aware, is that Richard Barth wanted to create an affordable line of York style piston tubas. Richard worked for Gemeinhardt at the time and got them to outsource production of his designs to Brazil. He later had production moved to China and that’s when they became BMB tubas (Big Mouth Brass.) So my Gemeinhart F tuba is an early example, made in Brazil. I honestly don’t know if they are better than the Chinese horns or not. 

So, mine basically sounds more like a small CC tuba, with a very free blowing low register and definitely not like a rotary F. It has the dependent 5th valve. The 5th valve is located in the 4th valve tubing. This creates a free blowing tuba, but with this design, the 4th valve has to be activated in order to use the 5th valve. So, no 512 or 523 combinations. It’s listed as having a .730”/.750” bore and it has the larger 18 inch bell. It’s light weight, yet very durable - 1 nickel size dent and any blemishes are very small. Intonation is decent, with me mainly having to use the 1st and 3rd valve tuning slides. The slides are on top and easily accessible. There’s a cross bar running horizontally in the back which is very comfortable to rest your wrist on while manipulating the slides. The 3rd slide has a factory made extension rod and handle for easier manipulation. Aside from a cleaning and valve alignment, the tuba is as it came from the factory. 

Frankly, I didn’t use the tuba much and I have no need for an F tuba. I played it in a concert with the Cedar Park Winds when we performed at TBA around 6 years ago. I also used it in a couple of  brass quintet and tuba quartet gigs. Otherwise, I just practiced on it in my house. I would have to clean it up as it is a bit tarnished at the moment.

It comes with the factory hard case, which I never used. It also comes with the factory top loading gig bag which is well padded. $3500.for the whole package.  Buyer pays shipping, if necessary. Feel free to email me at tubabill@gmail.com for pictures. Thanks for looking!

[bisontuba]

Bill-
Just two suggestions...list the bell diameter, since there were 3 different sizes...and whether brass or silver...
Mark

[Bill Troiano]

Hi Mark. Do you know the bell sizes? This was the larger of the 2. And it’s silver plated.

[bisontuba]

Hi Mark. Do you know the bell sizes? This was the larger of the 2. And it’s silver plated.

There were three...16, 17 and 18 inches...

[Bill Troiano]

Thanks, Mark. It is the 18 inch model. I’ll edit the post. Stay warm up there!

[Bill Troiano]

Bump for price adjustment, including shipping.

[Bill Troiano]

Bump City for price drop.