BBb 6/4, 5-Valve Lee Stofer Custom Franken-Tuba

[Miltube]

BBb 6/4, 5-Valve
Lee Stofer Custom Franken-Tuba
Originally a Big Mouth Brass

For Sale 6k Local -or- 6k+ Freight shipping cost to deliver

Located in the Des Moines, Iowa Area will deliver in a 4-5 hour driving radius and will ship (buyer pays shipping cost)


I was looking for a tuba with more breadth of sound than my previous main horn and boy did I get one. I discovered this horn, originally a Big Mouth Brass 6/4 Bob for sale from an old Marine Band Coliege of mine. Upon test playing this horn was deep and rich. Yet, there were a few (5) minor personal preference issues I decided to address with the masterful instrument magician Lee Stofer. The work he did made this already good monster of a horn great!

1-The original dependent 5th valve was odd:
-Frankenstein's monster is born: I asked for for the dependent 5th valve in the 4th valve circuit to become an independent 5th valve, with a more conventional lever & linkage. Using the original rotor, Lee & team placed the rotor between the 4th valve casing and the main tuning slide. They cut 1" off the 4th and 5th branches at the connecting ferrule, re-sized where the two meet in the ferrule. This lowered/extended the already short main tuning slide by 2" giving it more flexibility in the process. They also found the perfect angle for the 5th rotor, so that the valve would be removable, and the slide tubing could be routed to the back of the instrument, thus a he rotor would be a perfect fit was found.

2-The 5th valve linkage was a literally a rubber band & the thumb ring only worked for giant hands:
The thumb ring and the companion new 5th lever fabrication & placement was challenging. Ultimately the tea decided to not make it a rod, like a modern Miraphone lever, They fabricated and brazed a threaded base on the lever rod, then re-used the BMB wooden roller and steel pin with a new brass bushing to fit. This placement allowed the new adjustable thumb ring placement to be closer to the valve action for better support

3-The horn had some occasion odd vibrations in certain overtones.
We realized the bell-to-valveset region and the main body was very under-braced originally, which was especially noticeable in certain overtones at F-FFF. Thus, we had 6 supplemental braces fabricated and installed (yellow brass in contrast to the silver OG bracing for a cool 2-tone look). You may notice some round discolored parts were some of the OG bracing was moved to more effective locations. The result is vastly improved consistency of response and better intonation.

4-I didn't care for the lead-pipe angle.
Initially the horn played at a +45 degree angle from the tubist, making nightlines to music and conductor problematic. Simple solution was to raise the lead-pipe and straighten it to get a bit more length so it could be further around the bell. The horn now plays in a much more ergonomic position.

5-Water tended to pool in the 1st valve tuning slide more frequently than I preferred:
This could have been an easy lever spit valve install on the 1st valve slide tubing. However, Lee and his genius recommended a novel approach, employing a bored-out trumpet Amado water key on the 1st slide crook to maximize the flow of accumulated water. All this so the water accumulation can now be dealt with, without slide-pulling.

I think it now plays more like the Holton upon which it is based, maybe even a little York-like. I've used this amazing beast at many rehearsals, concerts and small ensembles. I have received many favorable comments regarding the fullness of tone, how it projected and was more present than usual. Personally, it sounds great to me. The pitch is more consistent than any 5/4 or 6/4 I have played, with some of the usual tendencies. It's not the most in tune tuba I've ever played, but it is far above average.

So why are you selling the horn if it so good? Well #1 I want a different horn and a 5th tuba might mean my 1st divorce:) Also, to be very honest my lungs are not as full as my younger days and filling up this 6/4 sounds amazing but takes air that I do not always have.

High quality pics here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2589683 ... 273166043/
-or-
https://link.shutterfly.com/X7W8He03ZJb
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dm and I will send pics direct to you

[OhioTubaGuy]

That’s a lot of tuba! Looks fun.
Good luck on the sale.