B&S PT-7 (4198) CC tuba -- traded!
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 7:12 pm
I have decided to sell my B&S PT-7 (4198) CC tuba. This is an awesome tuba -- but I've decided that I want to return to rotary valves. The piston tuba world just isn't for me.
It is a large 6/4 CC tuba, with 4 pistons + 1 rotor. It is effectively the same as a PT-6P, but with a Kaiser tuba bell (19.5" diameter) and a larger bottom bow. Possibly a few other minor differences, but not much. To me, I see it as a PT-6 with the potential for more output. It is at home in a large ensemble, but can easily be controlled and provide a clear, full, and warm foundation without being overbearing. (Note: the piston Neptune is also very similar, but has an even larger 20.5" bell diameter, and some other differences based on what Mel Culbertson wanted. I find the sound of the PT-7 closer to the PT-6 (more focused) than the Neptune (wider).)
This tuba was built in the year 2000, and was previously professionally owned and used in Colombia and Venezuela. A tuba with a story to tell!
I bought this in the summer of 2018; it took a while to get the tuba from South America to the US, and when it arrived, there were a few dents and a bell crease from shipping damage. I took it straight to the repair shop, and it spent a few months there... although much of the work was unrelated to shipping (cleaning, repairing bad solder joints, etc.). There was nothing severe, but a lot of small things that added up.
The end result was that during Fall 2018, the tuba received a play-condition overhaul -- the entire tuba was picked over, disassembled and repaired as needed, and all of the issues were fixed. Again, there was nothing tragically wrong with the tuba, but just many small things that added up to need fixing -- fix bad joints, give it a DEEP and thorough cleaning, anything out-of-round, and as many dents removed as possible. The difference between play-condition overhaul and a full overhaul is that my tuba was not 100% de-dented, sanded, buffed, and refinished. There are still small dents and dings here and there on the outer branches. From a few feet away, it looks pretty good. Up close, it won't win the beauty contest. Valve section is clean, and the entire tuba is in excellent mechanical condition, all slides move easily, etc. The tuba is in raw brass, except for the outside of the bell. A previous owner did that, and I'm not sure why.
This tuba plays and sounds incredible -- response is quick and easy, the sounds is strong and clear, and intonation is very, very easy. I'm not a slide puller, and I do very little work to play this tuba in-tune. For a 6/4 tuba, that's rare. It's a point and shoot tuba for me, and it takes little effort to make a nice full sound. And if you want a big sound... it'll give you as much as you can handle and then some. A while back, someone told me "you'll never struggle for volume." Lots of focus and clarity, no "woofiness." Low register is HUGE and easy.
I've done a little work with the valves, in an effort to get myself to like piston valves more. The valves are great -- but the upgrades didn't cure me of my rotary preferences. So, the next owner will get to inherit some tricked-out valves (all of the original parts are included as well):
Includes an Gotz gig bag. Shows some wear, and one of the zipper pulls is broken, but it is functional and works reasonably well. If I were keeping the tuba, I'd probably replace the bag eventually... out of vanity, not out of necessity.
Financially, I'm taking a bit of a loss on this tuba, I put more money into it than I had planned (tuba + overhaul + upgrades), and have certainly spent more than I am asking for it.
I'm just looking for an easy sale.
For comparison, I know of 2 other PT-7's that have sold in the past year, from Dillon (~$10,000) and BBC (~$9,000). Both were in better condition, as far as I know... shiny lacquer and few dents.
Price is $7250, and the tuba is located in Minneapolis. Local pickup only; this is too big for me to consider shipping, and I'm just not willing to deal with that stress.
Photos are here:
https://tinyurl.com/The-PT7
It is a large 6/4 CC tuba, with 4 pistons + 1 rotor. It is effectively the same as a PT-6P, but with a Kaiser tuba bell (19.5" diameter) and a larger bottom bow. Possibly a few other minor differences, but not much. To me, I see it as a PT-6 with the potential for more output. It is at home in a large ensemble, but can easily be controlled and provide a clear, full, and warm foundation without being overbearing. (Note: the piston Neptune is also very similar, but has an even larger 20.5" bell diameter, and some other differences based on what Mel Culbertson wanted. I find the sound of the PT-7 closer to the PT-6 (more focused) than the Neptune (wider).)
This tuba was built in the year 2000, and was previously professionally owned and used in Colombia and Venezuela. A tuba with a story to tell!
I bought this in the summer of 2018; it took a while to get the tuba from South America to the US, and when it arrived, there were a few dents and a bell crease from shipping damage. I took it straight to the repair shop, and it spent a few months there... although much of the work was unrelated to shipping (cleaning, repairing bad solder joints, etc.). There was nothing severe, but a lot of small things that added up.
The end result was that during Fall 2018, the tuba received a play-condition overhaul -- the entire tuba was picked over, disassembled and repaired as needed, and all of the issues were fixed. Again, there was nothing tragically wrong with the tuba, but just many small things that added up to need fixing -- fix bad joints, give it a DEEP and thorough cleaning, anything out-of-round, and as many dents removed as possible. The difference between play-condition overhaul and a full overhaul is that my tuba was not 100% de-dented, sanded, buffed, and refinished. There are still small dents and dings here and there on the outer branches. From a few feet away, it looks pretty good. Up close, it won't win the beauty contest. Valve section is clean, and the entire tuba is in excellent mechanical condition, all slides move easily, etc. The tuba is in raw brass, except for the outside of the bell. A previous owner did that, and I'm not sure why.
This tuba plays and sounds incredible -- response is quick and easy, the sounds is strong and clear, and intonation is very, very easy. I'm not a slide puller, and I do very little work to play this tuba in-tune. For a 6/4 tuba, that's rare. It's a point and shoot tuba for me, and it takes little effort to make a nice full sound. And if you want a big sound... it'll give you as much as you can handle and then some. A while back, someone told me "you'll never struggle for volume." Lots of focus and clarity, no "woofiness." Low register is HUGE and easy.
I've done a little work with the valves, in an effort to get myself to like piston valves more. The valves are great -- but the upgrades didn't cure me of my rotary preferences. So, the next owner will get to inherit some tricked-out valves (all of the original parts are included as well):
- Baer PVAK
- Sellmansberger lightweight finger buttons
- Yamaha euphonium and tuba springs included
- Delrin (plastic) valve guides for QUIET valve alignment
Includes an Gotz gig bag. Shows some wear, and one of the zipper pulls is broken, but it is functional and works reasonably well. If I were keeping the tuba, I'd probably replace the bag eventually... out of vanity, not out of necessity.
Financially, I'm taking a bit of a loss on this tuba, I put more money into it than I had planned (tuba + overhaul + upgrades), and have certainly spent more than I am asking for it.
I'm just looking for an easy sale.For comparison, I know of 2 other PT-7's that have sold in the past year, from Dillon (~$10,000) and BBC (~$9,000). Both were in better condition, as far as I know... shiny lacquer and few dents.
Price is $7250, and the tuba is located in Minneapolis. Local pickup only; this is too big for me to consider shipping, and I'm just not willing to deal with that stress.
Photos are here:
https://tinyurl.com/The-PT7
