3+1 BBb Tubas

Manituba · Post by **Manituba** » Sun May 15, 2005 5:38 pm

Hi,

I was wondering if there are any 3+1 BBb tubas worth considering over the Yamaha 631 or Besson 994?

Thanks,
Chris

AndyCat · Post by **AndyCat** » Sun May 15, 2005 6:30 pm

Courtois 182
Miraphone 1280
Hirsbrunner 692

Can't really recommend any particular one as I haven't played the Hirsbrunner, but I'd prefer the Miraphone over a new Besson personally (although not an old Sovereign!) with the Yam and Courtois in 3rd and 4th place.

I would presume the Hirsbrunner would be very good tho!

Obviously just my opinion, for what it's worth............

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun May 15, 2005 9:39 pm

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon May 16, 2005 12:06 am

Has anyone tried a Willson 6400?

http://www.swissprofi.ch/willson/instr.html

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:06 pm

Mr. Tuba (Mark Carter) now has a BBb 3+1 comp made for him by MW. Good reviews. Articles at our neighbors, TubaNews.

Manituba · Post by **Manituba** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:54 am

We have decided to go with the Yamahas, for both Ebs and BBbs.

Although now I'm glad we didn't order the Bessons because who knows how long it would be before we got them.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:25 pm

Yes, with Besson in limbo, the current manufacturers of comp tubas, both Eb and BBb are:
Mr. Tuba (Mark Carter in England, made by MW, good reviews on TubaNews, especially their more compact BBb)
Courtois
Hirsbrunner
Miraphone
Willson
Yamaha
That's it, folks. They're all good tubas. Search the threads here and old TubeNet for good discussions of each. There is also a comparison of the Besson and the Miraphone at
http://www.4barsrest.com
Look under product reviews.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:34 pm

Personally, I see no reason to put the fourth valve on the side of the instrument unless it's a compensating horn. There are a few Besson horns that are 3+1 noncompensating tubas.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:12 pm

I believe the 3+1 started when the 4th valve was added, and there was no room up top with the wrap. I know it would be a problem to add a 4th valve to my 3-valve comp. It can't be to get a bigger bore, because Besson/Boosey/Blaikley did not use a larger bore for the 4th valve. The current 983 still doesn't.