World's cheapest (good) tuba

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:57 am

Hi Brian, nice to see you back! I did a quick search of "Old TubeNet" and came up with this pic:

Looks like you're web site is: http://home.earthlink.net/~bk111111

MF

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:13 pm

goodgigs wrote: Yes that's my website (such as it is) and it has an invisable link to My plastic tuba page that becomes visable if you "select" (drag mouse)
dow the middle of the homepage to highlite the black on black lettering.

http://home.earthlink.net/~bk111111/id1.html

Navytubaman · Post by **Navytubaman** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:59 pm

Hey, That's really cool.

Can I get first in line and commission you to make me one??

We could even see about making it required for those tuba players out at sea. All you need is a mute and your plastic tuba and WHAMO - Instant life jacket (plus you can still practice the theme for Jaws while awaiting rescue)

Let me know if you're taking orders, I'm ready to go.

JKD

T. J. Ricer · Post by **T. J. Ricer** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 1:06 am

How durable is the plastic?
Could you make just an inexpensive bell? (Specifically, I'd like to get a bell that doesn't flair quite so much for my 3+1 Besson Eb, kind of a poor man's 980)
Would a plastic bell be able to hold the horn if you rest it on the bell?

All I can say is that's pretty darn neat.

--T. J.

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:35 pm

I can imagine these would be great for schools. They would be cheap and light weight for the younger kids, If you could make a 3/4 size horn that would be even lighter and easier for elementary and MS kids.

And they are durable.

ken k

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:54 pm

From what I remember from a TV presentation (don't remember if it was public TV, 60 Minutes, or what) about the Trabant, it was made from plant fiber and some kind of resin. It was so durable that it presented a real problem for getting rid of them. They showed a man jumping up and down on a door that had been laid on the ground. The door kept springing back into shape. I'd say the old Trabant factory missed a great opportunity to switch to tuba building. And we missed our chance to finally get tubas suitable for practicing tuba juggling.

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:23 am

bloke wrote:Yes, THIS is Brian's creation:

I (for one) am probably one of the few who believe that a plastic/fiberglass tuba vs. brass has probably less than 2% difference in the sound that is heard by those other than the player.

I think a plastic 5/4-6/4 (with Gronitz PCK intonation or better) would be GREAT.

It would be a kick to make your own tuba by buying one of Brian's tuba bodies and then finish it as desired (sand off mold marks, etc. ). For valves, use an eBay souzy valve set at the low end all the way to whatever a guy would want to spend on the high end.

I wonder how many of the bodies he would have to sell to be able to offer them at about $300 each?

World's cheapest (good) tuba

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