Yamaha YEB-381 FS @ Dillon (FYI) [now w/ meas. bore info]

[Steve Inman]

I just noticed this horn FS at the Dillon web site and wanted to point it out to the TubeNet community, for your information.

This is a rather hard-to-find Eb tuba with the dependent 5th valve in the 4th valve tubing. I have one that has received two significant mods -- (1) the 5th valve lever has been lengthened to allow it to be actuated by the right hand thumb (rather long throw, but it works), AND (2) Lee Stofer fabricated a longer 5th valve slide to change the tuning from a flat half step to the "standard" flat whole step configuration.

Although not one of the "huge" bass tubas out there, with the 5th valve, it works well in a quintet setting. I've played it in outdoor settings and the sound carried well into the audience. With a standard Helleberg (probably a wee bit large by conventional wisdom) I can get a reasonably strong sound from this horn.

I have no connection to this company -- this is merely "FYI".

Regards,

[Steve Inman]

checking ... I'm certain 1,2,3 are .689 -- and 99% sure 4 is as well, per their web site. Let me go measure 4th and 5th to be sure (assuming I can find my micrometer):

(http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Con ... TE,00.html)

Cheers,

[Steve Inman]

For my YEB-381 (can't testify re: 321):

1. the 4th valve tuning slide is noticeably BIGGER than the 2nd valve slide -- but not big enough for the 2nd valve slide to slide into the 4th valve slide. But holding them end-to-end, the 4th valve tubing diameter is clearly larger.

2. the 5th valve tuning slide is bigger still -- big enough for the 2nd valve slide to slide INTO the 5th valve tuning slide.

3. I found an old email from Lee Stofer. His measurements indicated that the 5th valve tubing matched the YBB321 -- 0.728" bore.

4. So -- the 4th valve must be something between .689 and .728 (Steve is making an assumption here). Any guesses?

5. What #4 above means, is that Steve has yet to find his plastic (safe) micrometer lying around to tell y'all for sure.

FYI,

[Steve Inman]

It's a cheap, plastic micrometer, but it says:

2nd valve = ~ 17 2/3 mm (about .695 -- known to be .689).

4th valve = ~ 18 1/3mm (about .721 ??) it's half way in between 2 and 5.

5th valve = ~ 18 2/3mm (about .734 ??) believed = .728

Steve concludes, based on known dimensions and on available "standard" tubing -- FOR THE YEB-381:

1,2,3 = .689
4 = .708 / .709
5 = .728

(for the tuning slide tubing -- I don't know how to tell you what VALVES are used for these -- or if there are any differences. I doubt 4th valve is any different from 1,2,3. I suspect the difference is tubing only.)

Very interesting!

Cheers,

[pwhitaker]

This is my horn. I bought it new in 1993 and used it exclusively thru 2000 for all gigs - quintet, traditional jazz, swing band etc. I'm selling it because of my ergonomics conflict with top action valves, and I'm playing exclusively now on BBb's (I only do dixieland now.)

The horn is a nice quintet/solo horn with an outstanding lower range (the pedals are clear and obtainable all the way down to 1-2-3-4-5 (E natural.)) I never had any complaints - even in concert bands - about the the paucity of output. The high end is good up thru trumpet high C (not a lot of support on that note). The fifth partial F, Gb and G are a few cents flat - if one fools around with the 4th and 5th valve slides one can get the horn pretty well in tune with itself obviating the need for slide pulling while playing - which is tough on this model with the 4 top action valves and left handed trigger 5th.

I can use the cash from this sale to help defray the cost of a recently purchased brand new Miraphone 5 valve 1291 BBb.

Please help an an old man realize his liifelong dream.

[Kevin Hendrick]

It may have sold -- I just checked Dillon's website (every category that made any sense at all) & didn't find it.

[Steve Inman]

Dale,

The horn is no longer being displayed in the used tuba section on the Dillon site. Don't know what that means.

Regards,

[Steve Inman]

is a 381 basically the 321 with a dependent valve in the 4th valve slide?

Basically, yes. Factory 1/2 step rotor, left thumb actuated. (The original owner of mine lengthened the rotor lever significantly so it can be actuated with the right hand thumb. Lee Stofer did a nice job adding some tubing length to convert the 5th to a whole-step configuration.)

Based on earlier discussion on this thread, it seems the 381 4th valve tubing **may** be a wee bit larger bore ... **IF** the 4th valve tubing of the 321 is .689, like 1,2,3 are. See my earlier post re: the bore dimensions I measure on mine, confirmed by a physical side-by-side check.

Regards,

[pwhitaker]

I just had an e-mail from Matt Walters. The YEB 381 did not stay sold and they will repost it on the web-site. This really is a nice horn.