Boosey and Hawkes Eb

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:16 am

http://cgi.ebay.com/TUBA-BOOSEY-3-4-SIZ ... dZViewItem

Wonder if it plays well

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:42 am

I wonder, too. The price isn't bad. That main tuning slide sure appears to be a LOT longer than the one on my Boosey & Hawkes 'Imperial.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:49 pm

This looks like pretty much a perfect Eb for me, being 3/4 and all. But there's that out-o'-money problem again. And the older ones might have strange intonation quirks?

MA

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:21 pm

According to Kirmser and the serial # actually stamped into the instrument (different from the quoted one) this instrument was made not much later than 1890.

The long tuning slide is the result of a HP-to-LP conversion.

The best available, when it was made, beautiful, but very likely a ticking bomb in ones purse, if it shall be made into a serious player.

Bloke a few years ago warned that this British very convoluted valve design is especially costly to have restored including valve rebuild and plating.

This is no warning against compensating instruments. I own several of them, and 3 have been main workhorses. Only I want all to be aware of additional costs beyond the auction costs.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

J.c. Sherman · Post by **J.c. Sherman** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:01 am

I've played a couple of these, and they are very close to the Imerials in performance. However, valve plating, given the wear and patching, would probably be necessary. And a proper plating job would involve taking the valve section(s) out! Big bucks! Close to another $1,000 I'd say. But you'd have a good Eb.

J.c.S.