Deck-o-phone Pics - bloke's request

[TubaTodd]

A "2165" is not necessarily a tuba to overlook.

I just played one yesterday that was in here for minor repairs. (Maybe the owner will post some pics...It has a pretty nice raw brass patina.) The only real intonation issues at all (with that particular instrument) were the classic sharp 6th partial F and F#. (Both of the open G's were spot-on in-tune, as were all the C's and the open E.) An in-tune alternate for the 6th partial F on that tuba is 1-3 and an in-tune alternate for the sixth partial F# is 2-3. With those two alternates (necessary when sustained only), one could probably just HOLD the tuba with the left hand and leave the slides alone !

That particular tuba could (imo) benefit from the model 45 (F) mouthpipe, as the low range (with the original over-size mouthpipe) tended to "vacuum" my lungs.

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In summary, some 2165 tubas - intonation-wise - are quite wretched, while others are nearly exquisite.

It took me a few weeks, but here they are. Click on the image to view the whole thing.

tuba_1.jpg

Full frontal...

tuba_2.jpg

Close up of custom "bloke-ring"

tuba_3.jpg

Dewey is making a cameo appearance. I can pretty well guarantee that he is thinking about food.

[TubaTodd]

Not requested, but here are the mouthpieces that I use with this beast.

mouthpieces.jpg

Although the exterior design of the Sidey SSH Classic (brass core) and my Mike Finn 3H don't bear any resemblance, the "business end" (rim, cup, throat, bore, etc) is fairly similar. Sidey's rim is flatter and the inner edge much sharper. Other than that, they feel and play very similar to me.