uglytubas.com

[Mcordon1]

while we are on the topic of big AND ugly tubas...

[David Richoux]

I got this clapped out Miraphone BBb student horn for $200 way back. It is on permanent loan to a violin player who wanted to learn a brass instrument.

mira.jpg

It works, but the spit valve needs a new spring n cork.

[Dan Schultz]

How does it look now Dan??...................................bigbob

Glad you asked:

[The Big Ben]

I got this clapped out Miraphone BBb student horn for $200 way back. It is on permanent loan to a violin player who wanted to learn a brass instrument.
It works, but the spit valve needs a new spring n cork.

I have one of those, although mine is really straight because I had it overhauled. Plays pretty good, too. Valves could be better but frequent applications of Hetman's Classic helps. Built tough. Like all Mirafones. Good student horn.

It's for sale, too. About $500 +shipping. PM if interested.

[bigbob]

That really looks great Dan you do good work...................bigbob

[oedipoes]

How does it look now Dan??...................................bigbob

Glad you asked:

Isn't that a whole lot of work for a YBB 321 ?
Just wondered...

Wim

[oedipoes]

This has to be the ugliest of all!! JUST KIDDING!!! gosh dont take it seriously people..

Just out of my curiosity, is that a 6/4 Rudy Meinl CC in the picture? I have always wondered that, and have always wanted to play on the 6/4 Rudy....regardless that is one BAT.

It plays even bigger than it looks, with less effort than you would think. They are great horns!
(not for quintet...)

Wim

[imperialbari]

How does it look now Dan??...................................bigbob

Glad you asked:

Isn't that a whole lot of work for a YBB 321 ?
Just wondered...

Wim

Yes, and as you can see, Wim, the owner had to leave the pistons to pay for the job.

K

[Steve Marcus]

Just out of my curiosity, is that a 6/4 Rudy Meinl CC in the picture?

It's a BBb.

[gary]

I believe that's Sam Pilafian on the big Harvard tuba.

[Bob Kolada]

The short body and tall bell just tick me off. Forgive me!

[The Big Ben]

What about this one ??

Plays a little bit flat(tened),4 valves,Bb,bore 15 mm,not sure about the receiver size jet,could be old european,but also american size
The maker is August Bernhardt Überwasser,Hamburg ,Germany..............somebody around who ever heard about that company ??

Sure would like to hear the story as to how that happened. Other than that, it looks pretty straight. Might not have to come completely apart to fix that.

[Dan Schultz]

How does it look now Dan??...................................bigbob

Glad you asked:

Isn't that a whole lot of work for a YBB 321 ?
Just wondered...

Wim

Well.... not really. I think the customer only had a few bucks in the horn. The new knuckles are for a the later style of YBB-321 (after serial number 100,000) and are fairly simple to adapt for use on this horn. Sometimes the stuff that looks the worst is the easiest to fix.

[David Richoux]

Isn’t this the CCC that Paxman made for Hoffnung?

For years stored in a basement, where the walls were changed, so that the bell had to be cut to allow for the tuba to be moved.

Klaus

I had a chance to play that particular instrument a few months ago - very interesting!

[ken k]

my Dr. Seussaphone





ken k

[sousaphone68]

my Dr. Seussaphone





ken k

Hello I don't think it qualifies as ugly. Unusual and depending on how it breaks down for transport maybe impractical but not ugly.
What was it?
Did you do all the work?
Any video or sound of it playing?
Do you have photos of it under construction that you would be happy to share?
Thanks for posting it

[Bob Bigalard]

Wow, how do you take out the dents!!!????!!!???????????

[imperialbari]

Just takes balls!

[Lingon]

...my Dr. Seussaphone...

Super unugly Beautiful instrument!

[ken k]

Hello I don't think it qualifies as ugly. Unusual and depending on how it breaks down for transport maybe impractical but not ugly.
What was it?
Did you do all the work?
Any video or sound of it playing?
Do you have photos of it under construction that you would be happy to share?
Thanks for posting it[/quote]


Hello, It was a 1924? Buescher BBb. Here is a before picture



Harv Hartman did the work. We basically cut one of the inner loops and made it go up instead of down and then mounted the valve set above the bugle. We mounted a stewart stand to the bottom and I got a longer rod from Lowe's so i can play it standing up without having to hold it. I have a blown disc in my neck so helicon and sousaphone playing is limited to short spurts before my left arm goes numb. It plays better than before because we cut the tuning slides and made them pullable on top. It has a nice "tubby the tuba" kind of tone and the pitch is not too bad, now that the slide have been cut. I actually just used it htis weekend on an outside concert with the Reading Pops Orchestra.

kenk