York 6/4 BBb tuba conversion

[J.c. Sherman]

What's the diameter of the Chicago/Jake Yorks? Why would someone cut the original bells? I'm queezy just thinking about it!

J.c.S.

(If you don't like the sound to start with, start with another horn... )

[Rick Denney]

What's the diameter of the Chicago/Jake Yorks? Why would someone cut the original bells?

The CSO Yorks have a 20" bell, just like all the Yorkish copies. Old Bb Yorks usually have a 22" bell, and the thinking is that they sound a bit fluffier, and that trimming the bell to 20" tightens them up a bit to make a more orchestral sound.

And they fit in a gig bag a lot easier.

Rick "we report; you decide" Denney

[The Bone Ranger]

Great looking horn!

WIthout wanting to rain on anyone's parade, I have a question for the gallery.

At what point does a horn such as this stop being a York, and become something entirely different? This is a York minus the bell and valve set etc, so can we still call it a York? Does it still sound like a York?

Andrew (who's not wanting to start a war; just curious...)

[eupher61]

I agree. It's hardly a York any more. Who cares, though, it's seemingly a heckuva horn.

OK....the award for the Best Name for This York/MW/Wilk tuba is...

a thunderous round of applause.

"Frankentuba" will NOT suffice.

[bearphonium]

MY Wilk for a name. Drool on the keyboard from the horn dorn.

[J.c. Sherman]

It is sexy, but I don't think this is a York anymore. The bell is the most defining characteristic, in my humble view. Certainly the replacement of the valve set with a front action set has precedent within York's own line, so if followed closely, I think you can still call it a restoration of sorts. Lose the bell, though, and I think you have a lovely - probably awesome and commercially unavailable - BBb piston MW 2165

It's a very nice bit of work, I'd say. Kudos for the maker on the valve tubing!

J.c.

[roweenie1]

While I am not saying that this horn is still an "original" York, I believe that the most important and original parts of a horn are the ones that are most difficult to reproduce (ie, the branches), and they are all still there in their original form. IMHO, the taper of the horn is the most important determining factor in tuba sound and response, so therefore, keeping this feature the same as original is more important than the bell - it is the horn's "body".

I agree about the valve set - it is just a switching mechanism, and has the least effect of all the possible variables.

Ponder this: if the CSO York was in an accident, and the bell was damaged beyond repair and needed a modern replacement, would you stop calling it a York? I've seen many vintage recording-bell horns receive new, modern upright bells - - -

(PS - that was the best I could do on a picture of the engraving - sorry )

(PPS - *DISCLAIMER* - I do not claim to be an expert - these are just observations I have made over the last 35 years, and having owned several different vintage horns.....)

[Barney]

The picture is great, the horn looks beautiful, and I could care less what you call it.

[J.c. Sherman]

Ponder this: if the CSO York was in an accident, and the bell was damaged beyond repair and needed a modern replacement, would you stop calling it a York? I've seen many vintage recording-bell horns receive new, modern upright bells - - -

Saddly, I think it would stop being "the same horn"; it would still be one of "the Yorks" but with a HUGE qualifier to it's title. That said, for that particular instrument, you'd have to melt the bell down before it would be irreparable - it would be fixed no matter what; even the melted bell would probably be used as the base metal to replace it

Same with the classic recording bell instruments with modern replacement bells. They are something altogether new. Sexy, often great, but something else...

J.c.S.

[Alex C]

I just saw your photos and am jealous. I bet it plays as good as it looks.

[DavidK]

Congrats on a great axe! The engraving pic looks fantastic!!

Maybe we will get some insider info on a recent adventure of Roweenie and his York makover horn. Wish I could have been there.

P.S. Martin received my MW valveset yesterday... mu ha ha ha ha!

[roweenie1]

I brought this thread up to correct a statement I made in regards to the engraving on this horn. It was engraved by a fellow named Jason DuMars, NOT Sherry Huntley of Artistic Engraving.

I felt that once I knew who the artist was that created that engraving that credit should be given where credit is due . . . . . . .

[imperialbari]

At a clinic during the previous millenium the foreman/overseer/controller/whatever of the Boosey and Hawkes factory told that the extension of the engraving had audible sonic implications. So much that a major American horn maker engraved the horns for one of the coasts much more extensively than the horns intended for the other coast.

I don’t remember the specifics neither about the effects of the extensive engravings, nor which coast wanted the bright and which one the dark horn sound (by today’s pattern the dark ones would go west and the bright one go east).

Klaus

[Lew]

No, that's a 20" bell in the photo, not a 22" bell.

Bob Rusk, as I understand it (and as I have seen) usually trims the 22" bells of old Bb Yorks to 20". And, of course, the Holton bells were 20". I'm really accustomed to looking at a 20" bell on a BAT, heh, heh.

...

Rick "who would absolutely love an opportunity to compare this instrument with my Holton, side by side" Denney

Nope, a 20" bell is for wimps. Everyone knows that real BATs have to have at least a 24" bell.

[DavidK]

Hey Rob,
Just looking back through the thread and admiring the workmanship again!!

Now that you have had the horn for a good while, it should be all broken in.
How is it working for you?
How would you describe the playing characteristics? The tone, the intonation and slotting?
How does it compare to other 6/4 instruments?
What kind of gigs are you playing it in?
Are you using the modular components or changing the configuration? Or have you settled on a final set-up?

[JHardisk]

Another bump for this awesome horn.

I had the great pleasure of working with Martin this week. He is absolutely incredible! This tuba is demonstrative of his level of attention to detail, know-how, and expertise!

[Paul Scott]

I've had the pleasure of playing this wonderful instrument-a great axe. And its' owner is a superb musician and gentleman.