How big is this tuba?

[Mike Finn]

To those wondering about (a) Kurath (hint hint it's for sale hint hint):

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37742" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

And pictures link (I know it's on the above ad, but I know some people will look all over for it):

http://s855.photobucket.com/albums/ab11 ... 3050%20CC/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Joseph

Thant is the on I am buying now. I'm looking forward to getting it.

Congrats on your new tuba! It looks like a good one.

[Rick Denney]

How would a 5/4 Kurath compare to a 6/4 rudy or the holton 345? I heard these tubas were beasts in themselves

The 5/4 Kurath is the forerunner of the Willson 3050. It's a little smaller than the Holton, but still a big tuba. Neither are in the same class as the Rudy.

Rick "thinking the work for the Rudy isn't the bore, but getting a colorful tone" Denney

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

All this talk about how big is big in reference to the 345 and how huge the Rudy is...

pfft... Looky what I gots heya.

This is BIG!!!

[bigbob]

That looks like a really big horn.... which make is it.. what's the bore size? how tall? how much does it weigh? how old is it?What key is it in??Is this another consighnment piece or are you selling it after you have refurbished it??..bigbob.... After looking a little closer at the pic I see the man standing next to it!! WOW!! huge horn is this a gimmick horn??

[The Big Ben]

I think I've seen another picture of this horn. Can't remember the details but I think it's keyed in BBBb- an octave lower than a BBb.

Dan, how much would it cost to have four front valves installed, cut it to CCC and satin-silver it?

[Steve Marcus]

There were supposedly two BBBb tubas created (for Sousa's band?). One is the BBBb that is owned by the Harvard Band that occasionally makes appearances at Boston Pops, Harvard, and other Boston area concerts (various photos with this "playable" horn have been seen with Chester Schmitz, Mike Roylance, and a very young Sam Pilafian). It has also appeared at least once at an ITEC (see Brian Fredericksen's avatar photo).

Its "sister" horn, as it were, was/is owned by Carl Fischer, Inc. It was on display in their retail store in NY in non-playable condition for many years (again, various photos with people standing next to the tuba have appeared on the Internet over the years). When that store closed a few years ago, there was some question as to what would happen to that huge tuba. Would they sell it? Apparently, the decision was to keep the tuba and take it to their corporate headquarters where they were/are still in the publishing business (but no longer in retail).

Is this photo the Carl Fischer BBBb subcontrabass tuba? Who is Sam Jones? Has there ever been any recent effort to make this tuba "playable?"

(BTW, this photo is NOT the "Hoffnung" CCC/BBBb subcontrabass tuba which is privately owned and is "playable." It is also NOT the huge tuba that once graced the Boosey & Hawkes factory building with its fake valves.)

[The Big Ben]

Would be something to get this playable and to hear it. Wonder how much air it would take. Would it be necessary to have a custom mouthpiece made? I know some of you really dislike TubaChristmas but wouldn't it be great to showcase this horn at different TCs each year? The fun would kind of be in the spirit of the thing....

It doesn't look too bad off- the valves need something done and a few tubes are squished. Wonder what it would take to buy it from/allow it to be restored from Fischer? A letter from a 'tuba star' (Big Gene, Deck, Baer, Self?)

[UDELBR]

The BBBb rotary horns (or one of them, actually) was pictured in the Guinness Book of World Records for many years, and might be today as well. I just googled it, but could locate no photos of these rotary tubas

[Bandmaster]

[Virtuoso]

What brand made the rotary ones pictured? Can't read the bell engraving....

[Wyvern]

One would think the valve paddles could be put in a more reachable position with rotary valves?

That one in the colour picture looks copper?

[UDELBR]

I would DEFINITELY go for the one in the larger (color) picture, because the bell is removable for easy transport.

Pretty sure they're the exact same instrument. Story is that it was in the basement of a London instrument repair shop when renovations were done on the building. Smaller doors prevented the intrument's removal; thus the removable bell. At least that's the story.

[Dean E]

I believe the gynormous tuba is a FF, not even a BBBb... I still would love to hear it I just don't want to have to play on it ever day...

Said to be an Amati FFF. The photo was on the web, but with no information.

[Mcordon1]

I believe the gynormous tuba is a FF, not even a BBBb... I still would love to hear it I just don't want to have to play on it ever day...

Said to be an Amati FFF. The photo was on the web, but with no information.

From the Amati website; "
This 'Big Tuba', which is also registered in the Guinness book of records, was made in Kraslice by the manufacturer Bohlad & Fuchs probably already in the years 1910/1911 and was destined for the World Exhibition in New York in 1913. This tuba is "playable", but two persons are needed. One for pressing the valves and one for blowing.
Specification:

* Key:FFF
* Valves:4 rotary valves
* Bell:1025mm (40.35")
* Height:2450mm (96.45")
* Length (rolled out):15770mm (620.9")
* Weight:56kg (123.45 lbs)
* Mouthpiece cup diameter: 55mm (2.16")

The Bohlad & Fuchs company was before WWII one of the greatest musical instruments manufacturers in the region of Kraslice. After the war, the company became part of the AMATI company.

This tuba and other old instruments from the former manufacturers resided in Kraslice and neighbourhood can be seen in the concert hall and in the small musical instruments museum at the technical school for music in Kraslice. "

Tuben knows. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15435&start=24" target="_blank

[Mcordon1]

Also, here's 2 more pictures of BBBbs.
These may be the same horn. the first is a picture with Rex Conner.

[Wyvern]

It would be very interesting to hear that Amati FFF, but is it possible to play a 55mm mouthpiece? I tried a 48mm one in Markneukirchen last year and could not even get a buzz.

[Steve Marcus]

I believe the gynormous tuba is a FF, not even a BBBb... I still would love to hear it I just don't want to have to play on it ever day...

Said to be an Amati FFF. The photo was on the web, but with no information.

From the Amati website; "
This 'Big Tuba', which is also registered in the Guinness book of records, was made in Kraslice by the manufacturer Bohlad & Fuchs probably already in the years 1910/1911 and was destined for the World Exhibition in New York in 1913. This tuba is "playable", but two persons are needed. One for pressing the valves and one for blowing.
Specification:

* Key:FFF
* Valves:4 rotary valves
* Bell:1025mm (40.35")
* Height:2450mm (96.45")
* Length (rolled out):15770mm (620.9")
* Weight:56kg (123.45 lbs)
* Mouthpiece cup diameter: 55mm (2.16")

The Bohlad & Fuchs company was before WWII one of the greatest musical instruments manufacturers in the region of Kraslice. After the war, the company became part of the AMATI company.

This tuba and other old instruments from the former manufacturers resided in Kraslice and neighbourhood can be seen in the concert hall and in the small musical instruments museum at the technical school for music in Kraslice. "

Here's another view:

[Dean E]

I would DEFINITELY go for the one in the larger (color) picture, because the bell is removable for easy transport.

Pretty sure they're the exact same instrument. Story is that it was in the basement of a London instrument repair shop when renovations were done on the building. Smaller doors prevented the intrument's removal; thus the removable bell. At least that's the story.

Someone forgot to tell the movers about removing the bell in this photo of the Paxman.

[UDELBR]

[Rick Denney]

The Harvard BBBb was apparently made by Besson. Sam Pilafian played it once a year in his younger days, and the story goes that he had to "train up" for it. There is a picture of that instrument with a girl (read: College-age woman) in the bell with just her head protruding. Pilafian was in that picture, and he looked...young.

The Paxman CCC does not require two people, one to blow and one to work the valves. The same person can blow and work the valves. That does not mean it is playable. And, yes, I have had my shot at it.

The Amati FFF is bigger than any of the above. If the dimensions are correct, it is a true FFF, 1.5 octaves lower than a BBb contrabass. Even with two people, and even with a mouthpiece design for a humanoid skull, I doubt that it is playable in any musical sense of the term.

Rick "who made pretty realistic fart sounds on the Paxman instrument" Denney