Harvey Phillips BBb

[daveinem]

Hi folks,


I am considering a BBb tuba. Are these Harvey Phillips BBbs by Holton any good, say compared to a current King 4-valve BBb or a Conn 5J?

Thanks for your help.

[Sam Gnagey]

Hi folks,


I am considering a BBb tuba. Are these Harvey Phillips BBbs by Holton any good, say compared to a current King 4-valve BBb or a Conn 5J?

Thanks for your help.

Of course it's a matter of personal opinion and to what purpose you intend to use the horn. Both the Conn and the Holton play pretty small with their bore sizes around .650". For more general purpose playing I don't think you can find a better BBb than the new 2341. It's bore is .687" with a 20" bell that can put out lots bigger sound. If you have trouble locating one I know of a local store that has one in inventory. PM or email me if you want to follow up on that. Of course I make use of the 2341 components in the 4/4 CC tubas that I build, so I may be a little prejudiced toward them.

[daveinem]

Thanks, Sam. That is exactly the kind of expert opinion I am looking for. I was wondering about the Kings versus Conns especially.

[J.c. Sherman]

One of my students has one; I actually like it a great deal save for a water issue in the 4th valve which annoys us both.

It's a little tighter than the 2341 as Sam says, but I am fond of it, and it's a nice horn for Jazz. I like the CC better, though.