Your Favorite BAT

[Rick Denney]

I was wonderin if you guys would consider this (a PT-606p) a BAT.

No. The 606 was modeled on an old York 4/4 instrument.

Rick "not even a 5/4" Denney

[MartyNeilan]

I was wondering if you guys would consider this (a PT-606p) a BAT.

No. The 606 was modeled on an old York 4/4 instrument.

Rick "not even a 5/4" Denney

IMHO, I would probably call it a 4/4+ or even a small 5/4 - lots of people running around with 1291/1292's insist they are 5/4 horns (I personally don't), and I would put the 606 in that league.

[J.c. Sherman]

I was wondering if you guys would consider this (a PT-606p) a BAT.

No. The 606 was modeled on an old York 4/4 instrument.

Rick "not even a 5/4" Denney

IMHO, I would probably call it a 4/4+ or even a small 5/4 - lots of people running around with 1291/1292's insist they are 5/4 horns (I personally don't), and I would put the 606 in that league.

Ditto - the 606/Yorks are the quintessence of "4/4" Tuba.

J.c.S.

[Peach]

Rick "not even a 5/4" Denney

IMHO, I would probably call it a 4/4+ or even a small 5/4 - lots of people running around with 1291/1292's insist they are 5/4 horns (I personally don't), and I would put the 606 in that league.

Ditto - the 606/Yorks are the quintessence of "4/4" Tuba.

J.c.S.

J.c.S. it isn't clear whom you are 'ditto-ing' - presumably Rick?

Either way, here's where the 4,5,6/4 nomenclature become subjective.
I've always thought of the 186 as being the standard 4/4, which for me makes the 188 a 4/4+ or large 4/4.
The PT606 has a 19" bell with a biggish throat, a chunky bottom and top bows.
I'd say it's closer in size to a PT6 which I consider the standard 5/4.

It's a grey scale I suppose...

Oh, favourite BAT?
Out of a vintage (York-made?) Holton Rusk-cut C, Neptune rotary, Fafner Bb, and 3v Holton 345-derivative:
The 3v 345 was most fun to play and made the biggest noise.
Vintage Holton had the most lively sound.
Fafner was a great tuba but all-round I'd go for the rotary Neptune.

[Steve Marcus]

Rudy 6-4 silver.jpg

Rudy lacquer 6-4.jpg

Words cannot express...

Except...

Imagine how much more dangerous one of these beasts would be with a 5th valve...

[bort]

Funny to see a Rudy 6/4 with nothing alongside for a sense of scale. It looks almost normal, instead of comically large.

[kegmcnabb]

BAT-tastic!

[Liberty Mo]

Funny to see a Rudy 6/4 with nothing alongside for a sense of scale. It looks almost normal, instead of comically large.

If i remember, he was about 6' tall.

[Steve Marcus]

Funny to see a Rudy 6/4 with nothing alongside for a sense of scale. It looks almost normal, instead of comically large.

Rudy 6-4 with HBS 192s.jpg

I have refrained from posting photos of Rudy 6/4 tubas being held or played by their owners in deference to their privacy.

[Liberty Mo]

Funny to see a Rudy 6/4 with nothing alongside for a sense of scale. It looks almost normal, instead of comically large.

Rudy 6-4 with HBS 192s.jpg

I have refrained from posting photos of Rudy 6/4 tubas being held or played by their owners in deference to their privacy.

If I was out of line with the photo above, let me know and I can remove it. It was taken from the archives of tubenet after the gentleman in the photo posted it himself.

[Wyvern]

Does anyone know of any recording where a Rudy 6/4 is being played (solo, or in an ensemble)? Would be very interesting to actually hear what sort of tone they produce.

Am I right that the model was specifically developed for playing Wagner Ring?

[oedipoes]

Rudy 6-4 silver.jpg

Rudy lacquer 6-4.jpg

Words cannot express...

Except...

Imagine how much more dangerous one of these beasts would be with a 5th valve...

5th valve? why?
It plays pretty much as good as I want with the 4 valves it has, only I can't afford it... (played it and dreamed away)

(although I think Rudy would be pleased to make you a 5-valver if you are willing to pay for it)

Wim

[PolkaNoble]

To get a prospective on size, I weigh(d) 265 in this photo and I am 6 feet tall. This is "Red Rudy" My Rudolf Meinl 5/4 in red brass. By far my favorite BAT

[pwhitaker]

Here are my 3 favorites: 2 current (Conn 20J and Holton BBb) and 1 former (5/4 Rudy Meinl BBb).

I'm the lithe chap on the left holding the Conn and Holton - for reference purposes I'm 6' 3'' and weigh more than most of you.

[Mcordon1]

Here are my 3 favorites: 2 current (Conn 20J and Holton BBb) and 1 former (5/4 Rudy Meinl BBb).

I'm not worthy! (kneels)

[termite]

Hi Pat

Have you not got the Rudy anymore?

Gerard

[bigbob]

Funny to see a Rudy 6/4 with nothing alongside for a sense of scale. It looks almost normal, instead of comically large.

If i remember, he was about 6' tall.

I want that horn!!Willing to do odd jobs...Do I have to join the service again to get it?? <s>Do you think they'll take me at 66?? haha Do these really big horns ever come up for sale used??Where would be the best place to look?.... Thanks..bigbob

[Rick Denney]

I want that horn!!Willing to do odd jobs...Do I have to join the service again to get it?? <s>Do you think they'll take me at 66?? haha Do these really big horns ever come up for sale used??Where would be the best place to look?.... Thanks..bigbob

Bob, if you come back to the Army conference next year, ask about it at the first reading session. There is usually a fellow in the Army who brings his Rudy 6/4 (not the fellow in the picture). It is quite impressive.

If you want to buy one, contact Lee Stofer. Bring your checkbook. Last I saw, they were priced in the mid-20's.

Rick "who knows of perhaps three of these in the U.S." Denney

[Rev Rob]

My question is how much air does it take to play one of these 6/4 tubas - especially the pedal bass notes? My guess is more than I can effectively produce.

[Rick Denney]

My question is how much air does it take to play one of these 6/4 tubas - especially the pedal bass notes? My guess is more than I can effectively produce.

My Holton does like it when I move lots of air, but the truth is that I don't really move lots of air compared to good players. But it doesn't really need more air than a good 4/4, and it works well with less than a lot of stuffy (by which I mean unresonant) tubas. Remember that resonance is a feedback phenomenon. The better the instrument sends back pulse reflections that reinforce outgoing pulses in the buzz, the easier it is to play.

Rick "who can make a prettier sound on a resonant big tuba than on a stuffy small tuba" Denney