LSO Tubist

[Ace]

I ran across this YouTube video and found the last minute or so very interesting. Perhaps you will to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgtP9KA5 ... re=channel" target="_blank

[rodgeman]

Thanks. I listened to it and it was interesting. I also listened to the bass trombone for the LSO. The both mentioned listening to cello pieces and playing them. It was enlightening. I would have liked to hear a lower piece played. Just my opinion.

Thanks for posting it.

[Wyvern]

Glad to see he's keeping it simple with the top action 3 valve Eb.

It's a 3+1 compensated 4 valve - a Besson 982

[imperialbari]

It's a 3+1 compensated 4 valve - a Besson 982

How common is the 982 in UK professional orchestras?

Klaus

[Peach]

Glad to see he's keeping it simple with the top action 3 valve Eb.

It's a 3+1 compensated 4 valve - a Besson 982

-(Anal response alert)-
Jonathan - yes definately a 982: lyre box just visible and receiver also 982.
Bell engraving with smaller bottom bow guard points toward a 90's model. It doesn't carriage rings and you can see the leadpipe has been off in the past from the buffing marks/lacquer. Probably been overhauled? Wonder why the lyre box remained?

As an aside, despite the blurb from Besson the 981 & 982 have been the exact same instrument bar the rings for years. Ex-Edgeware Besson employees and the guys at Windcraft have told me when the two models went to the raised leadpipe there was a short time when the leadpipes were still different but shortly afterward they became the same - making the two identical. Can't say whether all models now have 'old' 981 or 982 leadpipes or whether it's a new one.

Klaus, looks like Harrild uses a 982 at least sometimes. Oren Marshall also uses one as his main 3+1 Eb I believe. I think more guys use the 981 more because they don't like those carriage rings.
Certainly good and bad examples exist in both 981 & 982.

MP

[Bob Kolada]

Peach, how common are the 15" bell 3+1 Eb's there? I would think they would be a easy-to-switch-between/nice-change-up from a 981 for quintet and such.

[Peach]

Bob,
The 15" bell models are found in a lot of school systems, Youth bands and sitting unused in bandrooms. Can be lovely tubas but the problem is a lot of them are knackered conversions from high to low pitch or the valves are rotten etc.

I see your point about switching between 15-19" bell models but in honesty there'd probably be a lot less pitch and response changes just switching to a small mouthpiece on the 19" model for solos or quintet.

It probably seems crazy to everyone else but the overwhelming majority of UK tubists use only one tuba - a 3+1 comp with 19" bell. Mouthpiece-wise we're also very reserved with probably a majority of orchestral & College players using Bach 24AW and most brass banders using a Wick 3 or 2. Folks are getting into more mouthpieces recently though.
Guys just play Berlioz on exactly the same gear as they would play the Ring. A lot of them do a great job!

MP

[peter birch]

both Besson and York have a EEb with a 17" bell now, with a claim that it gives a more focussed sound than the 19" bell