The 6/4 of your dreams

[averagejoe]

Brass instruments die if not played. While it's good from a research standpoint to have these instruments caged, would you say the same if the two CSO York tubas were there, on display? Or Bill Bell's rotary King? Or Schmitz's Alex?

If any of those tubas were in the Tuba Exchange museum, someone would be bound to make a high enough offer to persuade them to sell.

[Wyvern]

I would have to go with those who said the 4 valve, front action, 2XJ, which I guess would be a 26J with recording bell or 27J with an upright bell.

I was privileged enough to play my friend's during visit to Michigan last year and found it to be really superb - definitely the best 6/4 BBb I have played. Gorgeous broad tone and those short action valves are a wonderful idea combining the direct response of pistons, with the short action and comfortable spacing of rotary - a pity they never took off to be fitted on other BATs!

Picture of 26J beside Conn Jumbo for size comparison - two giants together!

[Rick Denney]

It's in the Tuba Exchange museum. I really wish it wasn't, it deserves to be played (and heard!). I think I remember reading that once he got into his 80s, it was just too big for him to keep up with. I really only briefly knew him for a few months, but hope he's doing well!

That instrument is not in the Tuba Exchange museum. It is awaiting restoration by its, um, current owner.

Good....

Robert, your arrangement of quotes may confuse people. The 6/4 Martin that Lenny played in his younger years is indeed in that museu--er--private collection. The 4/4 fiberglass Martin he played more recently is in a different private collection. The latter private collection is less formal, more fun (for me, at least), and the instruments in that collection do get played...occasionally. I'm not really sure anyone would want to play that fiberglass Martin routinely unless they had the same needs Mr. Jung did, although Art still accuses me of talking him out of it so that I could buy it. I particularly like the automotive hose clamps that hold that smaller Martin together. Real classy!

Rick "still pondering its restoration" Denney

[bort]

Usually with a museum, the "gift shop" comes at the end, as you're leaving. Seems to me like you've got to walk through the shop to get to the tuba museum first.

I've never been and I don't know Vince. Some of those tubas in the museum are probably clunkers, worn out, and otherwise ready for retirement. Others have a lot of music left in them.

My opinions about the museum aside, anyone who donated/sold/traded an instrument to the museum made that decision themselves and had their own motivations for it. I don't have to agree with it, but probably not the choice I would have made.

[cjk]

... I'm not really sure anyone would want to play that fiberglass Martin routinely unless they had the same needs Mr. Jung did, although Art still accuses me of talking him out of it so that I could buy it. I particularly like the automotive hose clamps that hold that smaller Martin together. Real classy!

Rick "still pondering its restoration" Denney

There's a fiberglass Martin for sale at Dillon Music right now.

-->> http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/Pr ... 17998.aspx" target="_blank

[Bandmaster]

Well, I don't need to look for mine anymore... I already have it! Had it since last May and getting lots of compliments on how it sounds.


1966 BBb Holton 345

[MDORVAL]

In my case, I think I'm lucky in having the one's I think are the best in their category. I have a Yorkbrunner (CC) that is just amazing and where the sound is just untouchable (in my opinion). I've tried Gronitz, Yamayork and also a Meister Walter Nirschl, but none of them come close (in my opinion again!). A lot of people says that the Hirsbrunner are tough to play but I found them not so tough, especially if you let the horn sing by itself. Clarity and profoundness is the best quality for this horn. It has also a lot of projection and resonance. I have a pretty new model (2007) and heard they are much better than the previous version.
As for BBb, I have a Rudy Meinl 6/4, which is a 7 or 8/4, if you compare it to other 6/4. I agree that Rudy's horn are tougher to play (especially BBb) but when you got the sound you want, it really rock in the bottom as an example. Playing Prokofiev Romeo & Juliet, Ride of the Valkyries, Rheingold or even Fountain of Romes sounds so great on this horn that you start to think that some of the classical repertoire has been made for that kind of instrument. Although, the Rudy is not as versatile as the Hirsbrunner. The high register is not as easy to be in tune and not as bright, although the extreme low register sounds more like an organ sound! The Rudy is not made for everything in my opinion and not a single horn is made for everything. There is repertoire for all the different tubas; like the trumpet players are using. Tuba is no different than trumpet !
MD

[Lew]

Well, I don't need to look for mine anymore... I already have it! Had it since last May and getting lots of compliments on how it sounds.


1966 BBb Holton 345

Beautiful horn! I'm exceedingly jealous.

[Wyvern]

I also fell in love with a nearly perfect Neptune rotary in gold brass that was one of the very first ones made, back when they were Culbertson Neptunes and not B&S. Stellar tuba in all ways.

Ditto that. The early "Mel Culbertson Neptune" labeled rotary tubas are dynamite instruments!

I entirely agree, except I am not sure about 'early' Neptune's being any more stellar than later ones. I have played four Neptune's of varying ages and have found them all wonderful instruments. The very few handmade Neptune's about are of course the best, but that is mainly in ease of response to the player (and lightness to carry) - tonally wise for me nothing else matches a Neptune - I think it is that unique combination of American BAT broadness with German Kaiser colour - magic!

[tclements]

I'd love to get my hands on one of those B.A.T. B&S rotary CC's.

[bigbob]

I have played david fedderly's baer and a 345 holton CC with a kanstel bell Loved it but the one I really love is the York CC rusk cut 5banger what a great sound but I don't think my teacher wants to give it up<s> Besides those There is only one that is the greatest and that's the one I can get on credit hahaha(havent found it yet)BB

[Bandmaster]

Well, I don't need to look for mine anymore... I already have it! Had it since last May and getting lots of compliments on how it sounds.


1966 BBb Holton 345

Beautiful horn! I'm exceedingly jealous.

It turned a few heads at the Glendale (Los Angeles) Tuba Christmas yesterday. Had several folks give it test play with Norm Pearson and Joe Jackson giving it a thumbs up.

[skeath]

[GC]

I'd love to have a horn with the bell and bows of a Holton 345, but the valve wrap and position redone to put the mess of valve tubing more within the instrument than out front. It's uncomfortable to me to reach so far around and so far forward. Relocating the valves a bit lower and toward the bell and angling the valve set would also make for more comfort.

[Bob Kolada]

Next time an old Martin or the like with front valves comes up for sale on here (big fat Martin, Holton with a 190 bell,.... probably even a clean 28J), I'm going to make a serious effort to get it. I haven't played a big C that impressed me (why can't a big tuba sound like a big tuba?), I like the affordability of old 3 valve horns, classic American tubas have a definite charm to them,... LV, you still got that 3 valve Holton?

[TYA]

Next time an old Martin or the like with front valves comes up for sale on here (big fat Martin, Holton with a 190 bell,.... probably even a clean 28J), I'm going to make a serious effort to get it. I haven't played a big C that impressed me (why can't a big tuba sound like a big tuba?), I like the affordability of old 3 valve horns, classic American tubas have a definite charm to them,... LV, you still got that 3 valve Holton?

There is a Bag Martin BBb 4 front piston at BBC for sale right now. Is that what you are looking for?

[Bob Kolada]

Yes and thank you. I will PM you my address right now.

[Mojo workin']

Clarity and profoundness is the best quality for this horn.

My, was that profound.

[Bob Kolada]

Honestly, the only 6/4 that I've played that truly offers a "Thor"-like (super-easy and powerful) low register is the CSO York. That tuba, though (just as with all other 6/4 tubas), is no intonation "walk-in-the-park".

The only 6/4 C (and honestly, the only C tuba and player) that I have really liked hearing played has been Gene Pokorny and (presumably) the CSO York. I would not do either him nor the horn the injustice of associating him/it with the Thor.
I've never played that horn nor really talked about it with anyone who has, but going off Mr. Pokorny's very slight slide gyrations the few times I've seen him play I had always thought it to be a rather in tune horn (open E seems to work, mild though constant 1st slide movement).

I would be very curious to hear his thoughts on the intonation of both the Yorks and how they compare to each other. The few, albeit smaller, Yorks I've played or sat next to someone playing for a few years all seemed to have very good intonation (small F needed high F played 52, 4/4 C has flat 5th; that's about it).

I've always thought it odd, Joe, that you comment on so many horns' poor intonation yet so many people are able to play them in tune.

[Wyvern]

why can't a big tuba sound like a big tuba?

Probably because you are playing it like a small tuba - pushing too much. One needs to sit back with 6/4's and let the tuba do the work to achieve that sound we love.