.

[TheHatTuba]

.

[Dan Schultz]

I'm not a big fan of the 2XJ tubas simply because they are a pain in the *** to lug around. That situation would be worse if they had fixed bells. I had a great 24/25J (four valves & both bells) that I used for Dixieland stuff for a while. I loved the way it played but got REALLY tired of hauling the body and bell in the cases along with a Wenger stand... plus music stand and such to gigs. I put all the stuff on a garden cart to get it all to and from the car. I sold the whole mess and went back to my 'old standard' recording bell King.

All that said.... I think there is a possibility that a one-piece bell on a 2XJ would make a 'killer' horn. I'm just basing that on the fact that I think some of the old fixed-bell 1240/41 Kings were very good players.

[Steve Marcus]

When I owned a 25J with the original 24" upright bell, Altieri made a custom gig bag for it that enabled me to carry the horn with the bell attached as a backpack. My hands were free to carry accessories.

Anyone who attended the 1999 International Tuba Euphonium Workshop at U Oklahoma might remember the big black bag on the back of a 5'4" player walking from the dorms, especially when I was walking next to a much taller player such as Scott Roeder.

I sold the 25J with the bag when I purchased my Nirschl CC.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

My guess is that whether one likes 2XJ's or not, is not based on the fixed bell/removable bell issue, but on other considerations.

[sloan]

My 36J (4 front long action, ca. 1934) - recently released from Williston after major surgery - travels in a custom Altieri "sleeping bag" with the bell attached. It's a little delicate - I usually have to re-adjust the bell at the destination - but it works reasonably well. It fits perfectly in the back of my VW GTI.

I have only a straight bell, but am keeping my eye open for a bell-front as well. I have two cases (which I never use) for transporting it in pieces.

Converting to a fixed bell is perhaps an option I'll think about. But for now, I think I'll just play the $%^&* thing for awhile. Some of the charm is the visual appeal of the "satellite dish" 26" bell - I doubt that any one would make a straight bell with that extreme flare these days - and I'm really not interested in spending big $$ on an experiment with a different shape.

Now...if the current bell stack were ever irretrievably trashed, *then* I would consider replacing the entire stack with
a new fixed bell. Perhaps I'll leave that for the NEXT owner, on the tuba's 100th birthday.

Quiz for all you Conn experts - what modifications can you spot:

36JbackSMALL.jpg

36JfrontSMALL.jpg

[b.williams]

I don't know if a fixed bell would make a big difference in sound or not.

I love the sound of my current 20J. It has a different leadpipe that makes all the difference in the world. I do not care what the horn looks like. I am interested in the sound. BTW, I discovered that I can reach down with my left hand while playing and move the main tuning slide. Oh happy days!!!

[Brown Mule]

I love the sound of my current 20J. It has a different leadpipe that makes all the difference in the world. I do not care what the horn looks like. I am interested in the sound. BTW, I discovered that I can reach down with my left hand while playing and move the main tuning slide. Oh happy days!!!

Please share what change was made to lead pipe. Am always looking for improvement as I am 2xj fan.

[b.williams]

Here are some pictures of the horn.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEUSX:IT" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

The leadpipe seems to be a little bit straighter than normal. In the pictures you can see the outline of where the original leadpipe was attached to the tuba. It also seems to have a slightly bigger diameter than usual. I first noticed this when I put my tuning bit into the receiver and it went in too far and wouldn't seal properly. The leadpipe also appears to be off the bell more than the original placement.

I bought the horn on Ebay. I didn't know that it had a different leadpipe until I received it.

[SousaSaver]

Sloan -

What are the mods? The pictures are a bit small. I see a tuning bit, right?

[sloan]

Sloan -

What are the mods? The pictures are a bit small. I see a tuning bit, right?

sorry - hasty iPhone pic under weak lighting (plus...limits on file sizes)

a) reversed, shortened (and now available for the left hand for pulling) #1 and #3

b) relocated thumbring (where it *was* attached isn't there anymore)

c) replaced top bow with one scavenged from a 2XJ that was:

1) silver

2) 1/2" too wide (36J wrap is *not* identical to 2XJ wrap!)

d) (invisible, but audible) replated valves

I do, indeed, use a bit - mostly to give me a better playing position.

In its current configuration, it plays very nicely, with only a slightly flat F.

[SousaSaver]

VERY cool.

[The Big Ben]

[
c) replaced top bow with one scavenged from a 2XJ that was:

1) silver

2) 1/2" too wide (36J wrap is *not* identical to 2XJ wrap!)

What was the reasoning behind this mod? In what way does it play different than with the 36J bow?

[SousaSaver]

I'm sure Sloan will answer, but can I guess?

Was the piece so badly damaged that it had to be replaced?