OLD Holton 4valve front action BBb

[tubaplyer]

Has anyone had any experience with an OLD Holton 4 valve front action BBb with a detachable recording bell? I will post some pictures tomorrow. Any feedback would be great. I believe the horn is from the early 1910-1920. I dont see a lot of old Holton horns for sale with detachable bells anymore. I'm sure they are out there, just wanted to know if there was any interesting facts about these.

A

[toobagrowl]

I still have my old Holton 350 bell front BBb. My first horn It was sitting under 10+ years of black tarnish, so last week I polished it up and greased/oiled the valves and slides. Same model as the last pic posted by KiltieTuba, except in silverplate and with all functioning parts. Checked the serial# and it was made sometime in 1967. I forgot how easy it was to "puff" notes at pretty much any dynamic level and how good it is at fast runs/scales. Amazingly agile for it's size. Produces a huge beautiful sound with a certain transparency and buoyancy I really wish conductors would be open to the bell front tubas again cuz they sound so good.

Here is another Holton bell front model which may be older:




http://www.horn-u-copia.net/picture.php ... n-tuba.jpg" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[EdFirth]

You can buy a one piece replacement upright bell for it from Kanstul. Ed

[toobagrowl]

^ I'd rather keep it as a detachable bell front. I like being able to move the "periscope" bell side to side and want to keep the vintage Holton sound. I used to move/aim the bell to my front-right for indoor concerts so the sound would bounce off the auditorium walls and not be aimed directly at the conductor. Sounded good on those @15-year-old taped performances from late middle school and high school. If I had the money, I'd try to get a custom detachable upright bell made for it. That way I'd have the option of bell front or upright bell.

I hope tubaplyer gives us an update tomorrow.

[tubaplyer]

Here are the pictures tell me what you think! The serial goes back to 1929 if my research is correct.

[tubaplyer]

[iiipopes]

Great tuba! Yes, they are under-appreciated. I don't believe the poster above was trying to get you to change totally to a bell front, but simply to add an upright bell to have with the recording bell in the arsenal, to make the tuba even more flexible. I have both a recording bell and upright bell for my 186, and both get used with the various gigs I play during the year.

The tinkerer in me has to wonder if that 1st valve circuit can be "flipped" so you have a usable slide for your left hand as necessary....

[toobagrowl]

@ KiltieTuba

I will look into one of those detachable upright Kanstul bells Lee has for sale when I have the money. The Holton's detachable front-bell has a collar of about 8.30" inches....just measured it. Dunno if any of those Kanstul bells have the same measurement though...

@tubaplyer

Your tuba looks nice. How does it play? I think you have the 4 valve version of the Holton I linked earlier in the thread. Very rare tuba

[toobagrowl]

Great tuba! Yes, they are under-appreciated. I don't believe the poster above was trying to get you to change totally to a bell front, but simply to add an upright bell to have with the recording bell in the arsenal, to make the tuba even more flexible.

I think having both the front bell and upright bell would be awesome!

[tubaplyer]

Lovely tone, nice intonation easy to blow. The attack is spot on. I absolutely love the way it plays!

[Tubacube]

Does my heart good to see the old Holtons again -- just beautiful!