St.Pete Eb

[tubaforce]

Hi!
Sorry, Jonathan! I'm just not as comfortable with the 3+1 set up and I would think that most of us on this side of the pond feel more comfortable with 4 inline, or 4+ thumb set ups. It's just what we're used too. I will say that having the 4th. left set up on the EEb I had for two weeks ( I have to stop selling my demo horns! ) made it EASIER to play a concert on EEb Tuba after a 30 year hiatus!

Al

[iiipopes]

Hi!
Sorry, Jonathan! I'm just not as comfortable with the 3+1 set up and I would think that most of us on this side of the pond feel more comfortable with 4 inline, or 4+ thumb set ups. It's just what we're used too. I will say that having the 4th. left set up on the EEb I had for two weeks ( I have to stop selling my demo horns! ) made it EASIER to play a concert on EEb Tuba after a 30 year hiatus!
Al

Besson does make the "Pat Sheridan" model 983 with 4-forward valves. One does come up occasionally. There's one right now in the "For Sale" section:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=45296" target="_blank

[Bob Kolada]

I'm waiting for the Jupiter version with the more comfortable valve set to be sold through Jin Bao (like that little rotary Bb)!

[Wyvern]

I'm just not as comfortable with the 3+1 set up and I would think that most of us on this side of the pond feel more comfortable with 4 inline, or 4+ thumb set ups. It's just what we're used too.

Understood! Where as this side of the pond virtually everyone learns on a 3+1. I did not play 4 in-line tuba until I was 40 and although I have not played 3+1 for the last 5 years following shoulder injury, have found trying the JinBao 700 EEb, I quite like again (my shoulder thankfully now seems better ). I am using the Wisemann 16" bell Eb I sell for most of my quintet playing and think I will use the Jinbao EEb regularly in the orchestra for British repertoire once I have demo one at my disposal.

[mse0320]

I picked up a St. Pete today and brought it home. I will give my opinion of it over the next couple of days. Maybe it will be a keeper.

Thanks for everyone's advice,

Matt

[mse0320]

Ok, my first impression of this horn. Very nice sound, better than I expected! Free blowing and has a pretty solid low range. I am very impressed with the valves, they have come a long way from what was on the Bb's when first introduced but the tuning slides seem a little cheap. They move freely but not overly impressed with them, I don't know how to explain other than they just seem a little cheap but I guess it can be expected on a $3,500.00 tuba.

The only notes that I'm really having trouble with on this horn are the E naturals and F naturals in the staff. Below the staff they are solid and in tune but in the staff they are FLAT! I have not played in a while and it could be my chops, but I will keep working on it over the next couple weeks.

Overall, I think this is a nice little Eb tuba and would recommend it to others. I have this horn on a 21 day trial so if anyone has questions, feel free to write on the form. I'll give another review next week after a little more play time on the horn.


Matt

[iiipopes]

How is the "cash register" for most concert band work: Ab below the staff fingered T+4 and up an octave and a half or so chromatic from there for consistency of tone and intonation?

You've already mentioned the flat e nat & f in the staff. These are 5th partials for 1+2 and 1, respectively, and they probably would be slightly flat. I wonder if shortening the 1st valve circuit so these notes can be shoved, like 1st for flat 5th partials on other horns? And how are f#/gb fingered 2nd valve and open top space g, which are also fifth partial notes?

[mse0320]

How is the "cash register" for most concert band work: Ab below the staff fingered T+4 and up an octave and a half or so chromatic from there for consistency of tone and intonation?

I think its pretty solid. Notes are very responsive, tone is pretty consistant, and there's not a lot of pulling and pushing of slides when you get above C below the staff. Although I do like the low range on this horn I do think that a BBb or CC tuba would cover me in Concert Band setting.

So far, I'm finding the intonation issues on D, E, and F in the staff. Once I hit G on the staff and up intonation problems seem to be easier to manage.

And how are f#/gb fingered 2nd valve and open top space g, which are also fifth partial notes?

F#/Gb seems to be pretty close the the with the 2nd valve slide pulled about 3/16's of an inch.

I wonder if shortening the 1st valve circuit so these notes can be shoved

How easy is this mod and about how much $$$$$$ would it be do you think?

[iiipopes]

I wonder if shortening the 1st valve circuit so these notes can be shoved

How easy is this mod and about how much $$$$$$ would it be do you think?

I had it done to the 1st valve circuit of a Conn 2J while I waited. My tech charged me $20, but of course, I have him or have had him, do something to every horn I've ever owned. If you were good with a small tubing cutter tool, or very neat and clean with the right hacksaw blade, you could even do it yourself.

[GC]

Many, many Eb tubas seem to have unusually flat F's and E's in the staff, sometimes much flatter than the open G that they originate from. The only eefer I've seen that doesn't have some flatness in the E-G range is the Kanstul top-valve model; it's amazingly well in tune. The side-valve model has a distinctly flat G and needs alternate fingerings (at least the one I played at SERTEC did). I have to work hard on my Monster Conn Eb to get that range up to pitch, but it's doable with alternate fingerings.

Shortening the valves will work if you can pull slides, which should work fine on the St. Pete. Without it, your Db's and Ab's are going to be very, very sharp if you get the F in tune that way.