Looking for a 6/4 American Bb BAT

[Roger Fjeldet]

I`m happy to say that a Holton 345 Bb is soon to be picked up in Oslo, hopefully arriving safely from Atlanta
I`m really looking forward to try the instrument

Roger

[tuba-tobias]

Good for you, Roger!

[Wyvern]

Let us know how you find it Roger!

[pjv]

So many tubas, so little time.....

Jumping in; I play on a 1930 Conn 36J (4 front valves & a 26" front bell), a 1924 Conn 46K, 28" bell (Jumbo), a 1926 Martin Mammoth (4 valves, 30" bell), a 1923 Conn 40K (24" bell), and a 1913 Conn whatever (4 valves, .734ish, 20" bell-up tuning lead pipe), maybe a Monster or a 32J or both. I used to own a Holton 130 sousaphone (.750 ??, 26" bell).

The Holton 130 had a marvelous sound. A real orchestra horn (if they'd let you in with it!).
The Monster plays beautifully but is rather soft. I've tried the same type of horn before and it was terrible.
The 40K is versatile and mean. I've tried another 40K that was good, but not as open.
I've tried two Holton 345's; a 3valved bell-up beauty and a 4valved bell-front dud.
The Mammoth is quite agile and really wips around for a big horn.
I just recently acquired the Jumbo (thanks Dan Schultz!) and have played only one gig. The results are positive to say the least. My sound was everywhere and thats why I bought the horn. Lots of (gorgeous) sound with little effort.
The Conn 36J is the superior horn of the bunch (but maybe when I know the Jumbo better and have more time to work it I'll change my view). Even when I put the 36J bell on my Conn 40K or my old Holton 130 they both sounded better.

A real winner; hmmm. The tuba (and sousaphone) design is probably the most diversified of all the brass instruments. We have far less size and model standards than other brass as far as lead-pipe, bell flare and bore. And then we haven't even mentioned the number or type of valves and, quite important, the entire conical expansion concept; my Mammoth is a smaller bore than my 40K, but it ends up with a larger bell and throat. A lot of possibilities on a conical instrument as long as a tuba and they all effect the sound.

But the sound isn't just in the design or size, its in the maker. Old Martin's (for example) are loved by many because of the type of sound. They sounded like Martin's. An old King sounds like a King, a Conn like a Conn. Somewhere between concept philosophy, type of metal and the actual design you get an instrument that can be a true work of art.

The names and sizes are all out there on the internet. Certainly on this forum. Try them out and see if you can find yourself a worthy partner. Don't just buy a US BAT because others are so in love (theoretically not a bad place to start), but because its what you need to do your thing. The right tool for the right job.

[TheHatTuba]

Spam destroyed

[phaymore]

For a second, I thought this was about Naked Lady Conn's....oops.

Patrick

[Tundratubast]

Just because Roger's older post popped up at a very appropriate moment. I thought I'd add a VERY SHAMELESS plug for the one I have for sale in the For Sale Section. My apologise to anyone offended by this shameless plug to sell one of my two very excellent Holton 345's. It is in lacquer and not the one visible in my avatar photo.