Army Band Conference Pics...

[ASTuba]

Having bought one of these tubas (the BMB F, not the 6/4 CC), I can tell you from my experience that I have had zero trouble with the valves. All that I do is oil them everyday. I will say that having the valves aligned with Bloke's help has made a lot of improvements to me with this instrument.

YMMV, but I still think the BMB instruments are great and should be considered by everyone.

[Billy M.]

Ok, after reading that Lee Stofer was going to have a couple of his made-to-order 4/4 CCs at this conference, I'm interested in seeing this horn in a photo and if anyone has played one what they thought of them.

[chhite]

Lee wasn't able to get the horns completed to his satisfaction and so to avoid rushing an incomplete product to market, he's taking the time to do it correctly. I'm sure he'll chime in with a progress report soon.

[Billy M.]

In one sense, that's a bummer, but knowing Lee, that means we will see a truly exceptional quality instrument when it is done.

[PDCIITuba]

Apparently I was at a wrestling match...I think that 6/4 BBb was a little too big for my 5' 4" stature

[bigbob]

The great big rawbrass horn wae that a Holton??

Scottish, are we Bobby?

HaHa No just big fingers<S>.....BB

[bigbob]

The great big rawbrass horn wae that a Holton??

Scottish, are we Bobby?

HaHa No just big fingers<S>.....BB

I sure wish I could have been there!! Car broke down like my computer<s>

[Rick Denney]

I'd also like to hear what this guy has to say about the BigMouth 6/4.

I thought it was completely competent. Important things are done right. The horn felt alive in my hands, which is a feedback mechanism I enjoy having. It is not possible to check pitch really carefully, and I didn't do that. Nor could I make an A-B comparison with my Holton, though it did not leave me with the feeling that I needed to trade my Holton. (Joe's lovely satin silver Holton didn't give me that feeling, either, to be honest, though I'm undoubtedly used to the way mine blows.) I didn't feel or hear any real clinkers, but not all notes resonated equally (as is the case with any big tuba I've played, including my own).

I liked the thumb ring approach, and the general adjustability of things that Dick has put into his designs. The thumb ring on the Bb is in a much better place than on my Holton, and it can be moved from there. I have no problem at all with the use of the adjustable latex elastomeric valve return device on the C's fifth valve, and I like the way his thumb actuator can be repositioned.

But there are no new Bb tubas in this category, let alone affordable ones. If this tuba were incompetent, there still wouldn't be one. But this is a good one, worthy of consideration. It is certainly better than some Holtons I've played, and as good as all but a few. Mechanically, this tuba is certainly competent--everything worked for me as it should, and even the slides were reasonably well aligned.

For a Bb, the alternative is something old that will likely have to be rebuilt (either before or after purchase), which will drive the price up higher, and that may not be as good. For the C, there are other contenders in this category, but at MUCH higher price points.

Rick "who'd be considering this seriously if the Holton wasn't in the stable" Denney

[Art Hovey]

I came back to the 6/4 BBb after my chops were unfrozen and the second valve had stopped sticking and liked it a lot. The low register did not fight back the way it does on some big CC tubas that I have honked on. I did try holding my Korg up to the bell and did not find any serious intonation issues, but of course the elephant room was not the ideal environment for such tests. I did feel that removing about half an inch from the main tuning slide would make it safer for cool-weather playing, but that's an easy fix. If I owned one I would also want to loosen up some of the top slides and vent the pistons.
I would really enjoy using that horn in a good concert band, but would not enjoy carrying it any great distances to and from gigs. At my age I probably should be looking at smaller tubas but I am not ready to admit it.

[bigbob]

What are these big horn selling for??CC?...thanks.....BB

[bisontuba]

Hi-
The BMB 6/4's --with hard case & Mthpce--BBb or CC-'street' prices-
4 valve, lacquer-$6,271
4 valve, silver- $6,679
5 valve, lacquer-$6,696
5 valve, silver- $7,104

From Dick's blog....FYI...
Mark

[Billy M.]

...and, frankly, I wanted Barth to be able to show his stuff in the best possible light

Bloke, this is a very professional and gentlemanly thing of you to do. Kudos, sir.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Another option --even though I have not had problems with the pistons on my BMB horns--is to send the valves to Martin Wilk, he can create 'MAW' valves out of the current pistons on the horns-have them replated afterward, etc. I have not yet played a horn with the MAW valves, but have heard great things about them! Martin is a terrific repairman/craftsman. I did inquire to Martin about this possibility with the BMB horns just for information sake--for him to do all this and return them back as ready MAW pistons would be about +/- $1,500 total for all 4 pistons---just as Joe/Bloke said, still a great deal/option IF you wanted a different valve set on a 6/4 BMB horn...FYI...
Mark

[bububassboner]

Again (as I've covered this ground already), the main bugles (the most expensive part of these instruments) were impressive to me. The "good enough" valvesets will offer amateurs and enthusiasts access to 6/4 BBb and CC instruments at an amateur/enthusiast price point. I believe these could easily be pro-ready instruments with European valvesets pasted on to them (parts/labor which, imo, would not destroy the "bargain" aspect - particularly as this would open up these darn-good-bugle instruments to more high-level use).

Any idea what a ballpark price would be for a Euro valve swap?

Pfft. Don't even bother,
I live in Germany, driving distance to where all the fancy euro valve sets are made. IF they respond to you (most likely they will not) they require that you register with them as a horn building company as they ONLY sell valves to horn builders. The only reliable source for valves that I have found is Kanstul. There prices were also less than what I was guessing they would be. The price for one of these BMB horns and a Kanstul valve set would still come in a few thousand cheaper than a Thor, if you could put it together yourself.

[Rick Denney]

I also ... noticed that both of those tubas (as they would sit for 10 - 15 minutes and they be played heavily for 10 - 15 minutes all day) were quite full of water. They played like crap when full of water (duh), and played quite nicely (duh) when emptied of all of the previous players' water.

It is a standard practice for me to empty water before and after playing a tuba at a conference like that. And about 80% of the time, far more water comes out on the first emptying than on the second.

For most tubas, one can just tilt the tuba so that the leadpipe will drain before picking it up, and much of what's in it will drain out. Usually, while in the Elephant Room, it's a lot.

Rick "who does not inhale through tubas in the Elephant Room" Denney

[J.c. Sherman]

I tried the BMB 6/4 CC in December.

A HUGE bang for the buck. I would avoid using the 4th valve alone for D and G; the tone was considerably better with 1 & 3, IMHO (I'm not a fan of the larger bore 4th valve idea unless it's far away from the other 3). 4th pulled for an in-tune Db was solid, though.

I was ordered by others to buy it, as I was trying it during the break between rehearsal and concert. I have a few more instruments to try, but this is a great bargain. I'm not thrilled by the 5th valve... I can make it work but LORD is it hard to avoid 235 Db! I'd actually prefer a long 1/2 step in the dependent configuration.

I can't wait to try the production lacquered model!

J.c.S.

(Damn good BMB Eb too!)

[bort]

Pfft. Don't even bother,
I live in Germany, driving distance to where all the fancy euro valve sets are made. IF they respond to you (most likely they will not) they require that you register with them as a horn building company as they ONLY sell valves to horn builders

That's not too surprising... I know in the US, there are laws that regulate supply chains between factories, retailers, and consumers (basically to prohibit factories from selling directly to consumers). I forget all of the reasons for it, but if we've got a law about it in the US, there are probably more laws about it in Germany.

Since Joe is a company (companies are people too! ), that's why they will sell to him so easily.

[bort]

Fair enough!

[MartyNeilan]

I would think they would also offer it in raw brass. Wonder why not?

I emailed BMB and they said you could special order a raw brass, same price as lacquer.

[UDELBR]

Since Joe is a company (companies are people too! ), that's why they will sell to him so easily.

I'm just an individual, and Euro tuba companies are happy to sell parts directly to me as well. "Money spends" as they say.