The Double Tuba

[dmeacham5]

Hello I was surfing the internet looking at odd tubas and discovered the double tuba (i have heard of them before but never did any research on them). I saw this one http://www.bassethoundmusic.com/doubleTuba.html" target="_blank and it intrigued me I was wondering if anyone here had any insight on the advantages and disadvantages to the double tuba, any ideas to fix the faults and any general information you know about them. I am just curious about them and there construction.

thanks
Dennis

[PMeuph]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=51206" target="_blank

[Lee Stofer]

The double tuba is an attempt to have the best abilities of a bass-, and contrabass tuba in one instrument. The first consideration is that the few that were built were quite heavy.

I have yet to play one that really plays well, either as one or the other. So, in general it was an interesting idea that just didn't work out very well. Just about any modern contrabass tuba or large-bore bass tuba can out-perform the old double tubas.

[TheBerlinerTuba]

Hello Dennis,

I recently had the chance to try two vintage double tubas.

a 1920s F-BBb Alexander
a 1950's F-CC Otto Weller(Markneukirchen)

The Alexander had a beautiful tone in the middle and high range, but was let down by the cliche Doubletuba problems. It's possible that due to age something mechanical was at fault..

The Weller on the other hand was something completely different. It's bell and bows are almost identical to my B&S Symphonie and it plays quite similar. The valves are fast and the intonation was excellent, and once I got used to the change valve, it was quite fun, but the F and CC side were not so different.

cheers
2165

[dmeacham5]

Thank you for the replies so far, on the two pictures that were posted, are there two sets of slides on both of the tubas?

[Tom]

Alexander has built several double tubas. In fact, I believe Ted Cox mentioned that one was in the shop during a visit he made to Mainz just in the last year or two.

Meinl Weston has also built a double tuba about the size of a 2145, though I don't think they ever really went mainstream. I only know of one example. If you search the archives you'll be able to find a bit of discussion about it. They showed it at trade shows for years before it ended up at either Baltimore Brass or Dillon Music (can't remember) where it sat for over a year before selling.

I played the Meinl Weston and an Alexander double. I wasn't impressed with either of them. Based on the mainstream success of double and even triple (French) horns, I expected more. Oh well.