Sound quality of conversion kits?
- Jerryleejr
- 3 valves

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Sound quality of conversion kits?
Just curious I've seen some CC tubas with BBb slide kits. Obviously if they sounded as well as a dedicated BBb I would think a lot of guys n gals would go this route instead of having two horns. From a non-professional amateur player stand point anyone had good bad or ugly experience?
JJ
JJ
Kanstul 991 Custom
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- The Big Ben
- 6 valves

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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
At one time, Miraphone supplied BBb slides for use with their CC 186. Tuba Tinker has the description of one on his site and an analysis of how he felt it worked:Jerryleejr wrote:Just curious I've seen some CC tubas with BBb slide kits. Obviously if they sounded as well as a dedicated BBb I would think a lot of guys n gals would go this route instead of having two horns. From a non-professional amateur player stand point anyone had good bad or ugly experience?
http://www.thevillagetinker.com/projects.htm" target="_blank
Scroll down the page. It is pretty far down but it is still there.
- Jerryleejr
- 3 valves

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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
The fact he sold the horn may be a clue lol...The Big Ben wrote:At one time, Miraphone supplied BBb slides for use with their CC 186. Tuba Tinker has the description of one on his site and an analysis of how he felt it worked:Jerryleejr wrote:Just curious I've seen some CC tubas with BBb slide kits. Obviously if they sounded as well as a dedicated BBb I would think a lot of guys n gals would go this route instead of having two horns. From a non-professional amateur player stand point anyone had good bad or ugly experience?
http://www.thevillagetinker.com/projects.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank
Scroll down the page. It is pretty far down but it is still there.
JJ
Kanstul 991 Custom
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- J.c. Sherman
- 6 valves

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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
An older Alex 164 at my alma mater - since stolen - had a BBb crook. because it was tapered throughout, that tuba was every bit as good in BBb as in CC.
An older Yamaha rotary CC I worked on had a reversible 5th for BBb. It was very decent in BBb, but a damn good CC. In BBb, though, you had an ascending 5th valve which offered nice options.
Every other conversion I've played played substantially better in CC.
An older Yamaha rotary CC I worked on had a reversible 5th for BBb. It was very decent in BBb, but a damn good CC. In BBb, though, you had an ascending 5th valve which offered nice options.
Every other conversion I've played played substantially better in CC.
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
- Roger Lewis
- pro musician

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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
Two words. Rotary Neptune.
Roger
Roger
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- Jerryleejr
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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
Lol roger that's why I posed the question....Roger Lewis wrote:Two words. Rotary Neptune.
Roger
JJ
Kanstul 991 Custom
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Always room for more....
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captbill
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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
My CB50 played very well as a BBb, but was great as a CC.
There was not a lot of difference, but a difference none the less. Just a hair stuffy as a BBb.
To be truly effective as a BBb you would need to slightly adjust all the valves' tuning slides very slightly and keep the rotor engaged. As a CC the horn was a little freer and the rotor could be used for the occasional alternate fingering.
There was not a lot of difference, but a difference none the less. Just a hair stuffy as a BBb.
To be truly effective as a BBb you would need to slightly adjust all the valves' tuning slides very slightly and keep the rotor engaged. As a CC the horn was a little freer and the rotor could be used for the occasional alternate fingering.
Conn 34J
Canadian Brass CB50 (sold)
King 2341 (new style)
1915 Conn Eb
Canadian Brass CB50 (sold)
King 2341 (new style)
1915 Conn Eb
- swillafew
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- opus37
- 5 valves

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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
Don't the travel tubas sold by Mack Brass and Wessex have slides for both F and Eb? I understand these are basically an F tuba, but how are they when played with the Eb slides?
Brian
1892 Courtiere (J.W. Pepper Import) Helicon Eb
1980's Yamaha 321 euphonium
2007 Miraphone 383 Starlight
2010 Kanstul 66T
2016 Bubbie Mark 5
1892 Courtiere (J.W. Pepper Import) Helicon Eb
1980's Yamaha 321 euphonium
2007 Miraphone 383 Starlight
2010 Kanstul 66T
2016 Bubbie Mark 5
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2GBTG
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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
Although I've never played a conversion tuba of any type, from what I've seen about the mini tubas they tend to play stuffy.viewtopic.php?f=9&t=56992
Also, mini BBb. Excited to give that a try.
Kitch
Also, mini BBb. Excited to give that a try.
Kitch
- J.c. Sherman
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Re: Sound quality of conversion kits?
Oooo! Wessex Tornister!
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net