Boosey & Hawkes Regent Eb tuba

[butch]

Hi Tubenetters

Out of curiosity I bought a Boosey & Hawkes Regent euphonium (SN: A01358) on an auction site. I have to admit, that I don't know anything about these instruments.
Could someone help me with some information? I short search on Google didn't bring up much. The only thing I found out is that Regent was the cheaper line B&H produced.

Thanks
Butch



Edit: Subject change!

[OldsRecording]

Not trying to be difficult, but are you entirely sure it's a euphonium? Judging by the extra loop, it looks a bit like an Eb tuba.

[Heliconer]

I second that motion, It looks to be an Eb Tuba to me. Three full loops.

[imperialbari]

Yes, their smallest Eb tuba model, which was very good for young players.

Its 3rd valve slide was made too short, so that it fitted into the case.

Klaus

[butch]

Ok, thanks for your answers.
Then I gonna learn Eb-fingerings!

Butch

[imperialbari]

If you are used to treble clef fingerings for your Saxhorn, you soon will realise that Eb fingering, when reading bass clef concert music, are the same but for adjustments for keys and accidentals.

Klaus

[peter birch]

the regent lines were what we would now call the student models, they were quite robust and of reasonable quality for the day.

[butch]

If you are used to treble clef fingerings for your Saxhorn, you soon will realise that Eb fingering, when reading bass clef concert music, are the same but for adjustments for keys and accidentals.

I read treble clef fingerings for my sousaphone as well, because all of the music in my band is written in treble clef. I think that's because our tubists back thirty years weren't able to read bass clef. So I never learned to read bass clef. Maybe I should start with it. Or transpose my music to Eb.

the regent lines were what we would now call the student models, they were quite robust and of reasonable quality for the day.

Any Idea of the age?

Regards Butch

[Donn]

I read treble clef fingerings for my sousaphone as well, because all of the music in my band is written in treble clef. I think that's because our tubists back thirty years weren't able to read bass clef. So I never learned to read bass clef. Maybe I should start with it. Or transpose my music to Eb.

I guess the point is, you might be surprised how little difference it will make, which you choose. If you write Eb on the second space from the top, because it's "C" in the treble clef in Eb transposed notation, or you write Eb on the second space from the top because that's where Eb is in the bass clef ... second space from the top, either way, just some differences in accidentals. I guess the choice may depend on which you're more likely to encounter in the future. Or what tuba player may come after you.

[peter birch]

Any Idea of the age?

Regards Butch[/quote]

we have one in our junior band that has been there for about 30 years, so I think the dates are the 1970s to mid 80's

[butch]

Any suggestions about a mouthpiece for this Eb tuba?
I have a Dennis Wick 1L for my Bb Tuba and a Dennis Wick 1L and a Kelly 18 for my sousaphone and I'm quite comfortable with these.

Thanks
Butch

[imperialbari]

Unless the receiver has been changed, it was made for the old English narrow mouthpiece stems sized like modern bass trombone stems.

Nominally this small tuba should be played through one of the smaller Denis Wick models, ## 4 or 5 without the L. In my experience it easily takes a larger cup.

Klaus

[peter birch]

the L designated Wicks are certainly too big, the shank is probably the same size as the lead pipe, and I have a feeling that the non L mouthpieces are also too big, and would make the instrument play very flat. They were designed for the Imperial range and the Regent was considerably smaller than that. As I remember, B&H supplied a generic mouthpiece with the instrument that is about the same size as a VB25, and that seems to work well.

[iiipopes]

The best mouthpiece for this tuba for a player used to BBb is the Wick 3. Since it is made on the larger frame as the 1 & 2, it will feel like the 1 or 2.

Wick mouthpieces without the "L" are for the smaller receiver like the Regent has. Same cup, same throat, same backbore, just the smaller shank to fit the English receiver instead of the American receiver.

[butch]

Thanks for all your advices! I'll get the tuba on friday and I'll find out then, if I need a new (to me) mouthpiece.

Wick mouthpieces without the "L" are for the smaller receiver like the Regent has. Same cup, same throat, same backbore, just the smaller shank to fit the English receiver instead of the American receiver.

Reading this, it comes to my mind that the mouthpiece I use with my Besson Bb is a Dennis Wick 1 and not a 1L.
[edit] I think it's a Heritage 1, but it wasn't named Heritage when I bought it six or seven years ago. There is no "H" on it.

Regards
Butch

[iiipopes]

You are correct. "Heritage" only refers to the outside "U" shape of the frame of the mouthpiece, instead of the older "Y" shape of the exterior frame. Did I say a Wick 3 (no letter) is a great mouthpiece for this horn?

[butch]

There is a JK (Joseph Klier?) 216-3 mouthpiece with it. I gonna try this one and then decide if I get an other one.

There is a SN (A01358) stamped on the bell, but I wasn't able so find any Information about that. The lists of SN I found for Boosey and Hawkes instruments don't list SN starting with an A. Any ideas?

Thanks Butch

[butch]

I gave my little Eb a bath and an our of polishing. It looks great now.

before-after.jpg

By the way, the only things that came out of my horn, where three dead spiders. Nothing special! viewtopic.php?f=2&t=45408

There is a SN (A01358) stamped on the bell, but I wasn't able so find any Information about that. The lists of SN I found for Boosey and Hawkes instruments don't list SN starting with an A. Any ideas?

Any ideas about the age? I wrote an email to the «Horniman Museum» but didn't get an answer (yet).

[Heavy_Metal]

Check this out- it mentions the Regent line:

http://www.historicbrass.org/Portals/0/ ... _Myers.pdf" target="_blank

[butch]

Check this out- it mentions the Regent line.

Thanks, but it doesn't mention any serial numbers starting with "A".