My next tuba build

[bububassboner]

Well since I'm wrapping up the first build now and I'm still waiting for parts for two other build I decided to see what I could build from parts on hand. Holton monster Eb Bell, bottom bow, and top bow. Some random BBb bows and a miraphone 186 valve section and I got a little horn. Currently it's just a bit low of B but I'll do some cutting and get the pitch up to C. The wrap is a little out of the box but I was only work with a small box of parts. I'll post more photos as I get closer to finishing it.

[Ulli]

Your big toes are nice.

[Billy M.]

From the looks of it, it appears that the 4th valve slide will be behind a main branch. Much like a few others around here, I've always found the way that Miraphone routed the 4th valve on their BBb 186's to be a pain in the *** to deal with. You may want to consider rerouting that, if possible, so it isn't a hassle to work around.

Cool project. I have a Rusk-cut front action Chicago Holton Eb. Intonation is a little "fun" but the sound is classic York.

[Bob Kolada]

Cool horn! Can't wait til SGM sees it.
Billy, does your horn have a 20" bell, 4 front pistons, and a lengthened main slide?

[Billy M.]

Bob,

Yes, that's the one.

[Bob Kolada]

Nice! I know the guy that had it built, I've played it, and heard it many times. That's one of the best sounding horns I've ever heard. Different to my ears than the same guy's Yorks, fwiw.

[Billy M.]

I really enjoy it. The privileged tones are very good. 4th valve is a little stuffy (typical of bass tubas), and 2nd valve has weird intonation but the sound is something special.

[Tubajug]

Very cool! If you could put the tuning slide at the top, you would have a "tune on the fly" system like some Marzans!

[bububassboner]

From the looks of it, it appears that the 4th valve slide will be behind a main branch. Much like a few others around here, I've always found the way that Miraphone routed the 4th valve on their BBb 186's to be a pain in the *** to deal with. You may want to consider rerouting that, if possible, so it isn't a hassle to work around.

Cool project. I have a Rusk-cut front action Chicago Holton Eb. Intonation is a little "fun" but the sound is classic York.

Actually I made it so all the branches are behind the top bow. That way the rotor section could sit a little deeper in the horn. So no slides are behind and branches.

[bububassboner]

Very cool! If you could put the tuning slide at the top, you would have a "tune on the fly" system like some Marzans!

I thought about that but this was a "parts on hand" horn. Had to get creative with it.