FS: BMB F - Price Drop SOLD

[WillDellinger]

I am selling a Big Mouth Brass J-445 F tuba in silver plate. It is the big bell (18") version. I have two of these horns, and I am selling this one because the sound is a little darker/warmer than the other one (which you could probably argue is the point of these horns).

I have spent a good amount of time with two of these horns now, and here are the (what that experience tells me) common issues with the model that have been addressed/fixed/weren't a problem.

- Thumb ring mount has been resoldered well. If you can still break it off, you're doing something wrong.
- The slides are aligned. Factory alignment of the main slide on BOTH horns made it un-tunable in increments less than an inch.
- The valve casing/cap threads never were an issue with this horn.
- It is common for the 3rd slide pull rod to be smashed in, denting the 3rd slide crook. This has been repaired.

I agree with what others have said - the valves ARE good. Very quick. The low range is easy and big. My friend (good player - doing well on audition circuit) likes the low C on this horn more than his 2250. This horn has a big sound. Yes it's a large horn, but it is still very flexible.

My favorite thing about this horn is how well it responds. It is very easy to get a nice, clear start to every note throughout the range of the horn.

The plastic thumb (paddle for lack of a better term)on the 5th valve is split for some reason. what this means is the thumb paddle rotates on the spindle. I LIKE this, but you might not. if you dont like it, let me know, and i will replace it with the one from the other horn that does not spin.

Negatives about the horn:
- There is one small dent on the edge of the bell and one small dent on the 5th valve knuckle near the thumb ring (pictured). It was SO CLOSE to being a dent free horn. There is some scratching near the ferrule at the bottom bow.

- The notes from low C up to the E just below the staff are a bit flat. The slots are VERY wide and flexible, so a strong player should do fine with lipping these right in tune. I like horns whose slots are a little more narrow, but the wide slots on this horn let you put the note wherever you need it to be.

- This horn has a warmer sound than my other one. That may be a plus for you.

- No clue how common this is but I know it can happen on the Chinese horns - the marking on the back bearing plate of the rotor is incorrect. I suspect the workers have seen how those markings look, but don't know what they are for exactly or how they work. So if you get the horn serviced in the future, be certain your tech uses a mirror or endoscope to align it.

The horn has been cleaned and aligned. The felts that are on there are old (a little dirty), but the alignment is right on, and (for this horn) I feel the extra noise is much more desirable than the bounce these valves get with the Valentino Quiet Black washers.

Horn is at Baltimore Brass.

PM or email me for any other info

Pictures here http://s284.photobucket.com/user/dellin ... show/J-445" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[WillDellinger]

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[WillDellinger]

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[WillDellinger]

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[WillDellinger]

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