Modifications you've done or had done...

[bisontuba]

On rotor horns that have valves 3 & 4 turning in a different direction than the first two, I have them 'turned' so all rotors turn in the same direction. I also replace traditional water keys with Pollard water keys.
Mark

[bisontuba]

On rotor horns that have valves 3 & 4 turning in a different direction than the first two, I have them 'turned' so all rotors turn in the same direction. I also replace traditional water keys with Pollard water keys.
Mark

I notice that (along with the AGR* when they were available) you've consistently done this to your horns. You must really feel these mods make a difference to you in making a new horn "comfy."

*Do I understand correctly that the AGR ("adjustable gap receiver" from Dillon Music) is no longer being made and no longer available?

Hi-
I'll let Matt Walters add his '2 cents on this,' but I believe(?) AGR's from Dillon are no longer available....but I did hear a rumor that Houser had made some also....
Mark

[iiipopes]

Here is a link to my thread about my "Bessophone":
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61956" target="_blank

[The Big Ben]

Dan Oberloh made a "big" thumb ring for my tuba and it made a difference in being able to reach the valves with my fingers. Thumb isn't cramped either. The hole is about 1.5". Made from brass tubing.

[Dan Schultz]

Probably much of the modification that will be done in the future will be "trying to make inexpensive Chinese-made instruments dependable".

+100 hahahahahahaha! That's the best one yet, Joe! I take special note of the quote marks around the word 'trying'.

I got one of those 'Bandfolio' instrument shaped objects in here a few days ago with the linkage ripped off and a stop arm missing. Had to call the owner with the bad news that it would probably cost two or three times what the horn is worth to get it going.

[LCTuba89]

Can't really call it a modification but I changed my stock springs on my BMB 6/4 to Yamaha Euphonium springs. One of the best changes ever honestly.

[tclements]

I have tuning triggers put on ALL of my tubas. THANKFULLY, they all have downward pointing tuning slides. I don't know WHAT or how we would do it on horizontal tuning slides. The 6/4 BATs, cannot have a tuning jigger put on them, no room, but SOME of them can get some kind of pushrod type of adjuster. On 2 of my tubas, a 2nd valve slide tuning jigger came on the horn; this is a GREAT alternative to a main slide jigger. MAW valves have made a huge different in the larger piston CCs and Fs. Also, these vent the valves. The Baer PVAK system improves pistons greatly, in feel and alignment of pistons and no need to replace felts every so often. On euphoniums, a main slide tuning jigger is a must. In the old days, the 186 (& 188) CC Mirafones, mods I have done: LH 5th valve with tuning triggers on 5th & 1st slides (EASY mod!), Venting valves. Lead pipe removed from bell & no lyre holder, or strap rings, makes the bell vibrate more freely. Put a larger (17.5") unacquered bell. Mirafone Bruckner - straight 5th valve pipe.

[Tabor]

I did a lot of modifications on this Grand Rapids York.



I gave it king1240 valves with an added Sousa 4th. Traded out bugle parts, modified & cut the body to get it to CC, wrapped it more like a 700 series York, added a rotor, replaced a lot of the bracing with solid brass bar stock that has been bent, shaped & sculpted to fit the tuba.

Made the leadpipe & pistons detachable

[Tabor]

One of my first modifications was filing and sanding some old piano key material to make veneers for cheap plain metal Yamaha buttons. They look good & feel good but pop off a little too easily, plus they can't travel.

[bort]

What do you mean "can't travel"?

[opus37]

I'm in the process of restoring a 1906 York 640/641. It came with the low pitch valve set and I purchased the high pitched valve set. I will put this together as original, tuned now to 440. I plan to play it a bit, then if I really like it, will maybe add the 4th valve (with the parts I have left over). Should be a fun 3/4 Eb to mess with. My repair tech is semi retired, so he likely will take a while to get this done.

[tubapix]

Matt Walters replaced the recording bell on my King 1236 Symphony with a King Monster Bass upright bell. Nice playing horn for Dixieland and concert band.

[opus37]

I'm in the process of restoring a 1906 York 640/641. It came with the low pitch valve set and I purchased the high pitched valve set. I will put this together as original, tuned now to 440. I plan to play it a bit, then if I really like it, will maybe add the 4th valve (with the parts I have left over). Should be a fun 3/4 Eb to mess with. My repair tech is semi retired, so he likely will take a while to get this done.

We looked at the replacement valve set and found that York had different valves over time. The replacement valve set has shorter by 1/4' and slightly fatter valves. So we are going with the original valves for now. I have the bracing to fix the missing ones. There is a little dent work and a lot of cleaning. The valve caps were a problem but the replacement valve set had the ones I needed. We'll replace the receiver to allow for American shank mouthpieces. The valves look usable. I may have to re-plate them, but we have to test the horn first. Once we get the horn back together, we'll work on tuning it to 440. I'm expecting this to be done by June 2017.

[roweenie]

Recently just finished up building my first CC Frankentuba -





York branches and bottom bow, B&M .748 bore valveset, Meinlschmidt top-loading 5th valve, Miraclone bell.

[arpthark]

Wow! That looks great!

[roweenie]

Thanks! It plays really well, too.

Now, all I need to do is learn CC fingerings....

[arpthark]

What type of horn did the York parts come from? Is the fifth valve tubing BM as well?

[roweenie]

The 5th valve is a larger bore (20.5 mm, or .807).

The branches were taken from an older (high pitch) York BB flat top-action (Model 33?) tuba, that had its tuning slide built into the leadpipe, before the valveset.

[roweenie]

Thank you, ValveSlide! Coming from a pro tech, your words hold greatly significant meaning to me...

[Tubajug]

Great looking build! Very clean!

Did you have to do much cutting to the branches to get it to CC?