Marzan BBb

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sugawi
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Marzan BBb

Post by sugawi »

shinytuba7
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by shinytuba7 »

Anyone have an opinion on the condition of this horn?
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Dan Schultz
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by Dan Schultz »

shinytuba7 wrote:Anyone have an opinion on the condition of this horn?
Might be a good buy but I'm a bit turned off by the damaged bell.
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Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by Heavy_Metal »

I won this tuba and it arrived today. It looks better in person. Basically it's in similar condition to the Mahillon I got a while back, minus the trumpet mute stuck in the bottom bow. It could probably tell a few interesting stories if it could talk.

The valves were completely dry- it apparently hasn't been played in a long time. I oiled them and will let it sit for a while so the oil can soak in. The open notes sound great, just like the similar Marzan I tried and liked at BBC not long ago. IIRC that one sold for $4700 or so.

The patch in the bell is rather small, and so far it hasn't taken away anything from the sound. But the bell has a couple wrinkles which I'll have rolled out.

The seller did a fine job of packing this tuba. To satisfy the signature-on-delivery requirement which is a problem if they come when I'm not home, I had him send it to one of the two local UPS Customer Centers and picked it up there. I would buy from him again.

As I understand it, these tubas did not have serial numbers- could someone verify this?
Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by windshieldbug »

Heavy_Metal wrote: As I understand it, these tubas did not have serial numbers- could someone verify this?

My CC doesn't have anything but a valve block number stamped on the underside of the valve paddles...
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by Dan Schultz »

Heavy_Metal wrote:.... As I understand it, these tubas did not have serial numbers- could someone verify this?
There are no serial numbers on the slant-rotor Marzans.... only what I call a 'build number' stamped on all of the linkage parts, paddle bar, and rotor parts. They apparently built the valve sections in batches and gave each batch consecutive numbers.

The piston horns had a serial number on the valve cluster.

That being said... the .750" bore Marzans (both rotary and piston ones) were built in the Bohm & Meinl factory in the early 70's. None of the dealers in the US kept lists of the buyers and no one seems to know how many of each variety and key were sold.

I came very close to buying this one, too. I think you did well!
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by Heavy_Metal »

Seller says he bought this as part of a group of instruments from a retired Chicagoland band director. He has several other horns up on eBay, including a Conn (10J?) 3-piston BBb.

Dan, I see you have a Marzan page on your site. As soon as this one is ready to play, and assuming the camera doesn't break upon seeing me, I'll be happy to send you a pic for that page.
Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by Heavy_Metal »

Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
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Dan Schultz
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by Dan Schultz »

Heavy_Metal wrote:.... Dan, I see you have a Marzan page on your site. As soon as this one is ready to play, and assuming the camera doesn't break upon seeing me, I'll be happy to send you a pic for that page.
I haven't updated the Marzan page in quite a while but please do send me some images. Maybe it will inspire me to get off my butt and tend to my web site!
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by ufonium2 »

I'm glad you had a good experience buying from this guy. I was going to bid on the Getzen he had, but he wouldn't do local pickup (said it wasn't worth his time for "smaller items") and I thought that was weird. So I guess it wasn't a scam, just weird business practice.
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by Heavy_Metal »

Or maybe he just didn't have the time to meet during normal hours............... I know what that's like.

The oil soak-in worked- Hetman's #12 to the rescue- all valves functional and the Marzan is making music again. I have a brass ensemble rehearsal this weekend and will probably take it there. But it will still go to BBC for a check-up when they're done with the summer school-instrument onslaught.
Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
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Tubaryan12
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Re: Marzan BBb

Post by Tubaryan12 »

Dan Schultz wrote:
Heavy_Metal wrote:.... As I understand it, these tubas did not have serial numbers- could someone verify this?
There are no serial numbers on the slant-rotor Marzans.... only what I call a 'build number' stamped on all of the linkage parts, paddle bar, and rotor parts. They apparently built the valve sections in batches and gave each batch consecutive numbers.
If this is the case, then mine was the 1st in its batch.
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