rodmathews wrote:The marketing talk on Custom Music's web site also talks about how the PT-606 was designed from a York tuba (owned by Rick Denney?), but I can see how it would be a different instrument from the PT-6P.
I don't own a York tuba. Mine is a York Master, which was made by Boehm and Meinl (since '92 aka Nirschl).
I have played the PT-606 for a few minutes, and thought it absolutely wonderful. I did not check intonation, and given that intonation was the main issue with the York on which the 606 was modeled, I would expect it to be the main issue here, too. Nothing stuck out during my brief time with the horn, but what's a quarter tone among friends? Better players than I will have to determine whether the intonation on these is consistent and manageable.
Rick "who thinks 'manageable' is more important than 'perfect' when it comes to intonation" Denney
Arthur plays tuba wrote:Is a conn 56J using big valves?
No. The "Big Valve" is a product of Meinl-Weston, and is used in by other JA-Musik companies including VMI/B&S.
And doesn't the Conn have a smaller bore?
Rick "who spent some time with a VMI3301 with Big Valves and found the high spring force to be a bigger issue than spread, but who can also palm a basketball" Denney
- The thing weighs a ton - probably 8 to 10 pounds more than any York 4/4 BBb or CC tuba in existence.
- The lower and upper open Gs are more than 30 cents wider than an octave.
- The sound is hard and cold.
- Slurring is a chore.
- The contour and thickness of the bell flare bears absolutely no resemblance to a York 4/4 bell flare. Thus, the hoped-for sweetness of the sound of a York 4/4 tuba is simply not there.
- You MUST play high C with 1st valve. Otherwise it is 20 cents flat.
- I could not find a really workable valve combination for high E.
- The only thing that I could find that really copied a York 4/4 tuba was the ol York awkward mouthpiece receiver angle - which defines an uncomfortable diagonal holding position in the lap or in the chair.
- Much of the potential tuning range of the main slide is wasted with silly long slide ferrules - leaving an extremely short tuning range.
...I found the 606 that I played to be an extraordinary copy of a York 4/4 tuba and a great instrument!
cornholio wrote:I spent some time with one recently.
- The sound is hard and cold.
- Slurring is a chore.
- The contour and thickness of the bell flare bears absolutely no resemblance to a York 4/4 bell flare.
- Much of the potential tuning range of the main slide is wasted with silly long slide ferrules - leaving an extremely short tuning range.
I enjoyed this amusing post very much. I almost took it seriously at first read except for these obvious jokes. I knew the intonation quirks listed were quite different from my horn but the four litems listed above were so opposite of the PT-606 in general that I was finally able to catch on to the humour.
An Excellent April Fools post in August. Definitely Deep Belly Laugh material!
Paul Sidey, CCM '84
Principal Tubist, Grand Lake Symphony
B&S PT-606 CC - Yamaha YFB-621 F SSH Mouthpieceshttp://sshmouthpieces.com/" target="_blank
RRW wrote:I called CMC last week. Laquer- $10,095.00.
I still think the price is a bargain. Check it against a 2000 and HB21. IMHO much more instrument and cheaper than a 21 by a mile. If you have not played one of these studs, run, do not walk to the nearest one and blow it. You will be glad you did. Oh, and I, as usual, second everything that Paul said.
LV wrote:
The 606 was inspired (somewhat loosely...) by an "original" 4/4 York instrument that is in use in England (it has recently changed hands...).
.....amazingly fun to play.
FWIW, YMMV
I thought others would like to see some quick side by side photos of the original York 4/4 beside the 606 for comparison. Apologies for the angle of view not being more exact but I think it still shows the very close relationship.
Paul Sidey, CCM '84
Principal Tubist, Grand Lake Symphony
B&S PT-606 CC - Yamaha YFB-621 F SSH Mouthpieceshttp://sshmouthpieces.com/" target="_blank
Yes, I have seen that particular York tuba before, but its bell certainly is not characteristic of most of the classic York 4/4 bells...It is much more King-like in its contour (you will surely admit).
Im glad you guys like your horns...You had better - at $10K. I will wipe away most of what I said and chalk it up to differences of opinion, but I would challenge you to turn on your tuner, let another very good tuba player play your upper G and lower G (someone who hasnt taught themselves to lip the piss out of those notes) and look down at your tuner and see that, indeed, those two notes are well over 30 cents wider than an octave.
I am the great Cornholio! I need a T.N. thong over my bunghole.
I have never had that problem (g's) with mine. The G on the bottom of the staff tends to ride a little low, but not enough to cause a problem. The upper G is standard issue high. Pretty much every horn I have played has that problem. There ain't no big whoop about it, that's just the way it is with tubas in general. Learn to correct it automatically and one will never have a problem. If I had perfect intonation as a "must" for a new instrument, I would still be without one. I simply looked for a great sounding and feeling instrument that COULD be played in tune with minimal effort. Search over.
