How long have you had your "baby"?

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:38 pm

First, consider THE instrument that is your "baby". Considering only playing value (not sentimental value), which is the last one you'd sell if you were short on cash? The one you'd take on the lifeboat with you? Your favorite?

My question: how long have you had it?

The poll doesn't give me a chance to poll two questions, but for those who are willing to respond, I'd be curious how old you were when you got your "baby" -- or better yet, a rundown of past "babies", when you got them, and how long you kept them.

FWIW, the reason I'm asking is related to the youngster looking for a euph to last a lifetime. This is a "reasonable" thought, but I'm wondering if it's naive. I suspect that most people change "babies" every 5-10 years -- more often when they are young, less often when they are older.
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Joe Baker, whose "baby" is a Benge 190F trombone, bought at a church rummage sale about 12 years ago.

sinfonian · Post by **sinfonian** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:04 pm

I didn't buy my first baby until I was 40.

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:05 pm

I bought my "baby" an Eb Boosey & Hawkes while in grad school in 1985.

I almost bought a new 981 in 2002, but instead I did some major custom work to it (new leadpipe, mounted a stewart stand on it, delrin valve guides, lighter springs, more 981-ish now). I figured I would spend less money on this than on a new one. My B&H also is heaver than the new Bessons and I liked the tone of my older horn better. Intonation was also better on mine than on the three new 981s I played.

I read your reply to the other post. In those same 20 years I have gone through 3 bass trombones however. In fact the 4th one on its way as I type. I never seem to be happy with my bass bone no matter what I have. (Its probably more that I just can't play the darned thing to save my life.) I actually bought an Edwards and figured well this will be the last bass bone I ever buy, but that didn't last either.

Also I am now considering going with a smaller Eb like a 983 and then getting a bigger BBb horn, don't know what I want to do yet. So I don't think most people go a whole career with the same equipment.

ken k

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:18 pm

If I had to sell everything and keep only one I would be torn between the Besson 983 and the King 2341, but it would probably be the King because I have been playing BBb for so much longer. I think that the Besson is probably more versatile, but I'm not yet comfortable enough sight reading in Eb to call it my baby.

I've had the King for about 4 years and don't see any reason to trade it in as my "main" horn. I had a 2 piece King 2341 for 6 years before going through a couple of other horns and then settling on the new King. I have tried a few horns at the USABTEC that I would love to have, but none enough so to consider a trade. Of course, I don't have to make a living with my horns, so everything I have is overkill. If I did rely on a horn for my income I might be a little more particular.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:57 pm

I stumbled across a 40 year old B & S stencil (Carl Wunderlich BBb 4V rotary) at a school sale about three years ago that continues to be the best horn I have.... among an assortment of King, Conn, Miraphone(s), Walter Sear, Martin, Cousenon tubas, and Yamaha tubas. I don't know exactly what it is about the horn, but it just 'feels right'.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:07 pm

I was VERY, VERY lucky and found my "baby" during college - a B&M Marzan CC. Even as a pro, that sucker has made me sound much better than I often have any right to over the years.

At some point I realized that the silver bullet isn't out there. You either sound good, or what you need is another occupation, not another horn.

Now mouthpieces...

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:15 pm

I got my King Efer three years ago. I have no plan to replace it. It's a good player. Since we travel a lot I decided to buy two 300 watt sub-woofers to add to our P.A. so I can turn up and spare the lip.
Got my Gibson 330 archtop guitar in 1968.(1960 vintage) That's a keeper.
Got my Olds Ambassador trumpet off E-bay two years ago-just in time to play it on our first C.D..
My son gave me his Conn tenor trombone in the 70's after his band director came onto him.

www.johnreno.com/

Mark E. Chachich · Post by **Mark E. Chachich** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:29 pm

Joe,

First, please put a 30+ year choice in the poll so that I can respond.

OK, as per instructions I voted 15-25 years.

I ordered my Alexander 163 CC in 1973 (around October or November) from the Alexander factory. The tuba arrived in June 1975, I was 19 years old at the time and had just finished my freshman year at college. I have never found a tuba that works better for me.

The Alexander is the tuba that I have used most and am most attached.

I also have a York Monster E flat that I got in 1978 and a Meinl Weston 32 that I got (used) around 1986 as a back-up tuba and for quintets. I really like these tubas, but the Alex is my special friend.

I had a Walter Sear BB flat for around two years that I had to sell to buy the Alexander in 1975. The person that bought the Sear still plays it as his main tuba.

best,
Mark

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:41 pm

Well I got my baby this past August. It's a Miraphone 186 CC from the 80s and it is just sweet! I didn't know how great of a horn I was getting for the money. I will get other horns in the future. But as far as I'm concerned, this horn is mine until the day I die.

Ralph

Albertibass · Post by **Albertibass** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:01 pm

Well yeah im very lucky to have gotten my first horn this part may at the age of 16. A St Petersburg 202 (not the one from tuba exchange). But this one is an older raw brass (which is a pain in the neck to clean) from Germany. Very colorful tone. And all though it absorbs your sweat like a sponge, i wouldt trade it for the world. Nope im too attached to my baby to let her go. Fedderly told me that St Petersburg rotor valves have a reputation of being loud, and he offered me a trade in, but i wont. so i guess my baby and I are on our 6 month and 19th day. and no, after her year birthday i will NOT continue to count the days, because its pointless----who says their first grader is 96 months? yeah i hope no one raised their hand to that.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:11 pm

Joe Baker wrote:FWIW, the reason I'm asking is related to the youngster looking for a euph to last a lifetime. This is a "reasonable" thought, but I'm wondering if it's naive. I suspect that most people change "babies" every 5-10 years -- more often when they are young, less often when they are older

Maybe, but either way you should give it the "best shot" you have, not just blow it off!

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:18 pm

When it was discovered I have a genetic anti-clotting deficiency (last year Christmas week was spent in the hospital with legs elevated and dosed up with lots of "rat poison" to dissolve clots), standing up for 3-4 hour weekend garage band gigs was put out of the question. So I borrowed a sousaphone from a local lodge to play with them to get my embouchure back in shape, and searched until I found my Besson on eBay, which had its nits, fully disclosed by the seller, and got it home for $401 including shipping. The valves are perfect. I just forgot the shank is smaller, so I had to turn right around and spend @$70 on a Wick 1 mouthpiece as well as the budgeted $50 to fix the nits!

Why 3-valve? My pinky is @ 3 cm shorter than my other fingers. So I did get the comp model. CC & DDb are IN TUNE WITHOUT PULLING! I'll let the father-son duo in community band who have matching Miraphones (retired doctor) play the low EEb's! On the sousaphone, a @1935 Conn-Cavalier (predecessor, but identical to, the 14k w/ 24 inch bell), I also had the top loop of the 1st valve tubing made into a slide, as it sits right under the left hand. Conn has been making this valve block for over 125 years, including for helicons before there were sousaphones. WHY DON'T THEY DO THIS FROM THE FACTORY?!! It has great false pedal EEb, DD, DDb, and sometimes the CC, depending on what shape I'm in. So really, I have two babies. Can I vote twice?

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:53 am

Mark E. Chachich wrote:First, please put a 30+ year choice in the poll so that I can respond.

and later wrote:I had a Walter Sear BB flat for around two years that I had to sell to buy the Alexander in 1975. The person that bought the Sear still plays it as his main tuba.

I'll second the added choice -- I selected "15-25", but my Walter Sear CC arrived in June 1974 (I was 18 at the time), which puts it over 31 years (and still very enjoyable to play)!

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:04 am

I've had mine three years (the Holton). But it is not the last tuba I would sell. That's a toughie, but it might be the Miraphone, which is useful in a few more situations than the Holton. But Miraphones are easy to buy, and good Holtons are not, so I'd probably keep the Holton. I'm hoping I never have to make that choice!

Before that, it was the York Master, which I still enjoy immensely, though it presents a couple more challenges. I had owned it for two years, I think, when the Holton came my way.

Before that, it was the Miraphone, which occupied that position for ten or eleven years. But the real baby for much of that time was the Yamaha 621 F.

I agree with your thesis that it is naive to think you can buy an instrument for life at a young age. It can turn out that way, and I know folks who still play the instrument they bought in their youth, but you have to put that in the serendipity category. Or, necessity--not everyone is willing to buy new instruments as often as I have been fortunate enough to be able to do.

Rick "who sells tubas reluctantly" Denney

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:41 am

Oops

There was supposed to be a "more than 25" option in the poll. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but there doesn't seem to be any way to add that one in. So anyone whose answer would be "more than 25", just go ahead and check 15-25, and let us know via your posts that you would have checked the longer period.

Rick, you correctly divined my meaning. By "the last one you'd sell" I didn't so much mean the one that would best fill the "all-purpose" role, so much as the one that would be both missed (again, for its playing qualities, not because Grandpa played it in the American Legion band) and difficult to replace. Your Holton is the archetype of the "baby", as I meant it.
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Joe Baker, who notes that the data so far shows that for most folks "babies" come and go, especially when players are young.

Steve Marcus · Post by **Steve Marcus** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:37 am

My "baby" is my Nirschl 4/4 CC tuba. I love it. To afford it, I had to sell the only tuba that I owned previous to acquiring the Nirschl--a Conn 25J. I miss that old big woofer; it was fun to play for its own merits. But to even think of comparing it to my Nirschl would be ridiculous.

When did I buy the Nirschl? Let's just say that I was fairly well into my adulthood. My non-musician parents wouldn't let me study music in college because they were convinced that making a living in music was nearly impossible. After a year of being a miserable pre-med major, I transferred to another college to study music--paying for it on my own.

Now, as far as the tuba is concerned, I'm making up for lost time--with the full support (spiritual, if not financial) of my wife and kids...and even a very belated acquiescence by my parents. Now they finally understand why I had to make music my life.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 12:16 pm

As for buying a euphonium....I think I saw a couple of Wilsons in the outlet section of WWBW, at well below retail.

When you said "baby" I thought you were referring only to tubas, and my "baby" tuba is definitely my MW 182 F. In more ways than one! First child, smallest child.

But the instrument I won't sell is my violin; bought for me in high school by my parents, it has sentimental value as well as a fine sound.

I figure I can always replace even my horn because the maker is still in business, and tubas are always being improved, so I figure if I had free money I would buy and sell like Scott Mendoker does.

MA

mTaUrBkA · Post by **mTaUrBkA** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 5:26 pm

I got my "baby" in 8th grade because I am the luckiest kid ever. I have had it just over 2 years now. I can't believe I convinced my parents to split the price with me (them paying the greater chunk, speaking that most 8th grader's income is quite low). I am still thankful to this day....and I still let them know! It's a silver plated, 4 valve Mirafone 186. When I got it it was used.....but very slightly. An old man purchased it, then about 3 days later he passed away. Basically, I got a new tuba with a used tuba price. Picking out a horn, I took my time. My mom drove me all around trying horns, the Mirafone 186 just fit me perfectly. Thanks mom and dad!

Quicksilvertuba · Post by **Quicksilvertuba** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:51 am

My baby is a Miraphone 1291 which I have just gotten 3 months ago. this is my first horn to ever own and I absolutely love it more than any horn I have ever had. Since I'm a freshman in college I'm planing on buying an F tuba either late my sophomore year or during my junior year. I don't know what brand I'll get but I'm pretty sure it won't be another Miraphone. Either way I'll be lucky to have a dime in my pocket when I get out of school.

Hank74 · Post by **Hank74** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:25 am

My "baby" at this time is a 6 year old shiny, silver Jupiter BBb sousaphone. I love the sound and use it at any TC that I'm at. Down the road though, if I have some more cash, I would consider trading it for the new quad valve Jupiter 590 sousa which they have. But right now, I'm sticking with my Jupiter baby.

Hank74

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