York bell conversion

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:54 am

Okay, where to begin....
Perhaps some of you remember, perhaps you do not my post about how I had removed the 5th valve from my Conn 52J tuba. Well if you know me at all you would know that I was not about to stop there. About two months ago while scouring the tuba basement at work (Dillons ) Matt W and I found a gorgeous old York bell. The plan was set....remove my Conn 52J bell and replace it with the vintage York bell. Keep in mind I am not a repair person nor do i claim to know 1/1000000'th of what Matt (and many others on this board) know. But this was going to be "my" project, no outside help unless totally necessary. So after teaching myself the fast eddy, the dent machine, the buffing room and some basic lathe work the results are everything I had hoped for. Here is alink to some pictures of the horn then/now: http://community.webshots.com/album/539083569mPftec

The end result is a horn that plays amazingly well, intonation has been improved, response is crisp/clear and the sound----Well, It's a York

I hope that some of you may have questions, or at least take a look and see what you think. Advice is also most welcome... I am eager to continue to learn about doing this type of work.
For those who might care, i will have the horn at the ABTEC this month for anyone/everyone to try.

Here is a picture of the horn:

TubaTodd · Post by **TubaTodd** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:09 am

SWEET!!!! Where in the world did you find those finger buttons???? I have been looking for a set of those exact ones in silver. Overall, your horn looks like a masterpiece.

I know you had the 5th valve removed to improve the airflow, but suppose you wanted a 5th valve. Have you and Matt discussed options for adding a 5th valve that does NOT have the weird taper that you removed? Perhaps a Meinl Weston rotar, rotax, Thayer (hee hee), etc?

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:56 am

LV wrote:Nice job. Finally got 'em back, huh?

Yeah... valve section came back from Andersons on wednesday.... thursday and friday were spent doing the bell.

The finger buttons are blanks we have at work... and Red inserts I made myself (anyone want a set?) Check these out, i can make other colors too !! http://community.webshots.com/myphotos? ... ity=GnYnBf

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:11 am

TubaTodd wrote:SWEET!!!! Where in the world did you find those finger buttons???? I have been looking for a set of those exact ones in silver. Overall, your horn looks like a masterpiece.

I know you had the 5th valve removed to improve the airflow, but suppose you wanted a 5th valve. Have you and Matt discussed options for adding a 5th valve that does NOT have the weird taper that you removed? Perhaps a Meinl Weston rotar, rotax, Thayer (hee hee), etc?

Thanks... my previous post will talk about the finger buttons...

As for the 5th valve... Matt made it so that it is interchangeable, and yes there has been/is talk about using a different valve. I will be sure to post more on that when it happens.

Oh, before I forget let me just say THANK YOU MATT WALTERS for all of your guidance and advice throughout this process. While i did the work it would not have been possible without his and the other repair people at Dillons constant encouragement and advice. Thanks guys!!!

trseaman · Post by **trseaman** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:07 am

Awsome horn,

#1 The best perk of working at Dillons, being able to search thru the basement!

#2 Working along side Matt

Oh wait....

#1 Working along side Matt

#2 The best perk of working at Dillons, being able to search thru the basement!

Proof that you guys at Dillons are great!

Alex Reeder · Post by **Alex Reeder** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:08 am

Jason- I think you tried my Getzen/York when I brought it in to be cleaned about three weeks ago. I'm glad you are happy with your own half york tuba, I know I am! I'm happy it worked out well for you. Yours is prettier than mine- I like what you did for the bell.

T. J. Ricer · Post by **T. J. Ricer** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:59 am

I'm glad that it plays well.

I must say that I love the look of the bell and the fingerbuttons. . . That's one of the biggest York engravings I've seen (granted I've seen few).

Could those fingerbutton inserts be done in diffents sizes? (I know someone who wants pink ones for a piccolo trumpet) My fingerbuttons spin, is there an easy fix for that?

Wow, that is just such a beautiful job, and on a first try!

--T. J.

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:08 pm

The finger buttons can be made to fit any size, trick of it is that I need the actual finger button to make it, as I use the buttons themselves at the mold.

Frank Ortega · Post by **Frank Ortega** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:53 pm

Welcome to the dark side my friend!
Once you start building Frankentubas, it becomes an addiction!

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 8:17 pm

k-towntuba wrote:
Have you and Matt discussed options for adding a 5th valve that does NOT have the weird taper that you removed? Perhaps a Meinl Weston rotar, rotax, Thayer (hee hee), etc?
aha, Thayer Valves, I myself have wondered about these. Thayer, Hagman, etc. are touted by trombone manufaturers as being superior to conventional rotors, However I have yet to see them on anything BUT a Trombone. Anyone have a clue as to why this is? I think someone should try Putting one of these on a Tuba, perhaps as a 5th valve on a 4+1 setup horn.

Well, believe me , it has crossed my mind... however the size of the valve would be somewhat prohibitive, as well the machining of it would be extremely costly as there are none in existence the with the correct bore size..... But is someone were to have something laying around as a prototype i would be very interested in talking

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:41 pm

LV wrote:There is a reputed converted Yamaha YEP321 euph done with Thayers floating around done by the original maker.

Might be fun to toot...

Thayer ya go!

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:34 am

Great instrument! I'm usually not a fan of two-tone instruments, but this one works aesthetically as well as musically!

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 12:59 pm

Thank you for all the compliments... If anyone is in the north jersey area or will be at the ABTEC please do stop by and try it out. I am curious to see what people think of the sound/response/intonation.

Tubadork · Post by **Tubadork** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:53 pm

Jay,
will you be selling some of those buttons at the TUSAB conference? (Provided I bring my buttons).
Cool,
Bill
sorry we missed each other in NJ

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:40 am

Concerning the finger buttons... If you think you may want a set, please PM me and we can discuss what you want and what type of buttons you have on your horn now. If you would not mind buying a set of the blanks from Dillons, I can "pre make" whatever color/design you like into them.

TubaTodd · Post by **TubaTodd** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:15 pm

JayW wrote:Concerning the finger buttons... If you think you may want a set, please PM me and we can discuss what you want and what type of buttons you have on your horn now. If you would not mind buying a set of the blanks from Dillons, I can "pre make" whatever color/design you like into them.

I sent you a PM about some buttons and I haven't heard back from you yet. I was interested in purchasing a set of Dillon blanks (like the ones on your tuba) with lime green buttons. How much would that cost?

TubaTodd · Post by **TubaTodd** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:38 pm

LV wrote:
TubaTodd wrote:I was interested in purchasing a set of Dillon blanks (like the ones on your tuba) with lime green buttons. How much would that cost?
All you'll need is some tequila scented valve oil...

And maybe a little salt...

I think I want the same caps that JayW put on his horn, except I want them silver plated to match my horn. I want the lime green to be like "WOW!"

I haven't seen it discussed here (Maybe I missed it), but are the colored part of the buttons simply a colored liquid polymer that Jay squirts into the place where the pearl would go and the liquid takes the shape of the pearl? OOOOOOOOOOORRRRR does he make the round disks (as seen in the graphic on page 2) and trim them to fit the caps? Inquiring minds want to know.

TubeNet

York bell conversion

York bell conversion

Mwahaha