Yamaha Ybb 641 model # problem

tubarepair · Post by **tubarepair** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:55 pm

Your Yamaha starts with the Zero. It will be difficult to determine its age as Yamaha doesn't release serial number lists to the public. A friend who used to be the national customer service manager at the Grand Rapids plant said that they destroy the records once the factory warranty is expired. I don't have my catalog of dates in front of me, but I believe the serial numbers switched from starting with a zero to starting with a one in the 1990's. Tubatinker or anyone of you other techs have your Allied catalog handy? In the thread chaser section it does - or did - indicate the year that the switch was made. The Yamahas with Zero have finer threads compared to the 1XXXXX models. I'll check when I get to work tomorrow. DLH

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:02 pm

tubarepair wrote:Tubatinker or anyone of you other techs have your Allied catalog handy? In the thread chaser section it does - or did - indicate the year that the switch was made. The Yamahas with Zero have finer threads compared to the 1XXXXX models. I'll check when I get to work tomorrow. DLH

That fine/course thread transition did indeed happen at serial number 100,001 but I didn't see any note of the date. Someone needs to start building a database on Yamaha numbers. Surely there's enough data out there to at least come within a couple of years.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:21 am

shytuba wrote:Thanks for the help and the input.

I would also like to know if older tubas are more or less valuable etc..? It would seem my tuba was the 888th tuba made which seems like it would be pretty old. thanks again

That would depend on a lot of factors. Information I have indicates that 1984 was the first production year for Yamaha YBB-641 tubas. It's not likely that your horn would be worth any more or less because of it's age. Sometimes changes are made over the years that makes a horn more or less desireable but again... value is determined by lots of things. Yamaha numbers are strange. It's not likely that your horn is the 888th horn made.

prototypedenNIS · Post by **prototypedenNIS** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:46 pm

September I was asked to play in the Wind ensemble on Tuba (I was but a euphonium player back then). I was given the 641 our remaining tuba major had been using for 3 years while one of the miraphones were getting overhauled. She took the miraphone and wished me best luck.

After a week, I got fed up with the playing chracteristics (particularily uneven slotting in the mid and high range... pedal range was nice though) and I started using the SOM's CC Mira.

Good valves, good tuning, much better response.