As others have mentioned, the Conn 2xJ meets your requirements.Bob1062 wrote:Are there any good old BIG Bb tubas that traditionally come sort cheapish? Obviously 3 valve, possible top action. Something with good false tones and good intonation up to like F in the staff (I have an Eb and a euphonium, so high range is not a big thing here).
The open third partial on these instruments is flat by design, apparently to facilitate a better fifth partial, and on mine I learned to play F at the bottom of the staff 1-3 instead of open. The notes below that were not as had as the F and could be worked around.
If you want a bell pointed up, find an instrument with an upright bell from the start. An upright bell by itself costs nearly as much as the whole instrument with an upright bell.
The one I had was not the best example of these that I played, but I found that it did a poor job of playing softly. My big Holton plays much more softly with good tone.
They will not be tubby if you don't try to use the deepest mouthpiece you can find. I have found that a PT-48, which though theoretically inspired by the Helleberg funnel shape is much more bowl-shaped than a Conn Helleberg, does a remarkable job of adding clarity and focus to the sound of big tubas. It's a good anti-woof mouthpiece.
The Conn 2xJ tubas were designed to be played with a single tuning bit.
Prices generally range from the high hundreds up to perhaps the low 2000's, with pristine four-valve models that have upright bells getting the higher prices.
The Conn 20J is on the right, and a Holton 345 is on the left, to give you an idea of size. The Conn is a true BAT.
Rick "who prefers the upright bell" Denney
