Cost of Converting 4 Valve BBb Tuba to CC?

[Stephen Shoop]

Assuming no additional work is necessary, and not factoring in transportation costs... what is the cost of cutting a four valve BBb tuba to CC.... such as a Holton 345?

[Ken Crawford]

The cost is compromising a good BBb so that you can feel cool because you play a CC.

[jsmn4vu]

I believe you will find in almost all cases that you'll be money ahead to sell the BBb and buy a C.

[iiipopes]

+1 to all the above. 186.

[The Big Ben]

With the number of fine CC instruments available, cutting a BBb to CC doesn't make financial sense. Sam Gnagey's horns are 2341 Kings cut to CC with a vintage Eb Monster bells and (sometimes) bottom bows but they are more a "whole new thing" rather than a cut job. What comes out makes many people very happy.

[Matt Walters]

Cutting BBb tubas into CC tubas was viable up until about 15 years ago. 30 years ago, your choices for a new 6/4 piston CC tuba were....... Hirsbrunner HB-50. Holton stopped offering the custom ordered 345CC by about that time. The Hirsbrunner back then was priced in relative dollars about like a YamaYork is priced today. So, it made sense to try cutting a BBb and adding a 4th valve because there wasn't any other choice for us poor people.
Now you can get what you basically want in a new CC tuba. You cheapskates that think you are entitled to a hand built YamaYork for under $1999 have no clue what someone else's time is worth, so you are not included in the "can get what you basically want in a new CC tuba" statement.
Where it still makes sense is to do something with the big 3 valve top action Eb tubas. Basically a 3 valve top action Eb tuba and $5 gets you a coffee at Star Bucks. When I give new life to the bell and bottom bow of a big York Eb that would otherwise collect dust or get melted for scrap brass, I feel good about it.
Here is the next problem. Now that I gave away to Eastman all the tapers I used to create my 4/4 Custom York CC tubas made from York Eb bell and bottom bow, I've made it harder to sell something I hand make at a price worth my very rare spare time. I only have a few more personal projects in my old bones and now they are getting harder to sell at a price worth my time.

At this point in the crossroads of tubadom, I recommend leaving viable BBb tubas left as BBb tubas.

[iiipopes]

At this point in the crossroads of tubadom, I recommend leaving viable BBb tubas left as BBb tubas.

Pretty much sums it up.

[bort]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that Dr. Shoop knows a lot about tubas, and wad just looking for a number.

I'm sure someone out there *will* do the work, though it may be an equal consideration of time and money. My wild not a repairman guess is $4,000 and 2 years. Laugh, argue, disagree... Just wanted to put some number out there!

[Watchman]

I know all the OP asked for was the cost, but the TNFJ demands it....

Why would you do this when so many good 6/4 CC's are out there already?

[bort]

... Because there are no American-made 6/4 CC's?
... Because 6/4 CC's are expensive, and a 345 is pretty cheap?
... Because it can be done?

[The Big Ben]

... Because there are no American-made 6/4 CC's?
... Because 6/4 CC's are expensive, and a 345 is pretty cheap?
... Because it can be done?

Remember the series by The Elephant where he made his cut 345 into a suitable instrument? Now, imagine paying $70+/hr for that work.

No such thing as a "cheap" 345 CC.

[Stephen Shoop]

Thanks to all for the excellent feedback. Brett...... YES on all three points!!! Matt..... Thanks for the very informative and detailed information..... you know your stuff!

[Sam Gnagey]

I've cut a couple of 345s to CC. I won't do it again. I'm certain that they play much better in all ways as BBbs. There is only one Martin 6/4 cut that Bloke and I unwittingly collaborated on that turned out to my standards. Practically every cut 6/4 that I've encountered has been a disappointment. So the real cost of cutting a 6/4 BBb to CC is ruining a perfectly good BBb tuba.

[Rick Denney]

To answer the question: Bob Rusk used to get a coupla grand, at wholesale, to cut an instrument, and that was a decade or two back. That was in addition to the required overhaul.

For a while he was only converting instruments that were NOT viable as a Bb tuba, such as battered top-action 3-valve York Monsters. When those carcasses could be bought for a few hundred dollars, it made sense to convert them. But after a while, those carcasses became more rare and their prices went up to the point where the final product was no longer competitively priced for the usual buyers of these instruments.

And now, several sellers have very nice Asian-made CC grand orchestral tubas that can serve those who need a competent BAT on a reduced budget.

Finally, some Bb tuba players are willing to spend more money for interesting and unusual instruments compared to the old days when Bb was the sole domain (in the U.S.) of amateurs unwilling to pay the usual price of a professional instrument. Considering what I paid for it and then what I paid to have it brought up to proper playing condition, my BB-345 cost me only a coupla thousand less than what a similar-condition factory CC-345 would cost.

Rick "suspecting the conversion by a real expert is no longer available at any price" Denney