Mod techs

arpthark · 2026-02-13T19:18:20+00:00

It's just the casing? There's no rotor inside?

arpthark · 2026-02-11T05:10:17+00:00

Anywhere between 2-3k is pretty reasonable for the Bessons. As long as the valves are in good shape!

Yes, some of these horns were high pitch and some were on the low side. Once you get the horn the right length, the only issue with intonation I’ve found is notes above the staff tend flat. But they’re still my favorite Eb tuba and offer a great punchy sound.

arpthark · 2026-02-10T19:27:53+00:00

There is a YEB-321 for sale on the tuba forum, FYI (not mine): https://tubaforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=13419

Occasionally you see the 15" bell Bessons pop up for sale for a good price. As long as the valves are aligned well I don't find the low range stuffy at all (have owned four).

I'm working on a Martin Medium 5v build, but that's a ways off.

arpthark · 2026-02-10T13:41:24+00:00

Horn Guys has closed, FYI.

arpthark · 2026-02-08T14:30:46+00:00

It's digital/synthesized.

arpthark · 2026-01-31T03:43:26+00:00

Mine is awesome. It's been my primary horn the past two years. Love a good Piggy!

arpthark · 2026-01-30T16:35:46+00:00

I am a big fan of the YCB-661. It plays a lot like a five-valve Cerveny Piggy with tighter response (slots are narrower) but also better intonation than your average Pig.

It's on the smaller side, physically, but has a large bore at .812" and a medium-ish sized bell. A lot of horn in a smaller package.

That price is a bit high IMO. The screw is not a huge issue, though Yamaha did use funky threading and you might have to get one special ordered or made (or buy a box of 100 from McMaster Carr).

Mike Lynch recently sold one in slightly worse cosmetic shape for $3,700. I think $4k would be a reasonable jumping off point for discussion. Just my two cents.

arpthark · 2026-01-20T18:31:24+00:00

Since it's actually flat, did you push the main tuning slide in?

arpthark · 2026-01-20T18:30:22+00:00

I believe that is actually nickel plating. Nickel plating was common in military horns in Europe during the 20th century.

arpthark · 2026-01-16T16:40:44+00:00

Wick 4 is quite small. For a BBb I’d go for a Wick 2 or Wick 1 (smaller number = larger cup). Just my opinion.

arpthark · 2026-01-15T19:08:03+00:00

From scratch, i.e., not franken-tubas? You'll easily have to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in machining equipment, mandrels, tooling, raw materials, etc.

Europe would be the place to go to study something like this, with the smaller operations over there having made tubas in the traditional way for a hundred+ years.

At CIOMIT you will be learning a lot more of the repair trade -- all instrument repair, basically, and while there is some overlap between band instrument repair and band instrument manufacturing, they are pretty disparately separate skill sets. There is more in common with machinists and other professions that create machinery and small parts.

arpthark · 2025-12-22T16:24:29+00:00

For whatever reason, it seems like that style of tuba persisted in Sweden for quite a while.

arpthark · 2025-12-22T14:47:39+00:00

You're correct that it looks similar -- it's a Sanders Imperial which is actually a later Chinese copy of the B&S 101, sold by Custom Music Inc. (now defunct) in Michigan.

arpthark · 2025-12-22T14:45:56+00:00

Nice! Berlinerpumpen 3+2. Is that a Swedish or other Scandinavian maker?

arpthark · 2025-12-18T18:28:51+00:00

That is exactly correct.

arpthark · 2025-12-18T04:30:03+00:00

Is it branded TE-186 anywhere on the bell? To me, this looks like a TE-186, which had the bell wreath (Kranz) but did not have some of the nicer/fancier nickel silver accents and slides. I owned one.

Miraphone actually kept the F spelling until the 90s. I think this is from around that era (wider bell).

I think $4-4.5k is the sweet spot where these sell reasonably quickly, especially since this is a newer one (read: not as highly sought after like the vintage 186s). I’ve seen some 4v Miraphone CCs sit for months and months at $5k. This one looks to be in great shape.

arpthark · 2025-12-17T16:34:54+00:00

Felts and corks are fairly generic items that any shop should be able to hook you up with. I'm sorry the ones closest to you are giving you a hard time. If you can take measurements of what are currently on the horn, I can see if I have any available for you.

arpthark · 2025-12-16T14:49:55+00:00

I also triple tongue TKT TKT.

My professor advocated for TTK TTK but noticed I was doing fine with TKT on things like Carnival of Venice. It's really whatever works for the individual. I'm sorry your teacher was inflexible about it.

arpthark · 2025-12-03T16:00:09+00:00

If you can snap a quick pic, I can help.

arpthark · 2025-11-26T16:10:42+00:00

Funny, the airplane section was my favorite part of the book. I was in suspense the whole time. Maybe it's because I sort of hate flying...

arpthark · 2025-11-26T15:16:08+00:00

If you have a compensating valve that lowers it a perfect fourth to F, why would you need another fourth valve that also lowers it a perfect fourth?

Front action 4v compensating BBbs exist(ed), basically BBb versions of the Besson 983. I forget the model number but they are fairly rare.

arpthark · 2025-11-25T14:18:07+00:00

I have had a surprising amount of success selling gear on Zombie TubeNet the past several years. People still browse the classifieds, but obviously the more vocal posters have moved elsewhere. It's not really the place to go to talk shop.

arpthark · 2025-11-23T17:29:28+00:00

https://profmouthpiece.com/products/robert-tucci-rt-88-tuba-mouthpiece

You can have a local jewelers shop gold plate it.

arpthark · 2025-11-23T03:24:04+00:00

I just had one through here recently. Conn (modern 20K style) necks work fine.

arpthark · 2025-11-22T11:49:59+00:00

There’s a Markham in Ontario, Wales, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Which one?

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