eBay: H.N. White 4-valve tuba key of Db(???)

[gocsick]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/387999778604?m ... media=COPY

Botched frankentuba or clueless seller who doesn’t know how to use a tuner? Who knows… Anyone near York County PA that wants to take a gamble…

[arpthark]

Interesting. My guess is frankentuba. Maybe a botched Eb --> CC conversion. The valves look like Conn 12J with a grafted-on 4th.

[Craig F]

It was made in Db so it could play the Stars & Stripes Forever Piccolo solo.

[Tubajug]

The valves look like Reynolds to me, but it looks fairly well put together. Looks about the same size as the King medium Eb I converted to front-action valves.

[arpthark]

The valves look like Reynolds to me, but it looks fairly well put together. Looks about the same size as the King medium Eb I converted to front-action valves.

Thanks, I missed that pic with the Reynolds-y knurling on the valve caps. Looks like the 4th was definitely added, though.

[Tubajug]

All the bows make me think it was someone going for a CC tuba more than an Eb.

[LeMark]

the length of the 1st and 3rd valve slides look Eb all the way to me

[Crazyben]

I am the new owner of this tuba!
It is indeed a C tuba. When it arrived it had a leak between the 3rd and 4th valve that made it unplayable. Maybe that's why the seller thought it was in Db?

[arpthark]

I am the new owner of this tuba!
It is indeed a C tuba. When it arrived it had a leak between the 3rd and 4th valve that made it unplayable. Maybe that's why the seller thought it was in Db?

Congrats! Let us know how it plays if/when the leak has been addressed. It looks like the fourth was added on, so that’s probably where/how the point of failure occurred.

[the elephant]

Yeah, that 4th is a Franketuba add-on, and the connection failed. Once fixed it ought to play okay. I like those horns in stock form. I would like to play that altered one; looks like a fun one.

Congratulations!

Wade

[Crazyben]

The leak has been fixed. It seems to play fairly well. I'm struggling with some intonation issues but that might be just me. I may need to cut some tuning slides. The 4th valve seems to be a 2nd valve used as a 4th. I also need to add a water key or spit valve to the main tuning slide.

[Schlitzz]

I had a Vietnam vet, lost his pinky, line of duty, playing a Db piccolo. It was my hometown community band. He was a band director after that enlistment. I’m glad he never took up the viola.

[bloke]

[Crazyben]

Here are some pictures after repairing and cleaning it up a bit.

[York-aholic]

Those old HN White engravings were pretty nice!

[Tubajug]

How does it play? Is it really in Db? What is your plan for it?

[catgrowlB]

That's honestly a cute tuba

[Crazyben]

How does it play? Is it really in Db? What is your plan for it?

It plays fairly well. The valves are a little leaky but it still plays well for now. Im not sure if I like the angle on the hack job 4th valve but it might be ok once I get used to it. I'm still learning C fingerings so I will probably notice more quirks as I get more comfortable with it. I really like the tone. It sounds like a much bigger horn than it is.

No it is not in the key of Db. It is actually in C.

I plan to play it as my only tuba until it eventually needs a valve job.

[arpthark]

King and Reynolds mash-up? We could call this a "Cleveland" model if that name weren't already taken. Either way, it's a very Ohio tuba!

[Tubajug]

How does it play? Is it really in Db? What is your plan for it?

It plays fairly well. The valves are a little leaky but it still plays well for now. Im not sure if I like the angle on the hack job 4th valve but it might be ok once I get used to it. I'm still learning C fingerings so I will probably notice more quirks as I get more comfortable with it. I really like the tone. It sounds like a much bigger horn than it is.

No it is not in the key of Db. It is actually in C.

I plan to play it as my only tuba until it eventually needs a valve job.

I'm glad you're liking it! Sorry, I missed your previous comment where you said it was actually in C, so thanks for responding to the same question again on my behalf.

What are the dimensions as far as bell size and height? Or a photo next to another tuba for reference? It looks like a "squat" tuba to me. Congrats again on your new horn!