A long time ago I had one of the “Baltimore Brass” style of wooden stand where you rest the tuba on its bell but it’s held in place by the wood and it’s carpeted to protect the bell edge. It was a copy somebody made, not the real Baltimore Brass. Nevertheless, it worked like a charm and I wish I stil ...

Yes, there are obviously some commonalities, but whether the Beatles were trying to purposefully reference a 500 year old musical style is, to me, doubtful. I would be surprised to learn that those young lads who spent so much time and energy studying and learning to imitate American blues ...

Not that close really. There is a higher melody (“cantus firmus”) with lower harmony parts, but those parts don’t stick exclusively to the major sixth-perfect fourth structure of fauxbourdon. Additionally the harmony parts sound decidedly modern, with major 7th chords and such that would NEVER have b ...

This is really tempting! It’s very similar to what I played in high school- model 10 with only 3 valves and the “convertible” marching contra option. I don’t know where I would put another tuba in our little space though. Maybe if I sold the Kanstul… Does it come with a case? If not, would you be abl ...

“4 pistol valves”.

A fellow member of the Beret Squad!

IMG_0157.jpg This was me, junior year, posing at “parade rest” somewhere on the high school grounds. Probably just outside the band room. This was the fall of ‘73, and we had just ditched the crappy, abused, held together with duct tape Sousaphones. The band parents replaced them with four brand spa ...

I can’t answer your questions, but as a former music educator I can offer that problems with the plastic guides are largely due to mistreatment by players. Students will oil the valves then not get the guide back in correctly, which compresses it if it’s not in the track. Once compressed, it has a te ...

For anyone who gets the Cryptoquote puzzle in their daily newspaper, and likes to do it, fair warning- if you read further you will encounter today’s answer. But for those who don’t get it, or don’t do it, this quote is just too good not to share! Actually, this is tomorrow’s answer. Our paper puts M ...

I believe it is a Meinl Weston 2040. I would further guess that it’s late 60’s/early to mid 70’s based on the “S” linkage. It looks to be in good shape, and these are on the rare side, so if it came up for sale I’m pretty sure it would be snapped up quickly. Although the 5 valve version is more desi ...

I believe it is close to a Meinl Weston 2040. Although the model number may have been different back in the day. I would further guess that it’s late 60’s/early to mid 70’s based on the “S” linkage. It looks to be in good shape, and these are on the rare side, so if it came up for sale I’m pretty sur ...

Thank you my friends for all of the stories and encouragement! I know I am not alone, and I’m sure there are many with struggles worse than mine. I will talk to the doctor about it, but probably should be able to play tuba again after the clots are gone and I feel better. I’ll sure give it a shot any ...

I’ve been following the discussion about The Elephant and his health issues with great interest. I’ve been having some of my own lately. I’m writing this post from my hospital bed. I’d been having issues of late with chest pain, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue. I finally came to the ER Frida ...

I use a simple moving dolly I bought from Harbor Freight for 12 bucks. It’s a simple wood rectangle with carpeting on each end and pretty sturdy casters. Right now I use a ratchet strap to hold it in place but I may come up with something more elegant. No handle, but a handle kit is available from H ...

Do you think these would work on MTS cases?

I have a friend in community band who transports his tuba in a Cronkhite bag with a modified golf bag push cart. He modified it himself and has told me he would be willing to modify one for me too. I said no thank you since I’m on Team Hard Case. My King is in its factory case, which is basically a w ...

Heh. Just noticed you can see "Cerveny" engraved on some of those tubas in the pictures in that Amati catalog. The "Opera Model" (Piggy) BBb is also listed, separate from the Arion. It did exist! Sorry to derail, carry on. I have told this story before here. When I was a freshman in college in 1974 ...

I had a tuba pretty much exactly like that, in lacquer, purchased from Tuba Exchange in the early 1980’s. The model number is indeed ABB 681 and it is analogous to the Cerveny 681. I thought it was a great horn and I regret selling it. Thank you for your reply and for providing the information. ...

I had a tuba pretty much exactly like that, in lacquer, purchased from Tuba Exchange in the early 1980’s. The model number is indeed ABB 681 and it is analogous to the Cerveny 681. I thought it was a great horn and I regret selling it.

As noted in my signature I own the 902-3B, which is the 3/4 size BBb 3 valve (they made a 4 valve too). Sounds good for its size, due in my opinion to a relatively big bore for a horn like this (.689). Does pretty much what a Yamaha 103 does. Biggest quirk: a real bad water collector, I have to spin ...