(NOT “b-tuba”, but) BB♮ Tuba 😳

[bloke]

Meinl-Weston (Melton) model 5450
(all: reversible in a matter of seconds)

Orchestra tuba players use B♮ tubas, because they play better in sharp keys.

[bort2.0]

That's some real edge of your seat fun!

[York-aholic]

With its own built in "playing stand"

[Doc]

And how does it play, dare I ask?

[kingrob76]

I think this would market better as a Cb tuba…

[bloke]

And how does it play, dare I ask?

Response is just about the same on the same FINGERINGS on the same PARTIALS (NOT on the same PITCHES..ie. it's NOT some magical "now low E is just as fast-responding as low F used to be" thing).

It pulls a few passages (ex: "low orchestral") over MUCH MORE to the first and second fingers (away from the third finger) and with more opportunities to more easily fine-tune more pitches (with the #1 slide). Der Walkürenritt, La fontana di Trevi al meriggio, etc...

This only required four six-inch-long hunks of tubing...two of which I already had, and two others that (as a friend had a pending order with Meinlschmidt) a kind friend added to their pending order for me (as I had used up all that I had of those sizes, on alterations of others' instruments, as 20.5mm bore is a pretty common size).

[LargeTuba]

I got to try a Thor a week or two ago, and man... It was the best tuba I’ve ever played. Very responsive and a killer low register. I was beyond impressed.

[bloke]

likely: reconfigured from old 2155R w/smaller bore and mouthpipe... I suspect the bugle taper was also reconfigured for better intonation via that computer program to which everyone refers.
No tuba is perfect, but these are amazing, and - the more carefully assembled - the better.

The old 2155R - though horrid intonation characteristics - featured the same incredible low range response.

[KOn]

I got to try a Thor a week or two ago, and man... It was the best tuba I’ve ever played. Very responsive and a killer low register. I was beyond impressed.

How was the legendary "depth of sound"?

[bloke]

I slightly temper the sonority of mine with a fairly deep cup mouthpiece.
I use my Sellmansberger Symphony cup and a tall rim - which adds 1/8 inch of cup depth.
With smaller mouthpieces, I can override aggressive bass trombonists...not that this is a good idea..,

[GC]

I think this would market better as a Cb tuba…

Considering that this horn is made what it is by a dropped pitch, maybe CCb?

[bloke]

I think this would market better as a Cb tuba…

Considering that this horn is made what it is by a dropped pitch, maybe CCb?

sure...
...though my understanding is that the "CCC - CC - C - c - c¹ - c²" octave designation system is actually supposed to change/refer to the next lower octave at each "b" and NOT at each "c"...so (assuming that's correct...??) the "CC" designation for tubas with 16'-long bugles is actually just as incorrect as is the "EE♭" designation.

That having been delved into, this is...

[Three Valves]

That's my favorite topic!

[GC]

Okay, CCCb tuba.

** assaults deceased equine once more **

and no more

[bloke]

Okay, CCCb tuba

LOL...NO, the OTHER way...

Hey...HERE's somethin' funny that was just sent to me (from way back when...)



...so what does it stand for...??
KLAXON, of course!

yeah...and those were (though heavy wool) pretty "cool" uniforms, because they could easily be converted to tails (white shirt/bow tie/white vest)...so one wouldn't look quite as nerdy as everyone else - up on stage at "all-state"...



EDIT: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I STUCK IT IN THERE, I UNDID THAT BB♮ EXTENSION, TODAY.

bloke "I may stick weird/theoretically-might-work/not-approved stuff into an old horn, but NOT into mySELF !!!"

[GC]

CCCb looks more impressiver. But it looks sort of commie . . .