Weights of different tubas?

[MiBrassFS]

Is there a thread about the weights of different tubas? I looked and I didn’t seem to be able to find it. If one exists and someone can point it out, I’d be grateful! Thx!

[donn]

Yes, several, but Tubenet seems to be out of commission lately.

[Sousaswag]

Looks like we’ll have to remake it here

[arpthark]

If I think of it, I have quite a few data points to add to the collection when I get home from rehearsal this evening.

[hrender]

I had put the data from the old board into a spreadsheet. If I can find it, I’ll post it.

[arpthark]

I had put the data from the old board into a spreadsheet. If I can find it, I’ll post it.

Found it for ya:

https://tubaforum.net/viewtopic.php?p=2 ... cel#p21148

[bloke]

If a tuba begins its life as a regular-weight satin-silver tuba - but later has the holy crap buffed out of it (as did the York built for Mr. Donatelli and soon thereafter sold to his student) and ends up being a bright-silver tuba, it can end up being a lightweight tuba...and everyone who makes knock-offs of it will struggle to make their copies as lightweight as are the skeletal remains of the original.

[MiBrassFS]

Thanks, @hrender and @arpthark.

[bloke]

also

(though I know my posts in this thread seem as though they are jabs at the wisdom of gathering this information - which they are not...and I understand that there's a difference - particularly with someone with lame hips, knees, neuropathy, etc. - between 17 and 24 lbs
...ie. I'm not intending my responses as trolls...)

The single biggest difference in weight (between typical 3/4 and typical 6/4) is whether-or-not there is a 4th valve.

[Schlitzz]

A 6/4 Bremelo BBb tuba weighs about? @donn

[1 Ton Tommy]

One of the many things I like about my Martin Eb 4V is its weight at 14.bs.without mouthpeice.
In contrast the Martin Mammoth 4V BBb weights about 32.5 with mouthpiece. That's with the recording bell.

The Mammoth is not something I will set upside down next to my chair when I have 32 bars out. Well, maybe with the help of the buff, comely, young string bass player standing next to me. Let's see... how could we make that theatrical?

Speaking of on-stage theater, the 2nd horn player who is a tallish, sturdy woman had her stand light blow up and start smoking midway through Carmen last Saturday night. Fortunately, that was the last piece before intermission. Much to her credit she managed to get to the plug two rows up, get it unplugged and off stage AND make it back for her entrance without interfering with the violas who were madly sawing away. So maybe I could get the Mammoth off the floor and back down without drama. There's something to be said for battery-operated stand lights. At intermission I got her a battery light out of my gig bag.

[arpthark]

Here are some things I have on hand to add to the data set:

• Alexander model 163 5v CC w/ 2-step 5th valve (1930s): 20 lbs
• Alexander model 164 4v BBb (1930s): 21.2 lbs
• Alexander model 157 6v F w/ quint valve (1980s): 16.2 lbs
• Cerveny Piggy 4v CC (1980s): 18.4 lbs
• Besson 3v compensating BBb (1960s): 21.8 lbs
• Besson 15" bell 3+1 compensating Eb (1960s): 18.8 lbs
• York model 730 (6/4-sized 3v BBb, 1925): 25 lbs
• Rudolf Meinl 5/4 BBb: 22.6 lbs
• Miraphone 186 BBb (1980s): 21.6 lbs

The Alexanders are so light, even the newer F (which feels kind of heavy with the sixth valve and the quint valve and all). The 164 kaiser BBb is a scant 21 pounds. They feel great to play and very alive and responsive in your hands.

[bloke]

No one's going to be shopping for a Miraphone model 98, but when I first bought it, just like everyone else with a newly-acquired instrument I was curious as to what it weighed and it weighed (only) 24 lbs.

I've added just a very little bit of mechanical stuff, a small amount of tubing, and probably the heaviest thing I put on there is some silly bling... which people can ridicule, but if someone steals it and takes a picture to sell it, the bling I put on there will immediately identify it.

Anyway, a 6/4 instrument with kaiser bore slide tubing, 5 valves, and with a bell the size of a Holton 345 bell with a kranz and probably a steel wire, it necessarily must feature a very delicate set of handmade bows to weigh in it only 24 lbs... and they are delicate. I have to be very careful, and I don't sit close to anyone.

Carrying it in a bag would be insanity.

[donn]

A 6/4 Bremelo BBb tuba weighs about? @donn

Say what? You got me, I have no idea what that is. Weights I can report, approximately:

Conn 40K 4v sousaphone: 31 lbs
Kalison "Professional" (ha ha, anyway it's the big 5/4) 4v BBb: 24 lbs
Kanstul Model 66 5v Eb: 20 lbs.
Cavagnolo accordion (three voice LMM): 23 lbs.

[MiBrassFS]

Here are some things I have on hand to add to the data set:

• Alexander model 163 5v CC w/ 2-step 5th valve (1930s): 20 lbs
• Alexander model 164 4v BBb (1930s): 21.2 lbs
• Alexander model 157 6v F w/ quint valve (1980s): 16.2 lbs
• Cerveny Piggy 4v CC (1980s): 18.4 lbs
• Besson 3v compensating BBb (1960s): 21.8 lbs
• Besson 15" bell 3+1 compensating Eb (1960s): 18.8 lbs
• York model 730 (6/4-sized 3v BBb, 1925): 25 lbs
• Rudolf Meinl 5/4 BBb: 22.6 lbs
• Miraphone 186 BBb (1970s): 21.6 lbs

The Alexanders are so light, even the newer F (which feels kind of heavy with the sixth valve and the quint valve and all). The 164 kaiser BBb is a scant 21 pounds. They feel great to play and very alive and responsive in your hands.

Thanks for that. It actually answers one of the main questions I had.

[arpthark]

Here are some things I have on hand to add to the data set:

• Alexander model 163 5v CC w/ 2-step 5th valve (1930s): 20 lbs
• Alexander model 164 4v BBb (1930s): 21.2 lbs
• Alexander model 157 6v F w/ quint valve (1980s): 16.2 lbs
• Cerveny Piggy 4v CC (1980s): 18.4 lbs
• Besson 3v compensating BBb (1960s): 21.8 lbs
• Besson 15" bell 3+1 compensating Eb (1960s): 18.8 lbs
• York model 730 (6/4-sized 3v BBb, 1925): 25 lbs
• Rudolf Meinl 5/4 BBb: 22.6 lbs
• Miraphone 186 BBb (1970s): 21.6 lbs

The Alexanders are so light, even the newer F (which feels kind of heavy with the sixth valve and the quint valve and all). The 164 kaiser BBb is a scant 21 pounds. They feel great to play and very alive and responsive in your hands.

Thanks for that. It actually answers one of the main questions I had.

And just to clarify (and taking a total guess), if you were looking at the Piggy vs. the Yama-pig you've been gussying up, it has a 2nd valve tuning slide kicker assembly which probably adds another half pound vs. stock. And the first valve has been vented, so you need to account for the .001 ounce of brass removed to create that hole, as well!

[MiBrassFS]

And the first valve has been vented, so you need to account for the .001 ounce of brass removed to create that hole, as well!

More vent holes… that’s an idea!

[bisontuba]

1960s Mirafone 186-4U CC tuba…16 lbs…

[tofu]

Here are some things I have on hand to add to the data set:

[*]Miraphone 186 BBb (1970s): 21.6 lbs

You have your thumb on the scale for this one?

While the handmade ones of the ’60’s are indeed lighter - I don’t think the later ones are over 5.5 lbs heavier.

[arpthark]

Here are some things I have on hand to add to the data set:

[*]Miraphone 186 BBb (1970s): 21.6 lbs

You have your thumb on the scale for this one?

While the handmade ones of the ’60’s are indeed lighter - I don’t think the later ones are over 5.5 lbs heavier.

I was just weighing myself on a bathroom scale and then doing it again while holding the horn, so it may not be super accurate. This is one of the later 17”+ bell ones. I’ll try again if I think about it.