Martin BBb tuba question

[bort2.0]

Was playing my Martin Medium Eb for a little while today, such a fun tuba!

Did Martin make a Medium sized BBb as well? If I were someday able to find a front action 4 valve Medium sized Martin BBb that might be pretty sweet.

I didn't spend much time on Google for this, but didn't find much. Just the 6/4 top action BBb's or Lenny Jung's front action 6/4.

[bloke]

I’d have to believe that - as they made a fiberglass tuba that was medium size in B-flat, surely they made a brass one as well.

[matt g]

https://www.saxophone.org/museum/publications/id/63

Page 17. Also, on the page with the cases (p. 24), you can see an actual photo of a medium sized BBb with 4 front action valves in a case.

[bloke]

I see that it included an extension for low pitch.

[matt g]

I see that it included an extension for low pitch.

Indeed! That catalog is from 1916, so right in the middle of those transition times.

I couldn’t find a brass wind catalog in the 20/30s on that site. I think the next one was in the 50s?

Nonetheless, they likely made some, but who knows how many and where they ended up. It looks like a solid design from proportions and valve layout. Not unlike someone’s compact Holton/King creation.

It would be cool if someone had one in good shape.

[York-aholic]

Yes, they made ‘Medium’ BBb in both top and front action. I had a 3v top action w/fixed upright bell (21” or so) and a 3v front action with detachable recording bell.

I absolutely loved the sound of the top upright bell horn. The horn was just a tad larger than a York model 33. Frank Ortega had one converted to front action with King valves by Martin Wilk and was very fond of it.

The front action was also similar size to a King 1240, maybe a scootch bigger. The valves were more on the diagonal than the vertical layout of the Kings. I enjoyed playing that horn also. I believe both horns were in the .689 bore range.

Front action:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PNOHY7 ... p=drivesdk

[MartinMan]

I don't have a 4 valve version but I do have a front action 3 valve example. I'll attach photos here later when I get the chance.

[bort2.0]

I don't have a 4 valve version but I do have a front action 3 valve example. I'll attach photos here later when I get the chance.

Thanks! I'd love to see it.

Glad to know these exist, although it sounds like it might take a little patience to track one down. Or for that matter, any front-action Martin seems harder to find... I was just in the right place at the right time for my Eb.

I was again surprised by the Eb yesterday, such an easy tuba to play and such a nice sound. Very much "medium" and needs a little more meat down low to be fully functional. If the BBb is like a bigger version of the Eb...

[humBell]

I probably have the sousaphone equivalent of a Martin medium. But perhaps not exactly, as its bell is only 20".

Yup, definitely a playah.

[York-aholic]

My Medium BBb 3v front action recording bell (suspect a King Upright bell would be a bit small at the small end) went to Lee Stofer. You might check with him to see where it went from there.

It fit in (and shipped in) King 1240 cases.

[hrender]

I have seen them only occasionally for sale. I don't think I've seen one publicly for sale in 4-5 years at least, but they may trade hands privately between individual Martin collectors.

Pix I saved from one I saw for sale a while back:

Martin_Medium_BBb.jpg (21.35 KiB) Viewed 1379 times

[bort2.0]

I have seen them only occasionally for sale. I don't think I've seen one publicly for sale in 4-5 years at least, but they may trade hands privately between individual Martin collectors.

Pix I saved from one I saw for sale a while back:

Martin_Medium_BBb.jpg

Nice looking horn!

I remember there was a large 4v front action at Dillon or BBC a while back (not Lenny Jung's horn), and it sat for a little while before it sold.

[York-aholic]

I have seen them only occasionally for sale. I don't think I've seen one publicly for sale in 4-5 years at least, but they may trade hands privately between individual Martin collectors.

Pix I saved from one I saw for sale a while back:

Martin_Medium_BBb.jpg

Nice looking horn!

I remember there was a large 4v front action at Dillon or BBC a while back (not Lenny Jung's horn), and it sat for a little while before it sold.

If the one you are thinking of was silver (with the silver worn of the valve tubing crooks) and a fixed upright bell, I seem to think that was a 6/4 rather than the Medium.

[LargeTuba]

If the one you are thinking of was silver (with the silver worn of the valve tubing crooks) and a fixed upright bell, I seem to think that was a 6/4 rather than the Medium.

There was also a 4/4 Martin CC there I think.




You missed the boat on this cool Martin 4/4 BBb with Nirschl Valves that was recently sold. It now belongs a guy in Minnesota (I think). Maybe you know him?



Also, side note, I ended up with those Nirschl valves on the martin through a crazy set of circumstances and trades.


You could also wait for Sam Gnagey to finish his recent Martin 6/4 project. Its already looking pretty darn sweet!

[hrender]

Update to an old thread: I noted Lee Stofer had a Martin Mammoth and a quartet of fiberglass Mediums (Media?) on his “Instruments in Process” page:

https://tubameister.com/instruments-in-process/

[TheHatTuba]

Now that you know they exist, ask about the rotary version. It's Martin, so there might be some out there