Tuba Tuesday: King Symphony 1280 BBb
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:12 pm
Happy Tuba Tuesday
In today’s edition, from the Museum, we showcase our tallest instrument: a King Symphony model 1280 four rotary valve BBb tuba circa 1934. This instrument is unusual in several ways. It is 65 inches high, came with its own stand and was meant to be played standing up by string bass players who doubled on tuba. The stand allowed the instrument to be raised to whatever height was comfortable for the player and could be raised to over 72 inches high. King was the only American maker who made rotary valve tubas in any number and did this only during the 1930s. The 1280 shown below is in lacquered brass and has a .750 inch valve bore. It was also offered with a .687 inch valve bore. We also have one of the smaller bore 1280 King models in the collection in silver plate with a gold inner bell.
https://simonettitubacollection.com/ins ... hony-tuba/
In today’s edition, from the Museum, we showcase our tallest instrument: a King Symphony model 1280 four rotary valve BBb tuba circa 1934. This instrument is unusual in several ways. It is 65 inches high, came with its own stand and was meant to be played standing up by string bass players who doubled on tuba. The stand allowed the instrument to be raised to whatever height was comfortable for the player and could be raised to over 72 inches high. King was the only American maker who made rotary valve tubas in any number and did this only during the 1930s. The 1280 shown below is in lacquered brass and has a .750 inch valve bore. It was also offered with a .687 inch valve bore. We also have one of the smaller bore 1280 King models in the collection in silver plate with a gold inner bell.
https://simonettitubacollection.com/ins ... hony-tuba/