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Didn’t even know these existed. Compensating F tuba in the BE-983 style? Cool. Wonder how the pitch is.

https://flemingrepair.com/products/bess ... uaaIxaQnO5

They do exist.
There aren't many.
The ones I've seen were all nearly unused.

That's pretty much your answer.

Trying to work through the compensating fingerings for this in my head:

C 4
B 24
Bb 14
A 124
Ab 234
G 134
Gb 1234

That would hurt my brain, especially that 124 A.

That's a chunky bell, looks bigger than a 983 and closer to a 981 or the like. What it really reminds me of is an Eb cut to F. Rich Watson, rip, had a big Holton Eb that had a fantastic sound but also had iffy intonation. He told me he initially had it cut to F but it was so bad it was extended back to Eb. Cutting (or designing, as appears to be in this case, the Internet seems to indicate it has a .750 valveset) a big Eb to F seems to have a lot more issues than a small Eb to F or a Bb to C.

arpthark wrote: Fri May 01, 2026 4:12 pm Trying to work through the compensating fingerings for this in my head:

C 4
B 24
Bb 14
A 124
Ab 234
G 134
Gb 1234

That would hurt my brain, especially that 124 A.

One of the DC guys played a 983 primarily, but also posted on the old forum that he played a 4 valve Eb helicon, a 5 valve Eb tuba (iirc the PT Eb), a Yamaha 621 F converted to Eb but drew the line at a 3+1 comp Eb. That's at least 3 different low range setups before the 3+1, assuming the converted 621 didn't have anything funky. No thank you.

3+1 compensating Eb is easy for me to conceptualize because you push down your left hand and boom, BBb fingerings. But inline compensating horns are no bueno for me.

I would imagine this model is literally a cut 983 that they decided to throw together. I'm surprised it even exists, to be honest with you.

bort's probably right on why there are so few around.

Can someone post the pictures? I think I was banned from that group because the admin thought I was a scammer

I saw one in lacquer, decent shape, at a Tuba Christmas a few years ago. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to toot on it, and the guy who owned it played it only in section, so I can't tell you how it plays or sounds. But yes, as above, there are a few of them out there.