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I've finalized plans for a road trip this summer. If anybody wants to meet up for tuba transport along the way, I'll be taking a van, so I should have a decent amount of space. I'll be heading through the following cities/states:

June 21:
Leave Connecticut
New York (NYC)
Pennsylvania (going across the state, Philly/Pittsburgh)
Ohio (Columbus, break for night)
June 22:
start out in Columbus
Indiana (Fort Wayne/Indy)
end in Kentucky (Louisville/Lexington/Danville)

Picking up a few horns along the way, including meet-ups with some folks on this forum. The first leg is going to be from CT to OH, where I am overnighting in Columbus on the 21st, and then will continue on to Fort Wayne, IN and then down into KY on the 22nd.

While in KY, I'll be playing at the Great American Brass Band Festival, which is always a ton of fun.

I'll be heading back to CT on July 6 and just doing a one-shot/direct route (KY-WV-MD-PA-NY-CT), so flexibility will be more limited on the return trip.

Let me know if you want to meet up or need a horn moved between any of those locations!

Be careful in Columbus with the drivers. Also, that route from Columbus to Cincy on 71 is a bit rough with traffic flow being two lanes and some construction on the north end (I have to drive that 3 days this week for an orchestral series).

russiantuba wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 8:44 am Be careful in Columbus with the drivers. Also, that route from Columbus to Cincy on 71 is a bit rough with traffic flow being two lanes and some construction on the north end (I have to drive that 3 days this week for an orchestral series).

I will be taking US-33 to US-30 up to Fort Wayne from Columbus, so I'll be missing I-71 and the Cincy metro area all together. But, good looking out!

I missed that part—so tired! I take 33 weekly heading to ONU. Much better road. Highly recommended detour to Buckeye Brass 5 miles off of 33 in Plain City to try a Siegfried and the Hagens (and Cervenys and other Miraphones).

If you find out that you have some extra tubas towards the southern end of your trip that you didn't account for - and they're pretty good ones, I'm willing to come up and meet you.

bloke wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 11:11 am If you find out that you have some extra tubas towards the southern end of your trip that you didn't account for - and they're pretty good ones, I'm willing to come up and meet you.

I might (??) be able to sneak down to Memphis sometime during the week of June 29... we'll see.

That would be amazing.
I can can show you how fat bastard sounds with some emgs on it.

Sounds like a good trip!

It’s really nice of you @arpthark to always volunteer extra space when you’ve made your road trips.

You’re one of the good guys Sir!

I'm driving between blokeplace and Pittsburgh and back very soon, but I don't really know that I could do anyone any good.
Particularly since I'm driving between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.. to avoid traffic going through the cities. Won't even hit central Nashville until 11:00 p.m.

I'll be in the shop the week of the 22nd if your schedule allows. We're just above the I275 loop off I75.

Got one tuba passenger for the tuba taxi (KY-->CT) so far.

Plans have shifted a bit on the return trip. My mother-in-law is selling her house (downsizing) and wants us to take a load of family heirloom furniture back to Connecticut, so I am taking a UHaul back to fit the horns and the furniture. Lots of room available now!

@arpthark , I just got back from that area. I-70 is a mess, especially in Indiana, and there's construction both in Columbus and Indianapolis as well as various other points. If you're going via Pittsburgh, you might pick up US 30 on the west side of town where it follows I-376, and once you get to Canton, Ohio it's a very nice dual-lane freeway that bisects Northern Ohio and doesn't have much traffic. From there it goes straight into Fort Wayne. Do yourself a favor and avoid 70.

Bump. A few more hangers-on have entered the fray. I'm pretty loaded down on the way to KY but should have plenty of space headed back.

After about 14 hours of straight driving on Monday, I am back in New England.

Very glad to meet lots of folks on the way, including @gocsick, @Mikelynch and @Sousaswag.

Very sorry that the trip got derailed toward the end and I wasn't able to do the two days in Memphis to visit @bloke. I even hauled the big York down to drop it off but the timing was just bad. Next time, man!

Overall, despite the scheduling issues, it was a great visit with friends and family and I was able to string together a bunch of things that I've been on the hook for for several months, if not a year in some cases. Here's what I ended up with:

Rudi Meinl 5/4 CC

B&M 5520 CC

Conn 28K 4v Eb sousaphone

Dynasty/Willson 4v BBb marching tuba/contra

Conn 12J

King 1240 with a King 1140 silver marching tuba bell

Tiny Buescher Eb

YBB-103 with a very sloppily added 4th valve

Olds flugabone/marching trombone

A bell for my York Master BBb (finally!)

Not to mention tuba taxi for a couple folks and moving my mother-in-law's furniture, antique China and crystal collection. Whew!

Of that list above, the Rudi is a keeper, the 12J is staying in Kentucky, and the Olds flugabone will be resold, but everything else is kind of fair game for projects and whatnot. I'm pretty excited for that York Master bell. I've had the body for a couple years but no bell. I may keep that recording bell or use the tenon and make an upright bell for it. I'll probably make a post later in the repair forum about everything.

It was great to meet you in person finally. Glad things worked out! That Rudy sure is a cool find. Can’t wait to see what you’re going to do with it.

BTW, still drooling over that York

I'd love to hear about the B&M 5520. I had my eye on one of those years ago, when I had my detachable bell Marzan.

Both the Marzan and the B&M tubas always struck me as a lot of bang for the buck.

bort2.0 wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2026 9:43 am I'd love to hear about the B&M 5520. I had my eye on one of those years ago, when I had my detachable bell Marzan.

Both the Marzan and the B&M tubas always struck me as a lot of bang for the buck.

That one was mine that I purchased as a placeholder while my 2165 and Willson were concurrently in the shop.

Good tuba. Great valves and construction. Needed some yoinks on the main slide frequently.