TubaForum.net

Update:
I’ve decided to wait and buy a 4 valve instrument in the new year, likely a YEB-321. Using BrassUp app I learned all of the fingerings in two days and am continuing to improve on my skills with the app.


Original Post:
Looking for a cheap old 3 valve Eb to learn on before deciding to invest in a second tuba that I can play in brass quintet or community orchestra.
Please post links or pm me anything that fits the bill. I'm looking to spend under $500 just to learn fingerings, so old and out of tune will be good enough for that.

This shop in Oklahoma advertises an older Eb in your price range: https://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/msd ... 97464.html

There are a couple of older Eb horns on Reverb. The closest in price is this one: https://reverb.com/item/32975147-conn-eb-tuba

Dillon's has 4v Martin that looks good, but it's more than you're looking to spend. Might be an easier one to resell, however.

KerryAbear wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 4:13 pm Looking for an cheap old 3 valve Eb to learn on before deciding to invest in a second tuba that I can play in brass quintet or community orchestra.
Please post links or pm me anything that fits the bill. I'm looking to spend under $500 just to learn fingerings, so old and out of tune will be good enough for that.

I’m a believer that a three valve Eb can be a very effective and sonorous bass voice; certainly a small Eb Bass has worked quite well for me in Brass Band and in small group playing here in the UK. However, I just wonder, have you checked with the groups that you plan to play with that a three valve Eb will be sufficiently low to cover the range of notes asked of the (their) Bass player?

The fingerings for an Eb Bass in Bass Clef are much the same as those in Transposed Treble Clef: just mentally add three sharps to the key signature and you’re good to go.

It’s worthwhile keeping an eye on this forum, often members will make others aware of advertised items.

KerryAbear wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 4:13 pm Looking for an cheap old 3 valve Eb to learn on before deciding to invest in a second tuba that I can play in brass quintet or community orchestra.
Please post links or pm me anything that fits the bill. I'm looking to spend under $500 just to learn fingerings, so old and out of tune will be good enough for that.

Where are you located? There is a Buescher Eb 3-valve for sale in Springfield, OH on Facebook right now. Listed at $300 OBO.

I’m in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

If this here spartan ebay tuba is still available next time i'm down that way, i'll check it out. I think it shows promise, but i'm widely known for my low standards as well as my snap judgements, and if i point to successes, they are perhaps the tip of an iceberg of poor decisions...

Not knowing how shipping works, i could well imagine that will be a deal breaker, especially if they are already quoting >$100 just to get it from NJ to MA.

Still, i have confidence you can unearth a sub $500 eefer, even in these crazy market conditions.

Er... It was a JW Pepper & Son, presumably (i infer from horn-u-copia) after 1910 when they switched to imports? Didn't see a serial #. Lot of bell flare, baritone sized shank (and baritone mouthpiece, so behooved one to track down a wee shank eb tuba-ish mouthpiece to evaluate, but satisfying sound. Slides all move, but haven't been forced to tune to anyone yet, so don't know if low/high pitchedness is an issue.

2nd tenor wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 1:16 am The fingerings for an Eb Bass in Bass Clef are much the same as those in Transposed Treble Clef: just mentally add three sharps to the key signature and you’re good to go.

I've heard this before, but holy jeez, how is that any easier?! Maybe for some people, their brains can handle this... For me... Just learn the doggone thing in the correct clef. Mash these buttons to make this sound. Then repeat to connect the physical "do this" to the mental "oh, this is what happens."

hrender wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 5:01 pm Dillon's has 4v Martin that looks good, but it's more than you're looking to spend. Might be an easier one to resell, however.

I fell ass first into a similar 3v front action Martin Eb last February, and it is now the only tuba I own. It's not ideal, but it is a sweet playing and sounding tuba that I enjoy very much.

Someday I may attempt to swap out the valve section and make it more useable with a larger bore and 4- or 5-valve valve block. Seems like a lot of work and not worth it... But for a 90+ year old horn, it's done it's job thus far... maybe it's time for an update to move forward.

32" tall and 17" bell... A really good and very "medium" size. My brain works best in CC and F, but can tolerate Eb when needed.

Particularly, when it's the only thing I have.