TubaForum.net

My new Dillon 995 BBb arrived Friday (I just got it today... I was away and it was delivered to my workplace which didn't notify me that I had a giant box show up).

For the last month I've been looking around for a basic, starter Bb to get back into playing, and I've contacted several sources (many from here) and basically got the old "nothing in stock" that seems to be quite common right now. I do appreciate you good peeps taking the time to talk with me, and I will remember you at upgrade time.

After searching out the used market (I don't feel comfortable buying a used horn except from somebody I trust, which is definitely not some rando "on the bay") I saw that Dillon had a 995 in stock. For those not familiar it's a 7/8 horn (their description, not mine) with a hard case, priced at $1200, targeted at students and beginners.

Everybody here knows the type of horn it is, it's an inexpensive import that plays notes out the bell... and that's about that.

Good enough for re-learning on.

I talked to the local band director (I live in a tiny school district in a tiny county in a very rural area) and the local school's equipment is 30+ years old and that's 30+ "students" years. SO... long story short if/when I upgrade or decide to switch instruments to euphonium (still under consideration) I'll donate this to them, it will live it's life teaching youngsters how to play.

Unboxing pictures? Of course. NOTE: Dillon did a fantastic job of packaging it, and shipping was fast. Highly recommended.

That's awesome! Congrats on the new horn!

New shiny stuff is always fun to get. It's only a little more than something used which might be a little dodgy.

Enjoy your tuba!

When I got back in I got a Three Valve (Get it?) Yamaha Chicom knockoff.

Yours, a King knock-off, I thought played better.

Something like this is nice to keep around just to bring to Tuba Christmases if you get a chance.

Enjoy the new horn, and welcome back to playing!

May God have mercy upon the ears of anybody who happens to hear me play right now.

SMOKES I was bad. I mean... bad. I guess a 25 year layoff is a bit hard on the embouchure, the wind, the range, everything.

My first note, I was like "my goodness this horn has a ton of back pressure... I mean it's almost as if..."

Then, after I remove the big styrofoam packing plug from the bell, I tried again... and the horn did just fine. Me? Call me a work in progress...

I actually saved that picture of the packing in the bell for the next time I'm trying to tell someone how to pack a tuba to send me.
The last one, he did not understand that it needed to extend beyond the bell, but it arrived ok anyway.

Have fun with your new toy.

Yeah, it took me while too after an even longer layoff.

Never being a music or performance major, I’m better now than I ever was!

Which ain’t great.

TriStateFans wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:40 pm May God have mercy upon the ears of anybody who happens to hear me play right now.

SMOKES I was bad. I mean... bad. I guess a 25 year layoff is a bit hard on the embouchure, the wind, the range, everything.

You probably sound better than you think you do. There is a fellow in the New Horizons band who showed up with a brand new Prestige euphonium and was having a hell of a time fumbling around with both pitch and fingering, BUT -- when he did hit an "easy" note, his tone quality was definitely not beginner. I'm assuming that in a few more months he'll be ready to move on to a "real" band as he gets his chops in order.

Congratulations! Enjoy your new horn!

TriStateFans wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:40 pm May God have mercy upon the ears of anybody who happens to hear me play right now.

SMOKES I was bad. I mean... bad. I guess a 25 year layoff is a bit hard on the embouchure, the wind, the range, everything.

My first note, I was like "my goodness this horn has a ton of back pressure... I mean it's almost as if..."

Then, after I remove the big styrofoam packing plug from the bell, I tried again... and the horn did just fine. Me? Call me a work in progress...

"Bad" is infinitely better than "silent." Keep it up, it'll all come back faster than you think.

Years ago, I was at Dillon Music, and tried a tuba (some Miraphone, I forget what), and it was a disaster. Couldn't empty the water from it, plus it was squirrely as anything, nothing would center, and just a total mess.

Then I decided to give it a spin... out fell a single styrofoam peanut. And after that, it was the glorious Miraphone sound and playability you'd expect.

Styrofoam peanut!

Hahaha.

Ive been playing my old king tuba lately. Dug it out of the closet its been hibernating for near 20 years. Some occasional wierd sounds. Huh, well its almost a hundred years old. Decided to take to the basement and wash it up, flush it out with some mild soapy water. Out of the bell comes some random baby toys..... oh?

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

Nearly 2 years later, I'm still playing the Dillon (it's done well for me thus far) and I sound "a bit" better than I did back then.

A few observations about my journey:

I remember getting out some easy music and trying to work on it. My wife came home and I told her "Man, I just can't read the music any more." She was like "It's OK sweetie, you'll figure it back out." Sighing, I replied "Ummm... no I mean I LITERALLY can not read the music. The music stand sits too far for bifocals and too close for long range reading". My solution, I had a couple of cheap pairs of "computer screen" glasses made by Zenni (basically you take your subscription and mod a couple of the settings) Google it if it interests you.

I now split time between the Dillon and the Reynolds sousaphone I've added to the collection, as well as a baritone G bugle and Bb euphonium. I've been looking at adding a more robust sounding horn but so far that hasn't worked out for various reasons. We do what we can.

Nothing really to add about the Dillon, it's pretty lightweight so one has to be careful not to ding or dent it. It plays pretty good, it's got a 15" bell and valve bore size are .640, but it doesn't play stuffy and does well down to a low G where it absolutely falls off a cliff (at least for me, a better player might be able to do more with it). I can go lower on the Reynolds.

Been having fun with it though, for sure!

I’m happy you are still plugging away.

It’s been a great outlet for me.

Three Valves wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 2:14 pm I’m happy you are still plugging away.

It’s been a great outlet for me.

You still grooving on your TU442L?

I'm thinking about adding a horn from Mack, although I'm looking at a TU210 or possibly a TU200, depending. Not sure.

TriStateFans wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 3:21 pm
You still grooving on your TU442L?

Yes.

I play it the most as it is easiest to transport.

The Conn plays outdoor gigs and the Accent is mostly practice.

That looks like the Chinese King 1140 knockoff. I can't remember the name of the factory (not Jinbao). I used to buy those cases from Hunter Musical (located on Long Island), because they fit King and DEG, and - with some reblocking - they fit old Meinl-Weston model 10 and 11. Those Chinese people who own that company were got pissed off at me for only buying cases from them and never buying instruments (imagine being chewed out by Khan Souphanousinphone), and they quit offering the cases for sale, darn it.

bloke wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 6:23 pm That looks like the Chinese King 1140 knockoff.

A local school has a King 1140 and I held it and checked it out last winter. The 995 is DEFINITELY a 1140 copy. Not surprisingly, the King is much heavier and has much better workmanship (this 1140, like most school horns, has had the tar beaten out of it but it still plays).