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- I do not NEED a C tuba.
- I do not have TIME to build one.
- I am NOT willing to sell any of this 4/4 Buescher "stuff".

I have all sorts of 4/4 Buescher stuff, here.
Based on experience, these things SOMETIMES (and possibly "usually") play as well or better in C than B-flat, because the B-flat set-ups feature an absurdly long cylindrical capillary portion (enough to remove to shorten from B-flat to C) before ever getting to the valve "block".

The bore size of these seem to measure out at .726" (93/128"...a tiny smidge smaller than 18.5mm).

I have a Secrist-rebuilt 4-valve top-action valve "block" (with slides)

I have a Secrist-rebuilt 4-valve front-action valve "block" (with brand new German-made 18.5 nickel-brass tubing - not cut nor mounted).
If I wanted the final product to appear more genuine, I'm fairly sure I have access to some Weril/Dynasty (.728" bore) sousaphone valve sections.

I have at least three bodies (bells that are 18" - 20" and bugles), one of which offers a 19" detachable recording bell and (with a correct size spare male tenon) the OPPORTUNITY to cut one of several Buescher UPRIGHT bells and end up with a TWO-BELLS instrument.

Of course, I've got stuff laying around to mount a 5th rotor.

The most interesting choice (if I EVER find the time to build SOMETHING "just because") would probably be a top-action recording/upright.

The most obvious choice would be the SAME THING, but FRONT-action.

Recording basses (though we, the operators, can't hear them as well) put out more-easily heard sound (orchestra/music director/patrons).

If I EVER build a Buescher C concert instrument (as the helicon was such as success) what should I build?
I HAVE found that ONE of the bugles' small upper bow IS wide enough to accommodate the 4-valve FRONT-action valve "block".

The top-action one is actually one of these model 697 things:

Since the largest bow (notice that there is NO cut on the large side) measures out the same (other than curvature) as the Buescher sousphone/helicon "first branch", I'm pretty sure this tuba was made of the same body parts (though bent into a tuba, rather than into a helicon/sousaphone).

If one of those bodies had the same taper as the sousaphone you cut to C, I’d reckon that’d be a recipe for success.

I suspect the one pictured is the same, but I just don't know how much different the others are. They don't look much different, though their bottom bows are conventional.
The helicon asked for some minor slide pulling when playing serious music, just as with better C instruments. It had the typical two lower A-flat pitches octave discrepancy, due to being played by the squirrely 2-3 valve combination... but being a sousaphone type of setup, it was actually easier to jump the hand over to another slide than with an upright tuba. The #1 slide asked for predictable pulls and pushes.

It may be pretty silly to be thinking about building something I don't need, but stuff is sitting here staring me in the face. It would be an instrument in between the Holton B-flat, which is basically the size of a CB-50 C tuba - except B flat, and the big Kaiser hybrid Miraphone B-flat that I now own. It wouldn't be big enough to be called 5/4, but it would still be in between the other two. The helicon was a great instrument, but it was a bit dangerous to carry around, as the valve section extended the past the body on two ends - per the original design, and I had no case for it. The fact that it was shoulder-mount didn't prevent me from playing it in so-called classical music situations, and the only person who ever asked me to bring a tuba to the performance was a church orchestra contractor, and not even the church choir director himself.

As far as the "why shorten them to C" question, I've already had experience playing these various instruments as they stood, and they were a bit stuffy, and actually not quite as well in tune as after the super long tuning slides (in front of the valves) were removed, which shortened them to C instantly.

For my edification, do these Buescher instruments also feature a tuning slide *after* the valve section?

arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Apr 21, 2023 8:09 am For my edification, do these Buescher instruments also feature a tuning slide *after* the valve section?

They typically feature a fixed tapered lower bow which is small enough to remove and substitute with a tuning slide.

bloke wrote: ↑Fri Apr 21, 2023 9:00 am

arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Apr 21, 2023 8:09 am For my edification, do these Buescher instruments also feature a tuning slide *after* the valve section?

They typically feature a fixed tapered lower bow which is small enough to remove and substitute with a tuning slide.

Thanks. Doesn't seem like there's an after-the-valves MTS in the above catalog photo, but kinda looks like there is one on this eBay horn:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134489670607?h ... R5jt0MX0YQ

Something like what you describe is EXACTLY what I'm looking for I may actually prefer top action just to be different...and it's also better for standing with a strap, and should be a better line of sight to the drummer