SOLD F. Schmidt-branded B&S PT-2P/VMI 3301, silver, case, $4000
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:58 pm
My wife's uncle was a tuba player and when I came into the family he decided to start it up again. I helped him buy first a Besson, and later helped him sell that one to fund an older King 1241. They moved to a new house and his wife said, "One tuba, but make it a good one!" He sold the King and bought this very nice VMI 3301, engraved as F. Schmidt. I don't remember exactly what year that was, but I'm thinking late-aughts, when the tuba was only a few years old, so I've known this instrument for most of its life. Uncle Dave is no longer with us, and his son has asked me to help this one find a new home. I just met up with him over the weekend and now the instrument is in my possession.
As our august host will tell you, F. Schmidt was the house stencil brand of Brook Mays in Dallas, first applied to instruments made by VMI. VMI is, of course, the company created to absorb the B&S factory after German unification, when Gerhard Meinl (of Meinl-Weston) had purchased what had been VEB B&S under the TA-Musik umbrella. That became JA-Musik and now that factory makes B&S-branded tubas and is owned by Buffet-Crampon. The tubas in this lineage have been made in Markneukirchen since before WWII.
The 3301 is a 4/4, four-piston-valve Bb tuba in a configuration similar to a King 2341 (but bigger). It's quite similar in size to my former York Master, which was similar to the B&M Symphonic 5500. The Miraphone 191 is similar but a bit bigger. This instrument is identical in every detail to a B&S PT-2P, and I have compared them side by side. This one plays very well, with excellent intonation, great scale, and easy access to first and third slides.
Uncle Dave played in several community groups, including a concert band, a polka band, and a Dixieland band. This tuba worked great for all of them. He always stored and transported it in the case. It has a handful of small dents and dings, three of which I've pictured below. If they are hard to see in the pictures it's because they are hard to see. This tuba has never been repaired because it's never been damaged.
No mouthpiece is included. The receiver accepts a Euro shank.
The case seems to be an MTS or a knockoff, from before the time MTS used full plastic shells. (I'm no case historian.) This one uses a plastic shell in the bell area, but the rest is wood. I've gone over the case and it's well-used but solid and looks nice. The wheel axles were loose and I installed steel angles through which the axle bolts thread and then into the original nuts and plates in the case. The wheels are now straight and solid. The interior of the case is excellent and was specifically fitted for this instrument. The case is 30" tall from the floor, 42" long, and 22" wide at the bell.
The tuba is 36" tall with a 19" bell (actually slightly larger) and with a bore of 19/19.5mm. The valves are Meinl "Big Valves" as used in Meinl-Weston and B&S piston C tubas, and they are in perfect condition.
The instrument has been sitting in the case for the last several years since Uncle Dave passed. He didn't polish it very often and sitting in his room it had become tarnished. I had polished and ragged it out for him about the time he became ill, but he left us before getting to see it cleaned up. It's been in the case since then so it's still largely free of tarnish, but I'll wipe it down before delivery.
Price is $4000 and this tuba is worth more. The last time these were sold new they went for $6500 from the usual discounters. There's a B&S-branded example at one of the tuba stores right now for $7000. Again, this instrument is identical--the engraving happens after they are built.
I will be able to deliver the instrument to a buyer at the Army Workshop in February. If I don't find a buyer by then, you may see it at a higher price from one of the stores, on consignment. Act now. I can meet someone in the mid-Atlantic region to deliver it, but with shipping services as risky as they have become, I cannot take that risk on my cousin's behalf. He will probably ask me to put it on consignment somewhere before agreeing to ship it.
one of a handful of tiny dents
another one
adjustable thumb ring
36" tall with a 19" bell
the wider spacing of the wheels makes it even easier to roll, and it won't tip easily
Heavily reinforced wheel axle mounts by me. Also installed (gold-anodized) aluminum rub angled on the bottom corner to reinforce that joint.
Rick "you know you want it" Denney
As our august host will tell you, F. Schmidt was the house stencil brand of Brook Mays in Dallas, first applied to instruments made by VMI. VMI is, of course, the company created to absorb the B&S factory after German unification, when Gerhard Meinl (of Meinl-Weston) had purchased what had been VEB B&S under the TA-Musik umbrella. That became JA-Musik and now that factory makes B&S-branded tubas and is owned by Buffet-Crampon. The tubas in this lineage have been made in Markneukirchen since before WWII.
The 3301 is a 4/4, four-piston-valve Bb tuba in a configuration similar to a King 2341 (but bigger). It's quite similar in size to my former York Master, which was similar to the B&M Symphonic 5500. The Miraphone 191 is similar but a bit bigger. This instrument is identical in every detail to a B&S PT-2P, and I have compared them side by side. This one plays very well, with excellent intonation, great scale, and easy access to first and third slides.
Uncle Dave played in several community groups, including a concert band, a polka band, and a Dixieland band. This tuba worked great for all of them. He always stored and transported it in the case. It has a handful of small dents and dings, three of which I've pictured below. If they are hard to see in the pictures it's because they are hard to see. This tuba has never been repaired because it's never been damaged.
No mouthpiece is included. The receiver accepts a Euro shank.
The case seems to be an MTS or a knockoff, from before the time MTS used full plastic shells. (I'm no case historian.) This one uses a plastic shell in the bell area, but the rest is wood. I've gone over the case and it's well-used but solid and looks nice. The wheel axles were loose and I installed steel angles through which the axle bolts thread and then into the original nuts and plates in the case. The wheels are now straight and solid. The interior of the case is excellent and was specifically fitted for this instrument. The case is 30" tall from the floor, 42" long, and 22" wide at the bell.
The tuba is 36" tall with a 19" bell (actually slightly larger) and with a bore of 19/19.5mm. The valves are Meinl "Big Valves" as used in Meinl-Weston and B&S piston C tubas, and they are in perfect condition.
The instrument has been sitting in the case for the last several years since Uncle Dave passed. He didn't polish it very often and sitting in his room it had become tarnished. I had polished and ragged it out for him about the time he became ill, but he left us before getting to see it cleaned up. It's been in the case since then so it's still largely free of tarnish, but I'll wipe it down before delivery.
Price is $4000 and this tuba is worth more. The last time these were sold new they went for $6500 from the usual discounters. There's a B&S-branded example at one of the tuba stores right now for $7000. Again, this instrument is identical--the engraving happens after they are built.
I will be able to deliver the instrument to a buyer at the Army Workshop in February. If I don't find a buyer by then, you may see it at a higher price from one of the stores, on consignment. Act now. I can meet someone in the mid-Atlantic region to deliver it, but with shipping services as risky as they have become, I cannot take that risk on my cousin's behalf. He will probably ask me to put it on consignment somewhere before agreeing to ship it.
one of a handful of tiny dents
another one
adjustable thumb ring
36" tall with a 19" bell
the wider spacing of the wheels makes it even easier to roll, and it won't tip easily
Heavily reinforced wheel axle mounts by me. Also installed (gold-anodized) aluminum rub angled on the bottom corner to reinforce that joint.
Rick "you know you want it" Denney
