I pulled the 32-inch-tall Holton out (4+1 - 11/16" & 3/4" bore) the other night for a random gig

[bloke]

I'm really glad I haven't sold it.
I could use mo' money, but I doubt it anyone would pay what it's worth to me.
(This is the thing I built a few years ago, when exploring delving into B-flat.)
I was mocked (by this site's mocker-in-chief) when I posted (more than several months ago) about needing to sell some stuff to continue to recover from the shutdown, looking at that thing, and thinking "yes, but no".

Anyway...
It did some amazing stuff for me, the other night (random gig)...
- It would hurt my heart to sell it.
- (again) I could use mo' money.
- Likely, no one would be interested, when they could get a shiny Eastman C (and C being "professional" ) for a good bit less than would be my price...

...so it will remain here, and I'm glad about that.

Rather than posting sterile horn-porn (since it ain't gonna end up being sold), here are a few pics of pleasurable outings with it:

IRIS Orchestra (I'm thinking one of the Dvorak's...??)

springtime outdoor quintet engagement

Jackson Symphony (Concerto for Orchestra...probably a week after I stuck the thing together)


I would never have bought the Miraphone 98 (even though I had been trying to figure out how to buy it from its owner for two or three years) had this Holton project not been such a success.

[MikeS]

Shoot. I was all set to offer you a 55 gallon drum of lamp oil* and a $100 gift certificate for gas station tacos for it.
I even started the paperwork to change my name to Johnny Swank so the initials would work for me.

* https://fireflyfuel.com/shop/paraffin-lamp-oil/

[Schlitzz]

Yeah, you seem to be a lot lighter. Obviously, Mrs. Bloke’s cooking has improved over the years……

[bloke]

The bottom line is that probably we need to look at ourselves in the same way that we look at others. When we look at others advertising their stuff for way too much, they probably really don't want to sell it. When I think of a price for which I would sell the instrument in those pictures. It's more than the average "joe" ?? would likely pay for it, which means I probably really don't want to sell it, even though I could use some money right now.

[Stryk]

I remember when you found that horn on eBay - you were excited even then! I don't blame you, I wouldn't sell that one, either!

[bloke]

It's got a "real tuba" sound without taking up tons of real estate. I think the hard case that we located for it (which Mrs. bloke re-blocked) might be a scant three feet long (MTS-made/old new stock).
Truth be told, it can carry (and not really because "it's being playing by a strong player" or anything like that) at least a sixty piece wind band.

[bort2.0]

^ That's kind of the dream isn't it? Sounds like a tuba and can overplay an entire wind band by itself... But it's not physically huge. I think the best Piggy tubas are like that for the owners. I've never had the chance to play "one of the good ones," I guess.

But now I have to look back at the posts and discern who is the mocker in chief.

[bloke]

When I was trying to decide whether or not to offer it for sale, and back then even realizing that my asking price would not match up with demand realistically, someone was making the assumption that I was being disingenuous and just trying to talk it up. It doesn't need talking up, but it also likely wouldn't sell for the amount of money that I really need to have for it to sacrifice not owning it anymore.

[arpthark]

Hit me up next time you're in New England, Brett, and you can check out a good one. (Cs line up, 2nd valve kicker solves virtually every other intonation issue).

Although I'd say Joe's Holton is a lot like my Eastman 832 CC, but a bit beefier, and I gotta say, the Piggy and the Eastman are pretty radically different.

Eastman = pretty

Piggy = porky

[bloke]

Hit me up next time you're in New England, Brett, and you can check out a good one. (Cs line up, 2nd valve kicker solves virtually every other intonation issue).

Although I'd say Joe's Holton is a lot like my Eastman 832 CC, but a bit beefier, and I gotta say, the Piggy and the Eastman are pretty radically different.

Eastman = pretty

Piggy = porky

Eastman 832 is possibly a bit larger (at least 35 inches tall...??) yet a shorter bugle (C).
I've only played the 6XX version, but I'd guess (??) that the 832 (compared to this blokolton B-flat) might be 10% more woof/mellowness, as the Eastman things are more like cut-down new-style Kings, and the Holton/York 4/4 tubas (of long ago) were just a bit smaller than "new style" King 2341 tubas (ie. I suspect the Holton offers - if player-desired - more "bite")...but getting into subtleties/esoterica, here...

[Lee Stofer]

Joe, you have a great horn there, no matter what anyone else thinks. There's not $5.00 difference, IMHO, between vintage Holtons and Yorks,
and the horn sounds great -period. And if you enjoy it, better-yet.
I find it interesting that your Holton is so similar to what I've been working on for 10 years now. I build my short 4/4 as a CC, as that was the original plan from the Getzen days, but I also make a stop arm on the 5th with two connecting tabs, so that the rotation can be reversed, and it plays so well as a BBb tuba that 50% or more of Stofer tuba owners play them as BBb tubas. I've considered building one as a dedicated BBb, because the, "I have to play a CC to be a professional/well-regarded/knowledgeable tuba player" is just ludicrous.

[bloke]

Maybe (??) I should have left the two bow caps and guard wires (robbed from California Olds marching contras, and stripped of their chrome and nickel) off...

The thing weighs over 24 lbs...but the instrument itself is not thin, and five BB-flat tuba valves is not a small amount of cylindrical tubing.

[Three Valves]

Shoot. I was all set to offer you a 55 gallon drum of lamp oil* and a $100 gift certificate for gas station tacos for it.
I even started the paperwork to change my name to Johnny Swank so the initials would work for me.

* https://fireflyfuel.com/shop/paraffin-lamp-oil/

I’ll see that offer and raise you the citronella scented 55 gallon drum.

Perfect to keep skeeters at bay for outdoor recitals!

[bort2.0]

Hit me up next time you're in New England, Brett, and you can check out a good one. (Cs line up, 2nd valve kicker solves virtually every other intonation issue).

Thanks -- I may be in NJ later this month, but that's not really close to you at all.

I also need to get down to Louisville to meet up with Norm. He has the other good Piggy.

[bloke]

As much as I look askance at piggies (the various makes and models of them), I have to realize that far more people surely look askance at my own equipment.

bloke "working on 'tolerance' "

[Three Valves]

I hate it when people look askance at my equipment.

Especially if they start to point and laugh.

And I'm married to them.

[bloke]

I hate it when people look askance at my equipment.

Especially if they start to point and laugh.

And I'm married to them.

Not looking at your Piggy

[bloke]

...SPEAKING OF WHICH...

I ended up being tagged today in this fb post (a few videos from a Halloween concert from a few years ago).

This was early on with THIS Holton B-flat (and no longer playing any C instruments).

I remember that I had a hurting tooth (root canal, but should not have been repaired as it was CRACKED IN HALF and should have (simply) been pulled...so (yes) once the dentist figured out that it had been cracked - a week or more after this show, he pulled it (half + half)...but - prior to being pulled - it hurt like Hell...
Additionally, I was also "regular sick"...(undisclosed illness )

...I'm surprised that these outtakes sounded as good as they did...I was on a bunch of trying-to-feel-better drugs (my friend likes to record stuff with his tablet)...
He's on the right (bass trombone), and I'm on the left (LOL...right leg).

I took this Holton tuba to that concert, and TWO euphoniums.
I used the HUGE euphonium to play the ophicleide part to the Gounod march (aka "Alfred Hitchcock theme").
I used the Yamaha 321 SMALL euphonium to play Mars (Holst),
I used this tuba for most everything (if not absolutely everything) else.
I don't recognize the movie themes, but you folks likely will. I really don't watch many movies made during fairly recent times...OK, I do recognize "Ghostbusters".

If you've listened to a few other things that I may have put up (playing this Holton B-flat tuba), it's - yeah... - "punchy", if I ask it to be that.


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