6/4 recording tubas produce false tones even more easily and more solidly than regular 6/4 tubas (in my experience), so - as one of your tubas has three valves - that's the one to feature three.
... same goes with 5/4...Unlike most people who own old Besson tubas, I have both a 24-in recording belt and a 17 inch upright bell for my compensating Besson B-flat. The false tones are much easier with the recording bell offering the additional curve at the end of the instrument.
Wondering out loud… in text… I wonder if that bell-elbow-curve reflects the sound back in a bit allowing it to be pushed against resulting in better false tones?
Maybe we need a “Show us your bell front tuba” thread.
Okay, I found a mouthpiece combo this tuba really likes.
@bloke piece Symphony, with an Orchestra Grand Euro shank.
False tones... YEAH!!! This thing eats them up. I played it a bunch today, and pitch/response stability is MUCH better on this one than my original-ish condition 340.
Once that thing goes together with some care, I think I'll have some dangerous weaponry on my hands. Rebuilt valves, carefully soldered together, dent free, raw brass... Drool.
MiBrassFS wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 10:00 am
Wondering out loud… in text… I wonder if that bell-elbow-curve reflects the sound back in a bit allowing it to be pushed against resulting in better false tones?
Maybe we need a “Show us your bell front tuba” thread.
I had the mouthpipe moved for the sake of comfortability. Before, it was much too high, and just came straight off the bell, which meant that I literally had to turn the tuba to point almost sideways to (un)comfortably play it.
It actually hits between the old factory brace mark and the newer, higher, before location. Now, it fits me perfectly, the bell can be pointed straight ahead, and doesn't impede slide movement at all. I am one happy camper. It also looks less weird with this nicely re-bent pipe on it.
Guys, seriously, this is the BEST sounding tuba that I own. It's just amazing the quality and quantity of sound that it puts out. I'll record it sometime but that won't do it justice.
Really, all that's left to do is get the big dent out of the top bow, and the big one out of the bottom bow, and strip what's left of the finish off. I probably won't be doing that dent work for a L O N G time, as I'm more focused on my 345, and this one's just a big ol' ugly bell front that I'll use in the summer and for Tuba Xmas, but really, that's what gives it the cool factor, isn't it?
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Hey, long time no see in this thread! I've been busy collecting parts for my 2165, getting that valve work done to my F tuba, and Keith had another tuba in his queue before this Holton resurrection, but now we're finally able to proceed with this huge project.
Earlier today, Keith stripped the lacquer off the body. I know some of you felt I should leave it alone, but again, the tuba is going through so much dent work, and the lacquer was already spotty anyway. It just makes sense. I'll also be having the same sort of brushed finish done on this one as my 2165, which may help hide some of the previous dent scarring.
Just a refresher...
This horn will pretty much be going through a complete rebirth. Soon, the body will be completely taken apart and resoldered and dents removed, just like my 2165 but more thorough because, well, it's a Holton, and it was also in rougher condition. This means the bottom bow guard will come off, all the guard wire will be replaced, and every solder joint will be re-done, the right way.
Keith has also made ALL the slide crooks I was missing, and I think has repaired the damaged ones I did have. Namely, the upper/lower 4th crooks needed to be fabricated because I didn't have them, and the entire valve section is .750" bore. This will help the valve section go together quicker, later.
Additionally, I found a new receiver (NOT marked BB-340) because, well, it would bother me. Say what you will. It IS Holton, just unmarked. No, I don't have the old one anymore.
I ALSO found something that I'd been looking for under the radar for a while. I don't have it yet, but I'll post about it when I do.
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Here it is during the lacquer removal process. I have some of this stuff for my bell front Holton as well. Once life slows down a bit, I'll get the rest of the terrible lacquer off that horn myself.
Just a moment for a word from or sponsor:
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m charging a lot for them, but I have some upper #4 slide1-inch span bows for Holton 345 tubas for sale.
