
mystery Eb tuba, only $135 (Athens, WI/FB)
- arpthark
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gocsick
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Re: mystery Eb tuba, only $135 (Athens, WI/FB)
Looks like a Holton to me.
As amateur as they come...I know just enough to be dangerous.
Meinl-Weston 20
Holton Medium Eb 3+1
Holton Collegiate Sousas in Eb and BBb
Conn 20J
and whole bunch of other "Stuff"
Meinl-Weston 20
Holton Medium Eb 3+1
Holton Collegiate Sousas in Eb and BBb
Conn 20J
and whole bunch of other "Stuff"
Re: mystery Eb tuba, only $135 (Athens, WI/FB)
I agree with gocsick.
Comparing photo to my 1929 BBb -- same ferrules, same brace struts and flanges, same top valve cap design, the bell emblem (what one can see of it in the photo) is roughly the same, and that "W" master tuning slide is dead nuts for Holton.
Comparing photo to my 1929 BBb -- same ferrules, same brace struts and flanges, same top valve cap design, the bell emblem (what one can see of it in the photo) is roughly the same, and that "W" master tuning slide is dead nuts for Holton.
- The Brute Squad
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Re: mystery Eb tuba, only $135 (Athens, WI/FB)
I'm half tempted since that's only a couple hours away.
- These users thanked the author The Brute Squad for the post:
- PRO (Tue Jul 14, 2026 1:27 pm)
Joe K
Player of tuba, taker of photos, breaker of things (mostly software)
Miraphone 181 F w/ GW Matanuska/Yamaha John Griffiths
Kalison Daryl Smith w/ Blokepiece (#2 32.6, Symphony cup and shank)
Player of tuba, taker of photos, breaker of things (mostly software)
Miraphone 181 F w/ GW Matanuska/Yamaha John Griffiths
Kalison Daryl Smith w/ Blokepiece (#2 32.6, Symphony cup and shank)
- arpthark
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Re: mystery Eb tuba, only $135 (Athens, WI/FB)
Let this be the encouragement to become fully tempted!The Brute Squad wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2026 8:19 am I'm half tempted since that's only a couple hours away.

Re: mystery Eb tuba, only $135 (Athens, WI/FB)
The dent on the bottom bow appears to be easily removable with dent ball. No obvious dents on the valve knuckles. Bell appears to be in good shape and I'll bet that's a beautiful bell emblem. Great price. And so what if the mouthpiece is Conn 2 -- they're OK mouthpieces, but your favorite will likely fit just as well.
Wish that little guy was just two hours from me.
Please consider yourself further encouraged !
Wish that little guy was just two hours from me.
Please consider yourself further encouraged !
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humBell
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Re: mystery Eb tuba, only $135 (Athens, WI/FB)
I feel like us tuba players don't live up to the '80's kids show portrayal of peer pressure i grew up with.arpthark wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2026 8:23 amLet this be the encouragement to become fully tempted!The Brute Squad wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2026 8:19 am I'm half tempted since that's only a couple hours away.
"Go on!"
"Everybody's doin' it"
"It'll make ya feel good!"
are some of the classic lines...
As for the middle one, while i'm sure there are plenty of trivial counter examples to find, i'm lookin' forward to hearin' about arpthark's epic road trip, which was rumored a month or so ago, and i myself drove to Gastonia for a large york i'd not known existed until i saw a listing for it. And for under $200. (well maybe 3-400 after i paid for gas, but i also picked up 4 ebay listings on the way which the sellers had very patiently been awaiting...)
But nah. I'm sure someone else will appreciate it too, and maybe they are more cash strapped... So a good deal won't go to waste.
‘All art is one, man—one!’ said Hal
- bort2.0
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Re: mystery Eb tuba, only $135 (Athens, WI/FB)
Dang... I drove within about 10 miles of this tuba last week. Mystery tuba and mystery mouthpiece!
