5/4 DEG (Willson) 4v BBb marching tuba to upright conversion

[arpthark]

I bought this big, 5/4 BBb contra/marching tuba this past summer with the intent to convert it to an upright configuration. It's a DEG, made by Willson.



Why? I figured, after doing it, I would have something akin to a homemade Willson 3100 BBb (minus the fifth valve) -- as far as I can tell, the bell is the same, and I think the body is the same, if not very close:



The contra valveset is slightly smaller bore than the 3100 -- graduated 18-19mm (.708-.748").

Unfortunately, someone notched the main tuning slide to assist in tuning or something...



But anyway, today, after working for a bit on Brian's Eb project, I did some work on this and pretty much have it mapped out.

It took some work because since it's a contra, the "guts" of the horn are more oriented toward the top bow, and of course the valveset is upside down if you hold a contra in concert playing position. The connection from the valveset to the main bugle is near the top of the instrument instead of near the bottom as seen in a normal tuba.

So, to get the bugle oriented correctly for normal playing position, I had to do two things: I had to cut a "U" shaped inner branch in half and reverse it to make it more of a zigzag/dogleg shape (sealing the cut with a homemade ferrule that I made out of a piece of an old mellophone body); and I had to splice in about 12 inches of tubing to connect the main tuning slide to the main bugle. Apologies for the blurry pic, but here you can see the cut and the tubing splice down to the main tuning slide:



After much monkeying around, I finally got it in a usable configuration. The valveset is very narrow and slides aren't easily accessible, but I'm pleased with this layout. The leadpipe is an old Allied pipe I had lying around combined with a Conn receiver, a King ferrule and a length of Miraphone 183 tubing. I'm definitely not going to solder anything together yet since it's much easier to deal with dent work on this while it's taken apart!



Currently the tuba plays about 20 cents flat, so I'm going to trim that l-o-n-g length of straight tubing seen in the pic above where the valveset is removed. That will shift the entire valve section up a couple inches and also allow the main tuning slide to be pulled without surpassing the bottom bow (pet peeve).

[bloke]

Those notches in the tuning slide are very common amongst marching brass, and probably were put there at the factory.

[rollo]

in all my years marching, how did i never come across a BBb DEG? i always hated how the Gs handled, but maybe if it were a little lighter it might be more manageable...

still, almost certainly a better use for that horn. fun project, love to hear it once it's done!

[bort2.0]

It looks a lot taller and skinnier than the Willson 3100, but also way out of context. Still seems like a much better use for the parts!

[gocsick]

I've borrowed one of these once for a gig while my Sousaphone was out of commission. Two 45 minute sets of continual basslines and I wanted to die. This horn is so much heavier and so much less ergonomic than any other contra out there. The GG version is nimble compared to this monster.

[arpthark]

It looks a lot taller and skinnier than the Willson 3100, but also way out of context. Still seems like a much better use for the parts!

I think you're right, but that pic makes it look a little skinnier than it actually is... it is a pretty large tuba.

@gocsick, yes, I can't imagine using this thing for marching or for even playing it on your shoulder for any length of time. Much more interesting (to me) as a 5/4 BBb concert horn.

The pics don't really capture the extent of the denting on this thing, and of course it's silver

I'll do my best to get it looking presentable, but it won't be beautiful!

[bloke]

Everyone complains about how heavy those things are and I have to say that I tend to agree - especially as I approach the big seven.
That said, the B flat version of those two concert instruments is a considerably better instrument than the C version (regardless of whether someone is an American pro-C bigot or not).

I'm never been one who thought of myself as any sort of pugilist. I have very strong fingers -;which I use as tools when repairing instruments, and I've always had what I would refer to as "farmer strength" for picking up and carrying around ridiculously heavy stuff... but that farmer strength is fading away as I enter into old age. Particularly since I've gone from carrying my valuable tubas around in protective cases rather than sacks, I've noticed that my ability to carry and lift stuff is fading a bit.

(I have issues with my right hip and knee which I haven't done anything about, and probably won't until I have to. Those are the main things that feel it when I'm picking up heavy things and not really my arms or upper body. That said, a few days ago I got sick and tired of getting caught up in the sugar addiction again and am back on low carb. Predictably, those hip aches and pains almost instantly were greatly reduced.)

Per typical, I went off on a tangent.

[arpthark]

Everyone complains about how heavy those things are and I have to say that I tend to agree - especially as I approach the big seven.
That said, the B flat version of those two concert instruments is a considerably better instrument than the C version (regardless of whether someone is an American pro-C bigot or not).

I'm never been one who thought of myself as any sort of pugilist. I have very strong fingers -;which I use as tools when repairing instruments, and I've always had what I would refer to as "farmer strength" for picking up and carrying around ridiculously heavy stuff... but that farmer strength is fading away as I enter into old age. Particularly since I've gone from carrying my valuable tubas around in protective cases rather than sacks, I've noticed that my ability to carry and lift stuff is fading a bit.

(I have issues with my right hip and knee which I haven't done anything about, and probably won't until I have to. Those are the main things that feel it when I'm picking up heavy things and not really my arms or upper body. That said, a few days ago I got sick and tired of getting caught up in the sugar addiction again and am back on low carb. Predictably, those hip aches and pains almost instantly were greatly reduced.)

Per typical, I went off on a tangent.

My repairman friend is 93(?), Korean War vet, and was skiing last winter. He's also a tiny man, maybe 5'3", and probably weighs about 120 pounds. Age is just a number, baby (I say, as I approach the big "4").

He stays active windsurfing, skiing, still repairing... he was using the dent machine to wrestle sousaphones as late as two years ago when he was 91.