Re: Re: Besson BBb tuba for sale


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Posted by frederick J. Young on July 31, 2001 at 22:47:04:

In Reply to: Re: Besson BBb tuba for sale posted by Nice Horn on July 29, 2001 at 07:12:58:

Most are stuck with the idea that past great tubists played simple instruments and would rather pull slides than have a compensating instrument. Actually we should also note that compensating 4 valve instruments are just as poorly in tune in their lower register as three valve simple instruments. It may well take 50 or 100 years before professional American tubists even try compensating and full double tubas. The Brits have been using them for about 120 years!! Most of the blame may lies with American manufacturers such as Holton, Conn, King, Martin etc. They were too cheap to pay royalties on the Besson patents on compensating instruments. That alone has held up the progress of tubas in the USA for about 100 years.

Isn't it strange that virtually no professional euphoniumist plays anything but a compensating instrument and all the best Brit tubists do too and no American does? The pros are simply not interested in trying anything new and in most cases are threatened by new developments.


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