Re: Questions about 6/4's and cuts


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Posted by Crunch the numbers. on May 03, 2002 at 20:25:49:

In Reply to: Questions about 6/4's and cuts posted by Andy Smith on May 02, 2002 at 21:46:38:


Andy and anyone else interested,
Crunch the numbers. A successfully converted tuba can be a joy to play and have great resale value at a later date.

A screwed up project is at best, a learning experience. I have had MANY learning experiences when it comes to conversions! If you screw up your first shot and don't have the resources to try again, you won't really learn anything except what didn't work. If you have a failure and a success to compare to each other, conclusions can be made.

If a 6/4 BBb tuba has 4 front action pistons and plays well, it may make more sense to sell it and put the money towards a CC you can play test first.

If you can get an unplayable carcass at scrap value, then when you consider a new valve set and overhaul of the body, cutting to CC makes more sense. Keep in mind that a healthy, fixed upright bell trumps all others on the desirability scale. The actual cutting of the body is a few hours work if you already know where to cut. Getting the branches to fit back together requires glopping solder at some of the ferulles, or an extra day's hard work retapering the branches. Experimenting with improving the intonation takes much more time and patience!

It costs no more to build up a valve set in CC than it does in BBb. Unfortunatly for 6/4 BBb tubas, there are more people willing to pay more money for the less brass of a CC than a BBb. As long as that is the case, there will always be people willing to cut tubas

If you find a BBb that has the sound you want and no other manufactured CC does, then the conversion can make sense.

Best of luck.
Matt


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