Posted by Art H on September 08, 2002 at 23:04:10:
In Reply to: Re: Helicon tubas posted by Lee Stofer on September 08, 2002 at 17:29:54:
I have been using a Beuscher BBb helicon (painted black) for almost 35 years now, and still love it. I grafted on a Bohm & Meinl valve section about 15 years ago, which made it play like better than new. This summer I got a big kick out of seeing Dave Gannett using a nicely- restored 3-v version of the same model, also black. His is prettier, but I think mine plays better because the old pistons, even restored, are not as well-designed as modern ones. You can get through a doorway with a helicon, and you can stand up without hitting the ceiling the way a sousaphone does. It also balances better; I can play it with no hands as long as we are in Bb. Other makes such as Conn and King have rather long and cumbersome bells, but the Beuscher is more compact.