Thanks for pointing out the Wessex BBb XL, added bonus with additional forward facing bell. There is also the Viverna BBb. Need to go to England to try these ...

Claf, thanks for pointing out the Joseph Lidl Moldau 648.

I never had one in my hands, it might play very well, but this model is one of these oddities I mentioned with kaiser bore of 21 mm and very small bell of 42 cm. That said, it might play well, and I will keep an open eye for one to try.

Sweaty, thanks for pointing out the YorkaZo 5000 bb 5 valve. I never have seen them in norther Europa, though. I will keep my eyes open for that one, hopefully I can test it in near future near Copenhagen.

Grumpikins, i agree that thinking in notes in terms of their absolute name instead of fingerings makes playing odd combinations of keys and differently pitched instruments easier.

I have no problems switching from Eb to CC to BB tuba to bass trombone that way.

I want to upgrade my 4/4 BB tuba ...

The MW Fafner is more a 6/4 Kaiser size, right ?? 21 mm bore and 48 cm bell - pretty large throat ?? I think that is too large a beast for me. I tried a Miraphone Kaiser, and it was not for me.

The problem is of course that the different tuba brands use the sizes 4/4, 5/4 and 6/4 very different ...

There is something that puzzles me: I am in the search for a decent, used 5/4 Bb tuba, preferably with 5 valves.

I had the chance to try a B&S B&S 3098/PT-6 CC tuba, and liked it much, this is pretty much what I'd like to find, just in BB.

The reason I'd prefer a BB tuba over a CC is that my ...

Nope, I have not seen PB blaster here in DK, but we have other brands of penetration oil.

I did apply it from the outside, bur will tomorrow try to fill the valve circuit from inside for a day or two, warm and try again.

Good idea.

While I see the point of using some form of mold, plastic or ...

I have recently bought a B&S F-tuba - 4 valve military style, 17 mm small bore, 380 mm bell.
The 2. valve slide had probably not been moved for decades, and is badly stuck.

I have tried this:

- filled the valve slide with citric acid, waited some hours and tried again - no luck
- applied ...

Let us know what you think of the cerveny 693 once you did play it. I am curious about your findings.

Congrats. These 15" bell Eb tubas play really well. But are heavy, like a tank. I preferred a DW 3 on mine, that has the best intonation and sound. I also played the later 4v compensated 18" bell version, which lacks the distinctive clarity and better intonation of the 15" bell. IMHO the 15" is just ...

And another one in my ownership:

Wessex wooden straight mute

Height 49,5 cm
Bottom Diameter 28,0 cm
Top Diameter 8,0 cm
Length along seam 50,5 cm
Opening diameter 5,6 cm
Length of opening 4,0 cm

Modification of my own, build from PVC water tubes, located in the in-side of the mute
Length of ...

How luck I am .... one of my collegues had a biig H&B mute for me, so I don't need to make my own. Dimensions as follows, for the curious mind:

H&B New Stone Lined straight tuba mute - the traditional conical huge white with red trim
Model 190 (Upright Bell 22"-28" long) : 559 - 711 mm 6/4 Bb and ...

You play tuba and bass trombone, as I am,. Probably you would not like the smaller rim diameter the Scilke 51 D has, I don't, at least.

For me, a larger rim, but a shallower cup works best, I have great experiences with the Yamaha 58 small bass bone, and the Yamaha 59 medium small bass bone ...

bloke wrote: Tue Sep 22, 2026 2:28 pm and it's great, but the adjusted semitone 5th valve >>> specifically on a BB flat <<< is the way to go.
(just sayin'... again...and for THE LAST TIME in this thread)

Really, really last time in this thread??? You are a gentleman.

You play in an US community band, and that takes you not lower than FF below BBb - and you are happy with the priviledged notes of your sousa.

Well, that is all fine and swell, buuut modern UK Brass Band pieces go sometimes deeper, as does classical literature. For example the Crespo 'Etude im Stil ...

Bloke, I read your lips, for your discussion of the BBb tuba, and agree that the most intonation suffering tones ton a 4 valve BBb are E and H natural. Isolated to a BBb instrument your argumentation for a long half step 5 th valve is perfect.

But you assume that 2+3+5 is always insanely to deep ...

I play a 5 valve MW Eb tuba, a 5 valve B&S CC Tuba, and a 4 valve B&S BBb Tuba. Guess what I miss the most there: the 5th flat whole step valve.

Especially in sharp scales, where shifting from 2+3 c sharp to 2+4 b natural is a nightmare. Or 2+3 f sharp to 2+4 e natural, equally bad in fast ...

By the way, I also found the dimensions for the wooden Dennis Wick mutes here:

https://www.blowwinds.com.au/product/denis-wick-bbb-tuba-wooden-mute/

https://www.blowwinds.com.au/product/denis-wick-eeb-tuba-wooden-mute/

Metric EE♭ Version (DW5564) BB♭ Version (DW5566)
Height 57.7 cm (577 mm) 60.0 ...

Yes. My tuba is a 4/4 B&S GR51 model, but with a slightly smaller bell diameter than the modern ones (probably because it's an old model ...)

I specifically asked for the dimensions of the Voigt Bb-tuba straight mute, because it worked just fine.

By the way, the imperial measurements translated to ...

Perfect, thank you very much. Much appreciated!