blattweasel funhorn


100%!

The funny thing is, when I play the Kanstul, I get winded because of how much air/breaths it takes, but with this horn, I get winded because of the amount of backpressure and occasionally have to empty the tank. But the "practical" range of the instrument takes less ...

So I got myself a YBB-103. Playing as a sub in a top-end polka band, and while my Conn 12J is still in the shop, I did my first rehearsal with my Kanstul. I can hold it while standing, but it's not ideal, it's not a horn I wanted to add strap rings on, and it's just all wrong for the genre. The ...

I also try to plan meals far enough between eating and playing to minimize particles getting in. If you're hyrdating enough, it helps. Ideally, I want 30-60 minutes before picking up the horn.

I do drink coffee while practicing, though. But I don't think that has a lot of issues.

I was just ...

Is that bell even salvageable? I was always under the impression that those brass bands meant the bell flare had been grafted onto a previously-destroyed horn. I guess that means it makes it easier to hide it if you need to swap out a bell flare.

Can't wait to see the after pics!

This is an obvious collection of consummate professionals. No wonder you're excited about being brought in!

By the way, tuba is fun on Sir Duke, and people tend to act more impressed when played on tuba rather than bass. As a matter of fact, tuba is incredibly fun to play funk tunes on, and I like ...

I've only stripped lacquer of horns when the lacquer is in bad shape, or the horn has a lot of dents. A super shiny horn is going to show all the imperfections easily, while you wont notice most small dings until you're close if there's a nice patina.

If the lacquer is at least 75% or so in tact ...

York-aholic wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 11:57 am I think the 900-4b is a 5/4 based on the bugle taper of a Martin Mammoth. .689 bore

Yep.

York-aholic wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 11:57 amThe 33s is a compact 4/4 based on the bugle taper of a York model 33 (only ever offered in top action). .656-.689 bore

Now that I didn't know. I thought it was the same horn with a 5th valve.

This is basically the same horn as my 900-4B with a fifth valve added. These horns are really fun; but it's disappointing to hear about that 5th valve. I wonder if something is mucked up a bit with it? My horn plays so well.

Still, this is a GREAT price, and hope it sells quickly!

Yeah, I do the same thing. Amazon only for when it's only on Amazon. I had Prime for a while, but the streaming offers sucked unless you wanted to pay MORE for something else that's not a part of their free package, and I wasn't spending nearly enough on the site to justify $150/year for "free ...

Ah, that makes sense. Yeah, there's a ton of strange bends in this horn, but it kinda helps the tone that I want. Also, kids probably don't need the most free-blowing horn to start with, and some resistance would help, I'd guess.

But that's fascinating about rotors; and it's probably for the same ...

I just got my hands on a YBB-103, and am floored at the valve block design. The pistons are universal, in that you can swap them out and the horn still works. I assume that means that the casings are universal, too?

The horn plays amazingly well for as tiny as it is. It has its idiosyncrasies like ...

Another suggestion that was once given to me was to get a soft rope that's very flexible, and experiment with lashing it to different parts of the horn until you find a comfortable spot for you. Then have strap rings soldered on.

I ended up trying that on my 12J, thought I had the ideal spot, then ...

Mine is pitched in F, and some trombone players turn the nose up at it, even though it's a true BASS trombone (but again, I suspect it's because I'm playing gigs that they think should go to B-flat bass trombone players, and friends of mine who play tenor, bass, tuba, and euphonium laugh, and ...

Hey Bill,

Saw your post on TubeNet the other day. I made a thread for you on this site because I didn't have any help. Check it out:

https://www.tubaforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=13716

The kaiser bariton was sold a few years ago. Before selling it, I finally realized that it played BEST with SMALL mouthpieces (staying in the 6-1/2AL to 5G range max.)
That does sound like a very fun instrument. Probably great for oberkrainer music. It's also why I'm looking for that YBB-103 (got ...

Saw this on TubeNet. He said he posted here, but I don't see it--and I can't imagine any help will be coming from the other site.

He just signed up for TubeNet just to post this, so he's probably awaiting approval or something, but I'm kind of interested if there'd even be a solution, which I ...

What model euph would you play?

Out of curiosity, do you ever get the opportunity to play your rotary tenor tuba?

This does remind me of a story Dave Steinmeyer once told on the subject of false tones.

He was once hired to sub in on bass bone and the player he was subbing for loaned him a bass because Dave never owned one. But the horn was apparently awful . So after the first set, Dave ran out to his car and ...

I've always considered an able bass bone player to be more like a lead trumpet player. Sure, a trumpet player who can play 3rd trumpet or lead isn't really a "doubler," but a 3rd trumpet player in any band likely isn't a strong lead player, and probably wouldn't call himself a lead player. I've ...

Sounds like it's more dynamic, which can hurt musical performances with dynamics, as well as change the balance as things go. Was the cartridge aimed at the trombone? Because it seems to have the most presence. The tuba volume seems to lower as soon as the rest of the ensemble comes in.

Yeah, if ...